Chapter 58
"Well, if it isn't Ms. White? Now that you've climbed up the social ladder, you're quite the rare guest." A woman dripping in jewelry spoke first, looking me up and down with unconcealed contempt and jealousy in her eyes. "What, is the Johnson family still good enough for you?"
Her words were like a signal, and the living room immediately erupted with mocking laughter.
"Exactly. When the Johnson family was in trouble, we didn't see you, the 'future granddaughter-in-law,' show your face. But now, hearing that the Wilson family wants to get engaged to you, you come running back to play the devoted one?"
"She's the Wilson family's fiancée now. Why would she care about a fallen family like ours? Michael, I'm not criticizing you, but you're just too soft-hearted, letting this kind of woman fool you."
One barbed comment after another came at me like poisoned daggers from all directions.
They blamed the Johnson family's downfall on me, labeled my departure as betrayal, but never mentioned that Freya's stupidity and greed were the real cause of all this.
I stood quietly by the entrance, expressionless, listening without a ripple of emotion in my heart. I just found it laughable.
A bunch of parasites who lived off the Johnson family, now that the tree was falling, they vented all their resentment on an outsider who had nothing to do with them anymore.
Throughout all this, Michael, who had tricked me into coming, just stood beside me. He kept his head down, fists clenched tight, lips moving several times, but didn't say a word.
He let his relatives attack me with their most vicious words, like a cowardly quail.
Only when those mocking voices gradually died down and everyone was waiting to see me humiliated did Michael finally take a deep breath, step forward, and position himself in front of me.
He raised his head, looked around at his relatives, his face wearing a disgusting expression of tragic heroism and responsibility. "Enough! Stop it, all of you!"
His voice was hoarse, his eyes red. "None of this has anything to do with Ophelia. It's my fault! I'm the one who's useless, who couldn't keep her! If you want to blame someone, blame me!"
This affectionate "protection" disgusted me more than the direct insults.
He was enjoying playing the tragic hero, trying to pull me back into his camp by putting himself down, hoping to make me feel guilty and soften toward him.
Truly pathetic and laughable.
I stepped out from behind him, not bothering to spare him even a glance.
I walked past him and looked directly at Michael's mother sitting in the main seat, my voice cold. "I came today out of respect for Mr. Maddox Johnson. Where is he?"
My attitude was calm and unmoved, as if I hadn't been the target of that farce just moments ago.
The living room fell into dead silence again. Those relatives who had been so aggressive just now seemed to have their throats gripped, looking at each other.
The tragic expression on Michael's face froze. He looked at me in disbelief, as if he hadn't expected me to say this.
I didn't want to watch them perform anymore. I just repeated myself, my tone carrying an undeniable command. "Take me to see your grandfather."
Michael's face turned from pale to flushed. In the end, he still admitted defeat dejectedly.
Under everyone's complicated gazes, he lowered his head in humiliation and led the way for me. "Follow me."
Walking through the noisy living room and up to the second floor, the air around us finally quieted down.
At the end of the hallway, the bedroom was filled with a faint smell of medicine.
Michael pushed open the door, and I walked in.
The old man lying on the bed was much thinner than I remembered, with graying hair and a wrinkled face, but those eyes, when they saw me, instantly burst with loving light.
"Ophelia... it's Ophelia..." Maddox struggled to sit up.
I quickly stepped forward, supporting his arm, placing a soft pillow behind him, and said gently, "Don't move, just lie down."
"Good child, good child..." His withered hand gripped mine tightly, tears welling up in his cloudy eyes. He looked me up and down, saying with concern, "You've lost weight. Why are you thinner than last time I saw you? Are you working too hard? You need to eat more."
This heartfelt concern made me feel the only bit of warmth at the Johnson Villa tonight.
The irritation in my heart from Lloyd and this trap of a dinner was somewhat soothed by this warmth.
I forced a smile and replied, "No, I've been eating well. Don't worry."
"That's good." Maddox nodded with relief, then turned to look at the anxious Michael beside him, his tone carrying some reproach and expectation. "You troublemaker, did you make Ophelia angry again? I've told you so many times, Ophelia is a good girl. You need to treat her well. Whatever it is, can't you talk it out nicely instead of throwing tantrums?"
He held my hand and patted Michael's hand, earnestly advising, "Ophelia, Michael is just stubborn, but he doesn't have a bad heart. Don't hold it against him. If you have any grievances, come tell me, and I'll stand up for you."
He was determined to bring us together, his words full of nostalgia for the past and hope for the future.
The smile on my face inevitably stiffened a bit. I couldn't say those heartless words to an elder who genuinely cared about me, so I could only give vague responses and change the subject. "Don't worry about us. What did the doctor say? You need to rest well. Your health is what matters most."
Michael stood to the side, looking at me, his eyes churning with uncontrollable regret and hope.
He probably thought that after experiencing Freya's betrayal and the family's decline, when he turned back, I would still be waiting in the same place.
He thought his performance today could win me back.
Too bad he didn't understand that some things, once broken, can never be put back together.
I kept Maddox company for a while, mostly him talking and me listening.
He rambled on about the past, about my childhood stories, his cloudy eyes sparkling with reminiscence.
I listened patiently, occasionally responding, and the hostility in my heart from the White family and the Johnson family was somewhat smoothed by this warm chatter.
Michael stood quietly nearby the whole time, like a child who had done something wrong, his gaze constantly stuck on me, carrying an almost greedy regret.
Seeing it was getting late, I got up to leave.
Maddox held my hand, his face full of reluctance, but still nodded understandingly. "Go ahead, work is important. Come back to see me when you have time."
"Okay." I agreed, withdrew my hand, turned and walked out.
Michael immediately followed. Just as I was about to walk out the door, he suddenly quickened his pace, blocking my way, his voice carrying a hint of suppressed pleading. "Ophelia, stay for dinner. Just to keep my grandfather company."