Chapter 128: Little Princess
"My grandfather is sick," Emmeline said, sniffling.
She cast a subtle look at the crowd. Good. Everyone had their eyes on them, blatantly or not. If it was a show they craved, she was more than happy to give them one. This was just the opening act.
"Are you that heartless, Matteo Montgomery? After you’ve already broken my heart so openly?"
***
Horace Hawthorne was resting on the hospital bed, but his eyes immediately sprung into wakefulness when he heard the sound of the door opening.
"Grandpa, how are you feeling?" Amelia asked quietly, taking care not to startle him with her voice. She slowly made her way to his bedside, her eyes roving over his waxy complexion. Was it her imagination, or did he look a lot thinner than she remembered him to be?
"I’m a lot better now that you are here," Horace said, reaching a hand out to hold hers. "When I received the message from Matteo that you were trapped outside the snowstorm, I had feared the worst. Thankfully, Matteo managed to bring you back to me. I owe him a great debt."
He took in a shuddering breath. Her grandpa’s rheumy eyes were filled with tears, and Amelia felt her own eyes water in response to the sincerity of his devastation.
"Don’t say that, you know Matteo didn’t save me to get anything from you. And I’m sorry for worrying you," Amelia said, squeezing his hand. Guilt welled up within her. "I caused your heart attack, didn’t I?"