Chapter 36 Chapter 36
Tessa
I wiped my eyes with the back of my palm, wondering if I was seeing things, but no, I wasn't. Mr. Grumpy stood right there, staring at me with a strange glare, his hand supporting his waist.
"What are you doing here?" The question fell from my lips before I realized I wasn't in my own house.
"I should be asking you those questions. What are you doing in my house?" His voice was sharp, like he would punch me in the face.
"Your house," I swallowed hard, feeling the emptiness down my throat, and he took a step closer to me.
"You heard me right. What are you doing in my house?" His eyes pierced into my soul.
I tried standing up, but my legs were weak, and I couldn't even lift my body up.
"You seem like a bold person in the hospital, but now?" He knelt closer to me. His hand reached for the tip of my hair when I yanked him away and stood up.
He seemed shocked, releasing a heavy pant as he stood up. I swallowed hard, staring around the room in a daze, unsure what to do.
I felt like disappearing into thin air if it could swallow me whole.
"You can't run away, can you?" He raised an eyebrow, annoyance etched on his face.
Walking toward me, I backed away until my back met the wall, and he finally closed the gap between us, his hands supporting the walls on either side of me, caging me in with his cold stare.
My body shook, and my heart beat rapidly, like it would escape if I stayed another minute.
"What are you doing in my house?" His voice came out in a husky tone, laced with a cozy undertone that attached to my fear.
"I...I...Leah," my voice stammered, unable to form proper words.
"Tessa," Leah's voice called, and we both shifted our gaze to her.
"What's with that position?" she asked, pointing to Mr. Grumpy and then me.
Mr. Grumpy's gaze snapped back to mine, our eyes locking. "Maybe we have unfinished business to settle. Can you excuse us?" His words dripped with underlying tension.
Leah seemed oblivious to the tension, and I pleaded with my gaze for her to understand, but she missed the cue and walked back inside.
I stamped my feet angrily, as if that could make Mr. Grumpy retreat.
"So, you're my sister's friend?" He asked, astonished.
I exhaled sharply, my mind reeling. Running away from home because of awkwardness was one thing, but this was utter embarrassment.
"The thing is...is...I..." My voice faltered, stuck in my throat.
Now that Mr. Grumpy knew I knew Leah, he might tell her about Mr. Carter. I didn't want that to happen. I didn't want Leah knowing I was Mr. Carter's stepdaughter. But at least Mr. Grumpy had no idea about our relationship, so I still had an escape route.
"I'm just here to say hi to my friend. Can you just let go?" I pushed him away, taking a step backward, trying to create some distance.
"Really?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.
I nodded, attempting to appear nonchalant, while my heart raced.
He stared at me, his gaze piercing, as if trying to read me. I tried hard to keep my face expressionless, but my palms grew sweaty.
"Seeing how scared you were at the hospital that day," he began, taking a step closer, his voice low and menacing. "And how you lied to Leah, saying you had malaria, that's why you were in the hospital." My heart skipped a beat.
He supported his hand on his chin, as if recalling something. "Huh, I can't seem to generate this," he murmured under his breath.
"To generate what?" I asked slowly, my voice trembling.
"The reason why you lied to your friend," he revealed, his eyes glinting. "You know you were in the hospital because of your stepdad." My face became wide with shock.
"You know that?" I asked, my eyes enormous.
"I'm not dumb over here," he pointed to the side of his head, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"So, the things...you know...I...can... you please keep it a secret from Leah? I mean, don't tell her I'm there because of my stepdad, please?" I pleaded, my voice cracking.
But Mr. Grumpy wasn't having it. His eyes remained cold, unyielding.
"Why? Why should I lie to my sister?" He asked, his tone firm.
"That's not called a lie...you are just protecting the credentials of your patient," I tried to reason.
"Tell me more about my job," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he supported his hand on his chest.
He walked toward me and snatched my phone from me. "Unlock it." He returned it to me, and I hesitated, unsure what to do but eventually unlock it.
I watched him press some buttons, and the next thing I knew, his phone rang inside his pocket. He pulled it out, and my eyes widened in surprise.
"That's my number. I can call you anytime," he said, returning my phone.
"How dare you take my number without my permission? Who does that?" I asked, snatching the phone from him.
"I'm going to block your number now, so don't try to call me," I spoke, trying to block his number, but his words made me halt.
"You want to block my number? I'm scared you have so many secrets to protect," he said with a hint of threat.
"Protect? How?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He scoffed and took a step closer, his mouth leaning against my ear.
"I'm scared, Tessa, I have so many secrets of yours with me. What about we start with your stepdad's? Yesterday, I saw you inside the office with him, he grabbed your waist and..."
"Stop!" I hung my head, and he smiled wickedly.
"How?" Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.
"How what? You did it, so?" He returned his phone to his pocket.
"Please keep it a secret...please," I pleaded, my fists folded tightly, desperation creeping into my voice.
"That's why you're not allowed to block my number," he smiled.
"Keep what a secret? Block whose number?" Leah emerged from the room, her curious gaze shifting between Mr. Grumpy and me.