Free Web NovelChapter 12: Chapter 12
Elise pressed her lips together, torn.
Part of her desperately wanted to expose Dylan’s lies—to tell Grandmother that Dylan had already betrayed their marriage.
But she was afraid the truth would be too much for the elderly woman to bear.
Grandma Franchesca had always loved her dearly. Growing up in a powerful family like the Gilmore family, where everything revolved around money and status, Elise had rarely known genuine warmth.
But Franchesca had given her that warmth.
Back then, when no one believed in her relationship with Dylan, when everyone thought they were doomed to fail, the old woman had been the only one who supported them—encouraging them, standing by them.
To Elise, she had always felt closer than her own grandmother.
"Elise."
The old woman gently took her hand. Elise came back to herself and met her gaze again.
Franchesca patted the back of her hand softly, her voice warm and kind.
"I know what happened back then hurt you deeply. But you have to learn to walk out of that pain. Don’t trap yourself inside it forever. If you can’t let go... those poor children won’t be willing to move on either."
A sharp ache rose in Elise’s heart.
"Grandma... I understand." She squeezed the old woman’s hand in return. "Don’t worry. I’m doing much better now."
The woman looked at her face—noticeably healthier and fuller than the last time they met—and smiled with relief. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"I can tell. Dylan said the two of you have been taking care of your health and preparing to try for another child. That’s a good thing."
Elise’s emotions twisted painfully inside, but looking at the old woman’s hopeful expression, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words ’we’re getting divorced’.
Just then, a sharp knock came at the door.
The nurse entered, pushing a medical cart. "Time to change the IV fluids, Madam."
Elise immediately stood up. "Grandma, I’m going outside to return a call from a friend."
"Go ahead, dear. I have the nurses and Cassandra here with me."
Elise nodded and walked out of the room.
The moment she stepped outside, Dylan followed right after her.
"Elise."
She didn’t want to deal with him and quickened her pace. But Dylan’s long strides caught up within seconds. He grabbed her wrist.
"Now isn’t the time for you to throw a tantrum. I need to talk to you about something important."
Elise frowned and turned sharply toward him. "Dylan, I’m not throwing a tantrum. I meant what I said about divorce."
"This isn’t the place for this conversation." He glanced toward the ward before looking back at her, his expression grave. "Grandma’s condition can’t handle any kind of shock right now."
Her struggle stilled instantly.
"Let’s talk somewhere else."
***
Evening had fallen, the horizon washed crimson beneath the setting sun.
Elise stood on the hospital’s rooftop, facing the glowing skyline while Dylan spoke quietly about Grandmother’s condition.
"Doctor Williams says surgery would be best."
She listened in silence. freёwebnovel.com
Dylan glanced at her briefly before continuing. "A bypass surgery isn’t considered especially major. But because of Grandma’s age, her body can’t handle stress the way a younger person’s could. The risks are significantly higher."
At that, Elise bit her lip, fighting the rising sense of frustration. Finally, she turned to look at him.
"Dylan, with your resources now, you can definitely find the best specialists for a surgery like this."
"I can," Dylan replied, his dark gaze fixed on her. "But before the operation, Grandma needs to be in the best possible condition—physically and emotionally. She can’t suffer any emotional shock."
Elise pressed her lips together once more, understanding exactly what he meant by that.
But she still couldn’t accept it.
"Dylan, how can you so shamelessly use Grandma to guilt-trip me?" she demanded, staring at him, fury churning in her chest. "You were the one who betrayed me first! I’m the victim here—what’s wrong with me wanting a divorce?!"
"You can go tell Grandma right now that you want to divorce me." Dylan’s expression remained cold and unreadable. "I won’t stop you."
Elise’s fists clenched at her sides. She drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"You don’t need to provoke me."
One of Dylan’s brows lifted slightly.
"I still intend to divorce you," she said steadily. "But for Grandma’s sake, I can temporarily cooperate and keep it private. Once her surgery is over and she’s recovered, I’ll find an appropriate time to tell her."
The faint easing in Dylan’s face vanished instantly at her last sentence.
"I already told you," he said darkly, "I’m not agreeing to a divorce."
Elise let out a bitter laugh. "You’re the cheating scumbag here. Since when does your opinion decide whether I can leave?"
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she glared at him.
"Dylan, this is the last time I’ll say it. If you cooperate, we can end this peacefully for Grandma’s sake. But if you refuse..." Her voice turned ice-cold. "Then I’ll see you in court. And everything will turn into a dirty mess."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.
Her slender figure looked fragile, yet every step carried absolute resolve.
Dylan stood rooted in place, staring after her, his brows tightly furrowed. She did not look like the woman he used to know. Not at all.
***
When Elise stepped out of the elevator, she immediately spotted two familiar figures in the hallway.
Ella Bennett—Bruce Bennett’s second wife, and Alicia Bennett, Dylan’s half-sister.
Before Dylan became president of the Bennett Corporation, Ella had constantly schemed against him, openly and behind the scenes.
Later, once Elise stood firmly by Dylan’s side, Ella turned her hostility toward Elise as well.
She had always resented Franchesca’s favoritism toward Dylan. Coming to the hospital now was likely only because Bruce had forced them to.
Elise walked toward the ward.
Ella and Alicia had just been turned away from visiting and were clearly simmering with frustration. The moment they saw Elise, mocking expressions spread across their faces.
"Well, if it isn’t our dramatic young Mrs. Bennett," Ella sneered. "The one always making such a fuss over life and death."
Elise had no intention of causing a scene here. Grandmother needed rest.
She merely shot Ella a cold glance and tried to walk past them. But Ella deliberately stepped in her way.
"Don’t act so high and mighty," she scoffed. "Alicia already told me everything. Dylan’s been sleeping with that little protégée you sponsored—Quinn or whatever—and they even have a son together." Her lips curled with cruel amusement. "Honestly, as a woman, I almost feel sorry for you."
Elise’s eyes flicked toward the tightly closed hospital room door.
No matter how much she hated Dylan’s betrayal, if Franchesca learned the truth now, the shock would devastate her.
Taking a steadying breath, Elise looked at Ella with a cold glare.
"Mrs. Bennett, you know perfectly well my mental state hasn’t been stable these past few years. Leave now. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I hit you."
"Oh?" Ella sneered. "You think you can hit me? Look at you—so weak you can barely stand. I’d like to see you tr—"
Smack!
A sharp slap cracked through the hallway.
"Mom!" Alicia hurried to catch Ella as she stumbled backward, stunned by the blow.
She glared furiously at Elise. "Elise, are you insane?! How dare you hit my mother?!"
"I hit exactly who I intended to." Elise flexed the wrist of the hand she’d used, then looked at Alicia with a cold smile. "And honestly? I wouldn’t mind hitting you too."
"You really are crazy!" Alicia shrieked, her face twisting with rage. "No wonder Dylan cheated on you with Quinn! You deserve it! You deserved to lose your children! You deserved to be betrayed by your husband!"
