Justin held Julia’s hand. "Grandma, please, say no more," he then turned to Albert. "Mr. Ford, we will explain everything to you. But you need to calm down first."
"Justin, what’s going on?" Julia asked, her voice filled with worry and confusion.
"Grandma, I promise I’ll tell you everything, but let’s focus on Mr. Ford right now." Justin moved toward Albert, who stood there, utterly shocked, his gaze fixed on Natalie. "So... he’s not your husband?" Albert asked, his voice trembling.
"Grandpa, please, let us explain," Natalie pleaded, tears streaming down her face. She knew this revelation would be devastating for him—not just about Justin pretending to be her husband, but the painful reality that she didn’t know where her real husband was.
Justin reached Albert’s side. "Mr. Ford—"
But Albert had already begun to lose his composure. His body trembled as he clutched his heart, his teary eyes filled with pain, and his gaze locked on Natalie. "You lied to ?"
"Grandpa, please..."
"All this ti... you... ugh..." A groan of pain escaped him.
"Grandpa!" Natalie cried, rushing to his side. Justin quickly followed, and together they eased Albert into a chair.
Albert’s face was ashen, his breath shallow. The hurt from the truth, combined with the physical pain, overwheld him as he closed his eyes, still clutching his chest. All those happy pictures he had of Natalie with her husband, started to shatter in in his mories.
All of that was a lie
The manager, who had been observing in shock, was unsure of what was happening. Justin quickly turned to him. "Call an ambulance. Hurry."
Julia, equally shocked and confused by the sudden turn of events, saw Albert’s condition worsening. Despite her confusion, she instinctively stepped in, her sense of responsibility taking over.
"Albert, I don’t know what’s going on either, but you need to calm down. We can sort this out once you’re feeling better," she urged.
"Grandpa, please hold on, okay?" Natalie’s voice trembled as she wiped away his tears. "I promise, I’ll tell you everything."
Albert shook his head weakly, unable to speak as the pain in his chest intensified.
Monts later, the manager returned with the dical staff that was on-site for ergencies. "The ambulance will be here in five minutes. Let our team assist Mr. Ford in the anti."
The dical staff quickly checked on Albert, administering basic care until the ambulance arrived. Soon, he was rushed to the nearby hospital, the sa one where he had been receiving treatnt for his ongoing health issues.
In the hospital waiting room, Natalie slumped into a chair, tears streaming down her face. Guilt weighed heavily on her.
Justin sat beside her, his expression softening. "Natalie..."
"It’s all my fault," she whispered between sobs. "I shouldn’t have lied to him. I should have told him earlier. If sothing happens to him..."
Justin gently took her hand in his. "Don’t cry. He’s going to be okay. He’s a strong man, Natalie."
In response, Natalie only cried harder, her sobs shaking her shoulders. Justin gently pulled her into a comforting hug, his voice soft and reassuring. "Don’t cry. We’ll explain everything to him. He loves you so much, and he’ll forgive us."
Standing off to the side, Julia watched quietly. For so long, she had believed that Justin didn’t want to et Natalie, that he harbored so bad image of her in his mind, and that was why he hadn’t introduced her to Natalie. But what she was witnessing now was entirely different—and surprising.
So many questions swirled in her mind, but in this mont, she chose silence. Like a wise elder, she knew Justin would explain everything to her eventually.
Natalie continued to cry for a while, and Justin held her, offering quiet comfort. Once she began to calm down, he gently wiped her tears. "I’ll get you so water. Just stay here, okay?"
She nodded, her voice too raw to speak. Justin stood, glancing at Julia, who remained seated quietly. He knew it was ti to give her the answers she deserved. First, he retrieved water for both Natalie and Julia, handing a glass to Natalie before turning back to his grandmother.
"I need to talk to my grandma," he said softly, and Natalie, feeling overwheld by guilt, couldn’t bring herself to look at Julia. She simply nodded, giving him the space he needed.
Justin and Julia walked down the corridor, stopping at the open gallery of the hospital floor. The silence between them stretched, but Julia patiently waited for her grandson to speak.
Taking a deep breath, Justin explained everything—how it all started, the circumstances that had led to this mont. Julia listened quietly, absorbing every word. She had always trusted her grandson, but the truth shocked her nonetheless.
"...But who is her husband, that man, Aiden Handrix?" Julia’s face flushed with anger. "He dared to trap my granddaughter like this? Bring him to . I’ll strangle him with my own hands! That rascal! I’ll use my cane to beat the sense into him—clearly sothing his parents forgot to do!"
Achoo!
Justin sneezed and looked around, realising there were outside so the air must have caused him to...
"Do you have a cold?" Julia asked, montarily concerned.
"No. The air in this city seems to be allergic for ," he replied, rubbing his nose with his fingers.
Julia’s anger resurfaced quickly. "Alright, now what do we do?"
Justin sighed. "Once Mr. Ford wakes up, we’ll explain everything to him—"
"That I know you have to, as you both have done a terrible mistake of making such a lie," Julia looked clearly displeased, "The shock of Natalie being deceived by soone would have been bearable for him than the shock of how you two have made a fool out of him."
"Grandma, Natalie was worried..."
"And all this while you acted in front of as if you didn’t know her?" She interrupted him, "I was worried to think you hated her and here you were playing her husband..." She realised sothing. "Wait!..." she frowned angrily, "Did you realise she is your father’s biological daughter? And you played as her husband?"
"I know, Grandma. It’s just happened that way. I had to help her."
"It’s good that the truth is finally out, though I feel bad for Albert," Julia added. "Now we can reveal Natalie’s true identity and bring her back into our family. We don’t have to leave her to suffer with these Fords."
What Justin had been dreading, what he had felt reluctant about, seed like it was all going to happen so suddenly.
"Grandma, let’s wait until Mr. Ford is out of danger first. Then we’ll think about it. You saw that Natalie isn’t in a good place either."
Julia frowned, her expression softening slightly. "Do you think I’m heartless? Of course, I’ll wait until Albert is strong enough to handle the truth. But given how his family treats Natalie, I’m sure he’ll be relieved to let her co with us if he truly cares for her."
Justin nodded, though his heart felt heavy. The reality of having the sa father’s na behind him and Natalie weighed on his mind. How was he going to handle this?
Just then, Justin’s phone rang.
"Answer it. I’ll go back to check on Natalie," Julia said, walking away as he took the call.
Julia returned to where Natalie was waiting, only to be t with a shocking sight.
Slap!
The sound echoed as one of the Ford family mbers, Natalie’s grandmother, struck her across the face. "You wretch! What did you do this ti? Will you only be satisfied when my husband is dead?"
"I’m sorry, Grandma," Natalie whispered, guilt written all over her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I’m really sorry."
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