Chapter 122 Agreeing To Be Engaged.
Elvis was pacing back and forth when Amara returned home. The moment she stepped in and the door was closed behind her, the old man spun around and stared at her, his eyes filled with rage and his face contorted in anger.
“You-” He was about to go off on her, lecturing her about how reckless and stupid she was, but the sight of Elijah standing beside her had his mouth closing shut and the words dying in his throat.
“Hello Mr. Crawford,” Elijah greeted, briefly lowering his head.
“Elijah,” Elvis acknowledged the younger man with a nod, before he turned his attention back to his granddaughter.
“Grandfather,” It was Amara who greeted this time around, sounding a little nervous and hesitant.
She had a good idea of what he was feeling. Disappointed, angry, upset, sad. The list went on and she felt responsible for it.
“You are aware of what you’ve done, aren’t you?” Elvis began, talking in a calm tone, yet visibly angry by look.
Amara lowered her head, not sure how to respond to this and Elvis examined the damage that had been done to his granddaughter.
Her bandages, which was wrapped around her fingers, and the bruises and scratches on her face were a reminder of what happened and his anger simmered down ever so slightly.
Stretching his hand out, he commanded. “Come here.”
Amara, obedient, approached him.
She stood still as he gently touched her face, examining the bruises, and then, with the utmost gentleness, took her hand and looked at her bandages.
“It’s nothing serious,” He noted, glancing at Elijah, who was standing at the side, watching them with a solemn expression.
“But it could have been.” He continued, turning his attention back to Amara. “You could have been hurt more than this.”
“But I wasn’t.” She reminded. “I’m fine, Grandfather. Everything’s okay.”
Elvis didn’t seem convinced. “What would you have done, if you were badly injured? If Duncan didn’t show up?”
Ah, so that’s how he found out. Duncan snitched on her.
Amara had every right to be angry at the assistant at that moment, but she couldn’t bring herself to be, knowing fully well that he had done so with her best interest in mind.
“Grandfather,” She began, but abruptly, Elvis cut her off.
“And it’s all because of that bastard,” He sneered. “Tobias Larsen has been nothing but bad news since the very first day! You should have left him alone when I advised you to do so!”
Amara didn’t speak. She had no words to say in defense, for she knew her grandfather was right.
“Look at the state you’re in!” He continued, raising his voice, and Amara was quick to note the fact that he was growing angrier and angrier by the second and not at her, but at Tobias and the situation.
“Look what that man has caused! Do you not think, Amara, that if you hadn’t been involved with him, that situation wouldn’t have played out? That you wouldn’t be here, now, in this state?”
Amara had nothing to say, and the fact that her grandfather was right was even more frustrating.
“Grandfather,” Elijah finally stepped forward. “Please, Amara has had a rough day, there’s no need to-”
“There’s every need to,” Elvis interrupted, his tone cold. “Amara doesn’t understand and I need to make her understand. That man has caused nothing but trouble since the first day. That man…he…” Elvis couldn’t finish his words as he began coughing.
His chest was heaving, his eyes were watery, and his complexion seems to have deteriorated.
“Grandfather!” Amara panicked and stepped forward.
Elvis raised a hand and waved her away.
“I’m fine,” He assured, trying to control his coughs.
Elijah took that as a queue to approach the older man and place a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Perhaps you should take a seat,” He suggested, softly.
“I said, I’m fine,” Elvis’s response was quick and sharp, causing Elijah to pull back, but not without giving Amara a worried glance.
She understood what it meant. She knew he was worried, she could see the worry in his eyes, but for her grandfather’s sake, she had to put a smile on her lips and nod, assuring him that everything was fine.
“Grandfather, you shouldn’t raise your voice so much,” Amara started, trying her very best to keep her tone even and calm.
“And you should have listened to me,” Came his stern reply. “No matter what happened, you shouldn’t have married that man. You shouldn’t have gotten involved with him!”
The old man was panting now, his words had gotten faster, and the frustration and anger in his eyes grew.
“Grandfather, please, you should calm down.” Amara tried to reason.
“If I listen to you, would you listen to me? Would you?!”
His question was followed by a violent cough. His chest heaved and his hand shook as he clutched his heart.
“Grandfather!” Amara yelled, stepping forward to aid him, but the old man stopped her, raising his other hand and stopping her.
“Stop.” He ordered. “I may be worried about you, but that doesn’t mean I am not angry at you, Amara. Do you think your parents would want to see you in this condition!”
Amara froze.
“Do you think, Amara, that they’d want to see their only child, their daughter, the most important person in their lives, in this condition? With cuts, bruises and scars all over her body, just because she didn’t listen to her grandfather and got involved with a useless man?!”
His words were painful, hitting a sore spot, one that Amara didn’t want to hear, especially not from him, but knew was true.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather,” She took another step forward. “But I promise, this will be the last time.”
“The last time. All this would only stop the moment you end your road with that man. Do it, Amara, do it, end your road with that man!”
“Grandfather, can we please talk about this once you’ve rested?” Turning back to Elijah, she requested. “Please, call a doctor.”
Elijah nodded and she turned her attention back to her grandfather.
“A doctor, I don’t want one, at least not when you’ve refused to listen to-” Another fit of violent coughs attacked and Amara was growing more and more concerned.
“Grandfather, you mustn’t talk so much. Please, just listen to me, let’s get you checked up.”
“No! You won’t listen to me Amara, so I won’t listen to you.” He was growing stubborn.
“Please, Grandfather, please. Just get checked up and I promise, we can discuss things after.”
Elvis shook his head. “If you truly care about me, we’ll discuss all this right here, right now.”
Amara didn’t have any other choice, did she?
“Alright,” She gave in, taking a step closer and looking him straight in the eyes.
“You want me to stay away from him, I’ll do it, grandfather. Tell me, what else do you want?” She asked.
Elvis without saying too much, looked in Elijah’s direction. “Marry him.”
Those two words, was all Amara needed to hear, and the look on Elijah’s face, showed he heard it too.
“Marry him, Amara, and assure me that Tobias is out of your life.”
Amara hesitated, she wanted to answer, but couldn’t. She was unsure.
“But…don’t you think marriage is a bit-”
“You’re just as stubborn as your mother. I should have known!” Elvis exclaimed, but soon, his face was contorted into pain and his expression turned into one of fear.
“Grandfather,”
Amara panicked, knowing the signs were clear. If this carried on down this path, her grandfather could suffer a stroke, or worse a heart attack.
She didn’t want that. She didn’t want to lose him too. She didn’t want any of that!
“Alright, I’ll do it. I’ll marry Elijah, just…please, grandfather, please get checked out.” She pleaded, hoping and praying that her grandfather would listen and not continue pushing his luck.
Much to her relief, Elvis nodded.
“Alright, I will. And as for your promise, you can start by carrying it out at the party this Saturday. Announce your engagement.”
Amara didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t expecting things to turn out this way, but if this is what it would take to keep her grandfather healthy, then so be it. She could figure out in the nearer future how to get out of something like this.
“I will,” She promised and briefly, looked back at Elijah.
He stared back at her with a neutral expression but after a little while, flashed her a smile.
It wasn’t forced, but it wasn’t sincere.
Amara felt a slight tug at her heartstrings and she silently prayed, hoped, wished, and begged that things would work out.
