Chapter 18 Vomited in Front of Him
"Grandma, I'm not leaving. I'll stay right here with you." Emily sniffed and gripped the old lady's hand even tighter.
It was hard to believe that the last time she saw Grandma, she had been glowing with health and full of energy, but now she was so thin and pale.
When Margaret caught sight of Alex, her expression soured. "It's all this foolish boy's fault, being so confused and blinded that he neglected you! Grandma apologizes to you on his behalf, Emmie, don't... cough cough cough!"
As she spoke, the old lady tried to struggle up.
Emily quickly held her down. "Grandma, don't get worked up. The doctor said you need to rest."
"Okay, Grandma won't get worked up!"
Given the current situation, Emily couldn't just leave with a clear conscience, so she decided to postpone her plans.
It looked like she'd have to work remotely for the Paris office for now.
Alex stood to the side, watching their tightly clasped hands, a flash of something complicated crossing his cold eyes.
He had never imagined that Grandma's feelings for Emily ran so deep.
Even deeper than for her own grandson!
Alex's brow furrowed slightly, his tone carrying a barely detectable compromise. "Grandma, focus on getting better. We can talk about everything else later."
Only then did the old lady calm down a bit. She held onto Emily's hand, refusing to let go until drowsiness overtook her and she fell into a deep sleep.
Emily was about to go get some hot water when Alex stopped her. "There's an apartment near the hospital. You should stay there—it'll be more convenient for taking care of Grandma."
Emily hesitated, then refused. "No need, I can just stay at the hospital."
Alex couldn't help but frown.
Before, when he casually gave her some cheap trinket, she'd be happy for days.
Now he was offering her a place to stay, and she was resisting.
Was she playing hard to get or just throwing a tantrum?
Alex didn't bother saying more and forcefully pressed the key into her hand. "The hospital environment is too chaotic—neither you nor Grandma will rest well."
He paused, then added, "Everything you need is already there. It's very convenient."
Emily pressed her lips together slightly but eventually accepted it.
She really did need a place to rest.
Besides, taking care of Grandma would require plenty of energy.
That evening, Emily stayed at the hospital until late into the night. After making sure the old lady had taken her medicine and was sleeping peacefully, she went to the apartment.
It really was close—just a few minutes' walk.
The light flickered on, revealing a simple, well-maintained room that someone had clearly been caring for regularly.
She changed into slippers and sank wearily onto the sofa to catch her breath.
She really was exhausted, both physically and mentally, these past few days.
She had never imagined things with Alex would end up like this!
Pulling herself together, Emily got up and headed to the bathroom, planning to shower and sleep. The warm water washed over her body, relieving some of her fatigue.
A few minutes later.
Emily walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, about to find some clean clothes to sleep in, when she heard the sound of the door lock turning.
"Who?!" Her heart jumped as she turned to look.
Alex pushed the door open and strode in.
Their eyes met—one shocked, one calm.
Emily frowned in displeasure. "What are you doing here?"
Alex closed the door behind him, his gaze landing on her glistening shoulders, her hair still dripping water.
He swallowed hard and looked away, then smiled sarcastically. "This is my apartment. Why shouldn't I come? Besides, if I hadn't helped your father prop up the Johnson family, do you think he could have closed that deal last time?"
Alex walked straight to the sofa and sat down, casually tossing his suit jacket aside.
Emily's fingernails dug into her palms. Along with the surge of anger, she was also shocked. "What... what happened to my family's company?"
Alex leaned back against the sofa, his long legs crossed casually, radiating an air of authority.
"Nothing major, really. Just that your father got set up, the project had some problems, some scandal came out, and the cash flow nearly collapsed. If that partner last time hadn't given your family the investment to keep things going out of respect for me, well... So now, do you still think it's unfair that I'm staying in the same apartment as you?"
Emily's eyes widened. She finally understood why her father had been acting strange those couple of days, and why Alex had the nerve to threaten her so boldly.
He had known all along.
This was also his way of telling her that without him, the Johnson C ompany wouldn't even exist.
Emily clenched her fists, her whole body going cold.
Alex watched her shocked and angry expression, then slowly stood up. "Emily, you should know by now—you can't leave me, and the Johnson family can't leave me either."
The scent of body wash filled his nostrils, and Alex's eyes grew darker.
He leaned in close, bringing them face to face.
The faint smell of tobacco reached her nose—a scent she'd known for three years, but now it made her feel suffocated.
Emily stepped back sharply, looking up, her eyes reddening with anger. "Alex, don't go too far!"
Alex's fingertip hovered half an inch above her cheek, his voice husky. "Why are you dodging?"
The woman's reddened eyes seemed to hold shattered light, making his heart itch. His fingertip gently brushed a water droplet from her shoulder—her skin was impossibly soft, warm and familiar, just as he remembered, making his heart tremble.
Emily jerked away as if burned. "Don't touch me! We're getting divorced soon. What's the point of this? If you need to satisfy your physical needs, go find Grace!"
The obvious rejection in her eyes was like a bucket of cold water dumped on Alex's head.
He suddenly laughed. Not only did he not back away, but he leaned in even closer, practically trapping Emily between himself and the wall, their breaths mingling, the air thick with tension.
"No point?" Alex's dangerous gaze swept across her lips, his Adam's apple bobbing. "When you were desperately clinging to me to get married, why didn't you say there was no point?"
The cruel words made Emily's face go pale.
Her sincere feelings—in his eyes they were just desperate clinging?
Alex saw her face suddenly drain of color, his lips moving. "That's not what I mea—"
He instinctively reached to wipe away the tear at the corner of her eye, but Emily suddenly felt nauseous.
A strong wave of nausea surged up.
Emily covered her mouth, shoved Alex aside, and ran to the bathroom.
Her morning sickness was already sensitive, and now, provoked by him, it came on even more violently.
In the bathroom, the woman was retching miserably.
Alex froze completely, his hand still in the same position as before.
She actually threw up?
Being near him was so disgusting it made her physically sick?
Alex's expression turned cold, the warmth draining from his eyes. He lost all interest.
In the bathroom.
Emily was bent over the toilet, dry heaving continuously, stomach acid burning her throat.
She was in too much discomfort to speak. It took a while before she recovered.
Emily steadied herself against the wall and stood up, looking at her pale, haggard reflection in the mirror, her heart aching.
Between her and Alex, all that was left was hurt.
Walking out of the bathroom, Emily didn't say anything, just turned and went back to the bedroom.
But just as she'd changed into her pajamas and lay down, she heard Alex walk in.
"This is the bedroom. Get out." Emily's voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
Alex said, "My room, and you're telling me to get out?"