Chapter 23 Grandpa Falls Sick For Real

Curtis' disdainful gaze was unmistakable, contrasting with Daniel's eager anticipation. Caught between offending Curtis and disappointing Daniel, Sabrina found herself in a difficult position. Ultimately, she chose to prioritize her relationship with Daniel, as her connection with Curtis had always been strained. "You're our guest, so it's only right for you to stay for dinner," she reasoned, addressing Victor. "Besides, you're his boss. He can't simply throw you out." Curtis regarded Sabrina with a perplexed expression, silently questioning the accuracy of that statement. 'Who was whose boss now?' Victor, sensing the awkwardness he inadvertently caused, hastened to clarify, "Actually, it's not as rigid as it sounds. While we do have a superior-assistant dynamic, we've known each other for many years. Think of me as your friend, nothing more." Why was Victor over-explaining? Sabrina swiftly attempted to shift the conversation, urging, "Let's eat. I'm getting hungry. Grandpa, please have a seat. I'll bring the dishes." Victor's flustered demeanor did not go unnoticed by Curtis, who silently took note of the unusual behavior. "Victor mentioned that you two are friends, but isn't he your superior?" Sabrina whispered to Curtis as they walked to the dining table. "You're his assistant, right? You might want to check your attitude. It's easy to rub people the wrong way." A baffled Curtis responded, "Me? His assistant?" Sabrina confirmed, "Yeah, that’s what Victor told me. Did you forget your own job?" Realization dawned on Curtis. So that was why Victor had been avoiding his gaze. Perhaps he had been underpaying Victor, that's why that ingrate would lie so blatantly. Curtis hmphed, clearly not pleased. "Let's eat." Throughout dinner, tension hung thick in the air. Sabrina and Daniel were the only ones at ease, while Victor felt the weight of Curtis's cold glares. He had impulsively asserted himself without thinking, an attempt to assert his own identity after feeling suppressed for so long. But then again, had Curtis not been adamant about hiding his identity, would there be a need for these excuses? And really, who could blame Victor for portraying Curtis as his assistant? Suggesting the reverse would have been completely unbelievable to Sabrina. Besides, he hadn't coordinated their stories with Curtis, so he had to come up with something on the spot. After the nerve-wracking dinner, Victor quickly excused himself, fearing Curtis might confront him. Sabrina sensed that something was amiss, although she wasn't entirely sure about the situation. However, she respected Curtis's privacy and chose not to pry. Later that evening, after her shower, Sabrina received a phone call from her brother, Barry. The moment she answered, she could hear Barry sobbing on the other end. It instantly filled her with panic. 'Had something happened to Grandpa?' Negative thoughts flooded Sabrina's mind, and her voice choked up, unable to utter a word. "Sabrina, something has happened at home," Barry managed to say through his sobs. Sabrina felt her world crumbling around her, her face draining of color. She swayed unsteadily by the window, on the verge of collapsing. But just in time, Curtis appeared and gently supported her from behind, preventing her from falling to the floor. At that moment, everything seemed distant and numbed to her. "What happened?" Her voice emerged hoarse, barely finding the strength to ask. Upon seeing Sabrina's pale face and evident distress, Curtis wordlessly picked her up and gently placed her on the couch. "At first, Grandpa seemed perfectly fine. He wasn't sick at all. But a deceitful doctor took advantage of us, trying to scam our money. Now, all our savings have been swindled, and Grandpa has truly fallen ill," Barry confessed, his voice heavy with regret. In a desperate bid to help his grandfather, Barry had unknowingly fallen victim to a scam. He had taken his grandfather for various tests, unaware that they were being manipulated. The initial misdiagnosis had been a ploy to drain their savings. When Grandpa learned the painful truth, it was too much for him, causing him to faint. Barry had kept this news from Sabrina for as long as he could, not wanting to burden her until it became unavoidable. "How did this happen? Did you report this doctor? How's Grandpa's health now? Is he okay?" Sabrina's anxiety bubbled over. Blaming himself immensely, Barry responded, "I've reported it, but the police said this isn't the first time this doctor has pulled such scams. And we don't have concrete evidence, so..." "So you're saying Grandpa suffered for nothing? Barry, how could you be so careless?" In times of familial crisis, emotions can surge uncontrollably. While Sabrina had no intention to be harsh, her emotions got the better of her. After her outburst, a heavy silence hung between them. Curtis remained seated by her side, silently witnessing her emotional rollercoaster. "I'm sorry, I overreacted. I was just worried about Grandpa," Sabrina apologized softly. "Why don't you bring Grandpa over? I'm planning to sell the house anyway. The money from it can be used for his medical expenses." Barry responded in shock, "But last time, didn't you say the money you gave was from selling the house? What's going on, Sabrina? Where did you get that money? If Grandpa knew you were involved in something shady, he wouldn't be able to bear it." It was not just Grandpa; Barry could not bear it either. Realizing she could not hide the truth any longer, Sabrina took a deep breath and said, "You both should come over. Some things are hard to explain over the phone. Plus, we can have Grandpa checked out while he's here." After a moment's contemplation, Barry agreed, "Alright, I'll arrange it. Sabrina, please, don't get into any trouble." "I won't. Relax. I borrowed that money and I'll pay it back." She could only offer such an explanation to put Barry at ease.