Chapter 26: How They Got Married(3)
Rory’s grandmother caught them together on her bed the next day. It was his fault. He was caring only about himself while she was worrying. Rory was too stunned to say anything.
When the truth was out, Rory was so terrified of her grandmother that she collapsed. Come to think of it, it could be the stress he put her through by making her lie to everyone.
He thought her grandmother would shout at her and call her names. He put himself between Rory and her grandmother. He lied that he was the one who threatened her to hide him in her room. She didn’t want to but he threatened to hurt her and so she had to comply.
Of course, no one believed that he had to threaten Rory. They knew Rory would do anything for him.
Her grandfather who was alive at that time almost slapped him for hiding in his granddaughter’s room when the whole town was searching for him. He rebuked him for not caring about his family and let them worry.
His family was informed and his father looked like he was not pleased to see him. Even Derick sighed and left the room. Only his grandparents were happy to see him unhurt; his grandparents and "that" woman his father married after his mother died.
What he didn’t know at that time was that his family had involved the FBI in his search. Rory had lied to the federal officer that she does not know his whereabouts. She didn’t tell him about her false statement to the FBI.
His family was more worried for Rory than being mad at her for lying. After all, she had lied to the federal officers. And they would convict her of making a false statement. The FBI had wasted a lot of resources in their search and they needed someone to take accountability.
His family was not pleased with him and brought him back home. He didn’t want to leave Rory with her grandmother, but no one was willing to hear him speak. He was forbidden to meet Rory and grounded in his home.
The next morning, when they informed others that they found him, more than feeling happy, the townsfolk were mad. They had spent the past week doing everything in their ability to find him. They always had a little bitterness towards the Roberts family. And when Rory’s involvement was revealed, the family of the girl whose hair Rory set fire to, tried to rile up the townsfolk against them further.