32

Suzanne watched the old man's reprimand from the upper floor and covered her face with her hands, horrified.

What was that man doing there?

Her head began to spin, imagining that he had found out everything that had happened. For what other reason would he be there?

It was obvious that this was not a courtesy visit.

She felt her cheeks redden and quickly approached the two men, who were having a heated argument.

“Why do I always have to find out about your messes from the press, kid?” Mr. Jarek spat out in a steely voice. “A naked woman in your office! Your wife being attacked by a vile drunk whose face you disfigured! The police, the reports! How long are you going to go from scandal to scandal?”

“That wasn’t my fault...” he mumbled, but didn't finish speaking when his grandfather slapped him again.

Suzanne was startled, feeling her heart race. Everything was known, there were reports, and surely her name was on everyone's lips.

Nathan was furious, but he didn’t dare confront him, whether out of respect or fear. His grandfather was an old man, but he wielded unparalleled power in many parts of the world, and he didn't want to make an enemy of him.

She looked at both of them with concern, and the old man Strong noticed not only her presence but her deteriorated appearance, feeling the anger course through his veins.

«My grandson is an idiot», he thought with disgust.

“Oh, dear...”

“What’s going on?” she murmured in a trembling voice. “Why are you hitting him?”

The way she cared about him made Nathan’s stomach shrivel like a raisin. He couldn’t believe that Suzanne would defend him after the way he had treated her.

That only made him feel more vile and miserable.

"My grandson, your husband," the old man spat, "is a fool incapable of fulfilling a simple request from his own grandfather."

"But I..."

"Shut up, Nathan!" he interrupted again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You only bring me trouble. I asked you for something simple, but you always have to go against me, boy."

"I don't understand..." Suzanne murmured, touching her head as she felt slightly dizzy.

"Suzie!" Nathan quickly approached her as she showed signs of fainting. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

The old man watched them calculatingly.

«So that's how things are... fine, I'll go ahead with my plan», he thought with satisfaction.

"Go get some water for her, Nathan," his grandfather ordered, and he had to obey, though he grumbled as he headed to the kitchen. "Also get some painkillers and a blood pressure monitor."

He paused for a moment and then began to shake his head in disapproval.

Suzanne looked at the man with some fear, but he smiled at her in a way she couldn't understand, then took her hands, leaving her bewildered.

"What are you doing, Mr. Strong?" she frowned, not understanding.

"I'm not going to ask how you are... it's obvious you do nothing but suffer insults from my idiot grandson," he tilted his head, looking at her with empathy. "I want to know if I can count on you for something..."

Nathan cursed under his breath as he went for the first aid kit to get some pain pills, feeling that his anger hadn't left him for a second.

He looked towards the living room and clenched his fists as he noticed how his grandfather took Suzanne's hands and smiled at her so persuasively.

"What are you up to, old man?" he muttered.

He looked for the darn blood pressure monitor, then told himself they didn't have one, so it was useless to waste time.

He quickly headed back to where they were, but his grandfather was just asking how she was and if she'd been to the hospital.

"How come you haven't taken your wife for a medical evaluation, Nathan?" the old man reproached harshly.

"She didn't want to go," he replied somberly, noticing that Suzanne looked somewhat pale and nervous. "Are you okay?"

"No, she's not," his grandfather intervened again, not giving her time to speak. "Can't you see? The poor thing is falling apart, and you ask her that stupid question if she's okay."

Nathan clenched his jaw, extremely annoyed.

"What were you talking to her about?" he looked at them suspiciously, and the old man laughed, amused. "I'm warning you, grandfather..."

"Shut up, Nathan," he spat irritably. "I was telling your beautiful wife that I'm here to free her from your abuse and this worthless agreement.”

«What the...?» Nathan thought, stunned.

"Mistreatment?" he said irritably. "What are you talking about? And what do you mean by freeing her?"

He looked at her for answers, but Suzanne said nothing, keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead without even looking at him.

"Suzanne..." he knelt down, taking her hands, but she pulled away brusquely. "Babe..."

"Well, she is willing to break the agreement if the clause requiring her to pay a million dollars for breaking it before the year is annulled," the old man said thoughtfully. "She will also go for a psychological evaluation, as it is evident she is not well after that situation. Besides..."

"Wait, wait..." Nathan raised his hands, feeling his head spinning. "You can't do that, Grandpa."

"And why not?" the old man asked sharply.

"Because she’s my wife!" Nathan shouted angrily. "I'm not going to let you break our agreement like that..."

"...and treat her like a piece of meat?" the old man looked at him angrily. "Isn't that what she is to you? Someone you just use for your carnal satisfaction? Why are you pretending to care now?"

Suzanne made a face of discomfort that did not go unnoticed by either of them.

Nathan was desperate, and at the same time, he felt an immense rage at the thought of her being willing to leave him.

"She... she does matter to me," he said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, really? Then why did you kick her out of your house?" his grandfather snapped. "Why didn't you introduce her as your wife when I asked you to? Why do you treat her like your sex slave?"

Every word the old man said was like a shard for Suzanne and a punch to the gut for his grandson.

Nathan swallowed hard and remained silent, hating that his grandfather was right and knew everything. How did he do it? How on earth did he find out?