Amari heard the old woman's words loud and clear, and her eyebrows shot up as surprise flashed across her face.
Does she really know everything? She wondered, unease rising in her chest as Grandma Josefina pulled her toward one of the chairs.
"There's nothing you need to worry about!" the elderly woman said firmly as she guided Amari to sit. "If Sebastian dares stay outside tonight, he'll surely bring misfortune upon himself! Let's see what happens when he dares to disobey me!" she added with fury burning in her voice.
Amari shut her eyes briefly, her lashes trembling. She realized that the old woman seemed to know more than she had expected. But perhaps what Grandma Josefina understood was only the surface of her pain—not the deeper truth of their separation.
Across the room, Grandma Josefina caught sight of Sebastian's face—tense, and filled with bitterness. She couldn't hold back her temper. "What is wrong with you, Sebastian?! Do I need to beg just to have you come home and share a meal with us?" she snapped, throwing him a sharp glance.
Sebastian tried to maintain a cold, unreadable expression. He turned to his grandmother and replied calmly, "I'm sorry, Grandma. I've just been really busy these past few days."
"Humph! Is that your excuse now?" she shot back. "You're not a child anymore, Sebastian! And yet, after all this time, I still don't have a great-grandchild from either of you! Do you know that there are three great misfortunes in any family? And not having children is the worst among them!" Her words, though said with the tone of tradition, were heavy with disappointment.
Seeing the old woman about to rise, Amari quickly stood and gently supported her by the arm. Sebastian frowned at Amari but said nothing, simply observing in silence. The house staff rushed to set the table when they noticed Sebastian's arrival.
Grandma Josefina gave Amari a slight tug toward the dining table. "Come now, let's eat! If he doesn't want to, then let him leave! He doesn't need to come back!" she declared with a sharp but playful tone—though the annoyance in her voice was undeniable.
Sebastian's face darkened even more, but he remained silent. He quietly took his seat across from them.
Grandma Josefina, now in better spirits, happily helped Amari get food onto her plate, treating her more like a beloved granddaughter than Sebastian himself. Meanwhile, Sebastian picked at his food, barely lifting his chopsticks.
After a few moments, he paused and asked bluntly, "Grandma, why did you call us back so suddenly for dinner?"
The old woman's breath deepened. "How long has it been since you last came back? You barely see me anymore. Your grandfather's always away on business trips, and I'm left here all alone. Can't you spare a few moments with your old grandmother?" Her voice grew heavier, filled with both sorrow and irritation. "And remember, Amari is your wife! Why do you keep chasing after that woman at the hospital? Aren't you ashamed of what this says about our family? What will people think?" Her voice rose with every word, her frustration spilling over.
Sebastian's expression hardened. "Grandma, she saved my life. I can't just abandon her."
"Saved your life? Anyone with eyes can see she's just after your money! That woman is a fraud, Sebastian!" Grandma Josefina's fury only deepened.
Sebastian glanced coldly at Amari, his eyes full of doubt. Amari noticed and responded with a sarcastic smile. To him, it looked like Amari was the reason his grandmother was so angry with him.
In the past, Amari would've feared being misunderstood by Sebastian. But now? Misunderstood? she thought. So what if he believes it? Will it lessen my worth? Will it erase the years I gave?
Grandma Josefina saw the anger burning in Sebastian's eyes. "Listen, this isn't Amari's doing! She didn't run to me with your secrets! You've been spending every day at that hospital. Do you think I wouldn't notice what's happening?"
Sebastian pressed his lips together and said nothing. Grandma Josefina continued her tirade, each word hitting like a slap across his pride. The old woman's frustrations had built up over time, and tonight, she let it all out.
Despite the tension, Amari felt a subtle sense of relief. Hearing the outburst somehow brought comfort—as if the emotions she had buried were finally being acknowledged, if only indirectly.
After the meal, Grandma Josefina spoke to Amari briefly before they both prepared to leave. Amari and Sebastian walked out together, a scene of uneasy silence between them.
Truthfully, Amari's heart was pounding. The old woman still didn't know about their separation, and so they had to keep pretending. All Amari wanted was to escape from this farce, but tonight, they had to keep up the act.
Sebastian stood beside her, his expression dark and unreadable. His clenched jaw and stiff posture revealed his growing frustration. Before he could say anything, they heard Grandma Josefina call out sharply behind them, "Hurry up, Sebastian! Open the car door for your wife! Don't you have any manners?"
Without a word, Sebastian walked ahead and opened the door. Amari stepped in silently, sensing the conflict churning beneath his quiet façade.
The drive was quiet and heavy. No words were exchanged. Amari kept her gaze fixed outside the window, watching the world blur past them, lost in thought. How did we end up like this? She wondered. How long can we keep pretending?
Inside the car, a storm brewed. And at the heart of it was not just anger, but a deep ache—unspoken words, unresolved feelings, and a love that had long since been eclipsed by resentment.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Grandma Josefina remained restless. Her anger hadn't fully dissipated. Try as she might, she couldn't understand how things had gotten to this point. She knew Amari was important—decent, respectful, someone who truly cared for her family. The woman at the hospital, however, had no place in her grandson's life.
But despite everything she did to keep the couple together, the rift between Sebastian and Amari remained. And deep down, she feared that no matter how much she meddled, she might be too late to repair what had already been broken.