Chapter 103 I hope Aria will say yes
Ethan’s POV
"That conniving bitch!" Mom was shaking with rage. "I told you—I specifically told you to cut all contact! And you go behind my back, sneaking around with her like some lovesick teenager?"
"It’s not what it looks like," I started, but she cut me off.
"Where is she? Tell me where Clara is right now. I’ll go deal with her myself—"
"Mom, stop." I grabbed her wrist as she moved toward the door. "This is my fault. Leave Clara out of it."
"Leave her out of it?" Mom’s laugh was brittle. "She’s been the problem from the start! She’s like a disease that won’t leave this family alone!"
"Enough!" Grandmother’s voice cut through the room like a whip.
We both fell silent.
She was sitting up now, supported by pillows, her face flushed with either anger or strain—maybe both.
"Is it true?" Her eyes bored into me. "What your mother said about Gerald knowing? About you bringing that woman back into your life while your wife lives separately?"
I had to think fast. The truth would kill her—literally, given her condition.
"Grandmother, please listen. It’s not what you think." I moved closer, adopting my most earnest expression.
"Clara has been helping with some business connections. That’s all. Aria’s been... absent from the company lately, and we needed someone with Clara’s network to help close some deals. Dad knows about it. He approved."
I deliberately let my gaze slide to Mom, silently begging her to back me up.
She caught on after a moment, her expression shifting from rage to reluctant support.
"It’s true, Mom," she said, her voice still tight. "I knew about it too. I already chewed Ethan out for making such a stupid decision—asking Clara of all people for help. But it really was just business. Nothing more."
"Gerald knew?" Grandmother’s color was still high, but some of the fury had drained from her eyes.
"Yes. He lectured me pretty thoroughly about it too." I forced myself to meet her gaze steadily. "Clara’s involvement is finished now. She’s no longer working with us."
That much was true, at least.
Grandmother studied me for a long moment, and I forced myself not to fidget under that penetrating stare.
Finally, she sighed—a sound so weary it made my chest ache.
"You disappoint me, Ethan." Her voice had lost its sharp edge, replaced by something worse: genuine hurt. "I trusted you. I thought you understood what was at stake."
She reached out and smacked my shoulder—not hard, but the gesture stung more than Mom’s slap had.
"If this is truly about business, then fine. But I’m warning you now—if I find out there’s more to it, if you’re lying to me..." She didn’t finish the threat, but she didn’t need to.
"I understand, Grandmother."
She leaned back against the pillows, suddenly looking every one of her eighty-three years.
"There’s another matter we need to discuss." Her eyes sharpened again. "Aria. Why is she living separately? Don’t tell me she found out about your... history with Clara."
"No!" I said quickly—too quickly. "No, Aria doesn’t know anything about Clara."
"Then why—"
"She’s just being difficult," Mom cut in, her tone dismissive. "You know how she can be, Mom. Sweet on the surface, but stubborn as a mule underneath. Ethan probably didn’t give her enough attention or buy her enough jewelry, so she’s throwing a tantrum."
I bristled at the characterization but kept my mouth shut. Better to let Mom handle this part.
Grandmother didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the issue either.
Instead, she held out her hand. "Give me your phone."
"Grandmother?"
"Your phone, Ethan. Now."
I handed it over, watching with growing dread as she scrolled through my contacts until she found Aria’s number.
"Grandmother, maybe this isn’t the best time—"
"Quiet."
She hit dial.
The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.
On the fourth ring, Aria’s voice came through, slightly breathless: "Hello?"
"Aria, dear. It’s Grandmother Rose."
There was a pause on the other end—surprise, probably.
"Oh! Grandmother, hello. Is everything alright?"
"Aria, dear, I’m afraid I’m not feeling well. I’m at the hospital right now."Grandmother’s voice had shifted into that warm, grandmotherly tone she used when she wanted something.
Another pause."What happened? Are you okay? Is it your heart condition acting up again?"
"Oh, sweetheart, when you get to be my age, you don’t have much time left anyway. It’s not really my old ailments—the doctor says it’s more emotional stress. "
My blood pressure spiked from worrying too much, so they want to keep me here for observation for a few days."
Her voice grew softer. "I’ve been thinking about you constantly, dear. Could you possibly come visit your old grandmother?"
God, I hope Aria will say yes. I want to see her. So very much.