13 All against one
Emily let out a small, knowing laugh, that carried both disbelief and a hint of sarcasm. “You and I both know you’re not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to big exams,” Emily pointed out, her voice carrying a touch of disappointment. “How do you plan to manage it?”
Brandy paused. “I’ll try harder this time,” she responded, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she grappled with the weight of Emily’s expectations. “I will become his intern with my grades.”
With words hanging heavy in the air like unspoken truths. Emily’s voice cut through the charged silence. “We both do not believe that sweetheart. You only wanted to use that to spite Flora but you know you really shouldn’t have.‘
Brandy’s retort was swift, laden with years of buried resentment and perceived injustices. “I know you are still very much in support of Flora, you just always pretend not to like her. You’re still on Team Flora. She’s your flesh and blood, your daughter anyways whereas I’m not your daughter,I am just some remembrance of someone you probably never liked. Hence why you always had to pretend to like me.
Emily’s expression wavered between hurt and frustration, a mother’s love wrestling with the scars of misunderstandings. Brandy stood her ground, her tone a blend of defiance and vulnerability.
“Brandy,” Emily’s voice was steady, masking the hurt that pricked at her heart. “I understand you’re hurting, and I’m sorry you feel this way. You’re a part of this family, part of my life.”
She took a breath, her gaze unwavering. “I admit, our relationship hasn’t been easy, but it’s not about liking or disliking. Flora is my daughter, true, but that doesn’t diminish my care for you. I’ve tried my best to show you love and support, even when it may not have seemed like it.”
“I’ve never pretended to care for you, Brandy. And I’m here to build bridges, to mend what’s broken between us. You’re not just a reminder of the past; you’re a part of our present and future. I hope someday you’ll see that my love for you is genuine, not based on who you remind me of, but because of who you are.”
She continued. “But all these won’t stop me from telling you facts. You are not a lady smart in academics, Brandy”
Leslie let out a little snort which was as a result of trying to hold back her laughter.
Emily stood near the doorway of the hospital room, her demeanor tense yet composed. With a controlled voice, she addressed the occupants, her gaze sweeping across the room. “I’ll be heading out now. You two can leave whenever you want.” Her words were aimed at her husband and his child, a touch of annoyance creeping into her tone, fueled by the recent tension with Brandy.
Then, turning her attention to Leslie, sitting by the bed with a frail yet reassuring presence, Emily’s expression softened marginally. “I’ll be back to see your mother soon, Leslie. Take care.” Her words carried a genuine concern, a contrast to the evident strain in the room.
There was an unspoken weight in the air, a tension simmering beneath the surface. Emily’s departure
2/3
held a visible sense of finality with lots of unsaid messages lingering in the room. And with that, she left, the door closing behind her.
“Are you all right?” Leslie asked Brandy, sensing her discomfort.
Leslie’s concern for Brandy was met with unexpected bitterness. “You only ask because Emily talked to me like that in front of you, right? It’s not your fault,” Brandy retorted, her words laced with a defensive edge, pointing the blame at Emily for the discomfort she felt. “It’s Emily’s fault.”
Leslie sighed softly, with the weight of the strained atmosphere. “Brandy, it’s not about fault,” she attempted to soothe, her voice gentle yet firm. “I just wanted to check if you’re okay.”
Brandy’s features hardened a lot more, defensiveness resurfaced. “Yeah, well, I just don’t need you of all people to check up on me. Not you, Leslie!!,” she muttered, her frustration evident.
Sighing again. “Can you see the reason why I don’t need you here? You guys are just so aggressive, full of hate and anger. You’re always screaming, forgetting this is a hospital room. So just as I do not want you here so doesn’t grandma need you here.”
While all these were unfolding, Albert stayed put to his seat, typing away on the screen of his phone.
Brandy’s anger surged, a wildfire threatening to engulf reason. “You’re really telling me to leave? Don’t forget our family has been helping you all these years. How dare you order me out!” Her voice reverberated through the room, laced with an indignant fury that simmered beneath the surface.
Leslie, usually composed, felt the sting of Brandy’s accusation. Irritation flashed across her features, a rare crack in her usual calm demeanor. “Helping us? Yes, your family did help, but let’s not pretend it wasn’t a mutually beneficial arrangement. The Anderson wealth, where did that really come from? Wasn’t it Flora’s mother who built that legacy? And I doubt if you know anything about her”
The tension crackled between them, each word laden with history and resentment. Brandy seethed, her gaze shooting daggers, seeking an outlet for her frustration. “How dare you throw that in my face! You know nothing about what my family has gone through,” she retorted, her voice strained with emotion. “And, yes, I know Emily pretty well.”
Leslie held her ground, her tone firm. “Let’s leave that last sentence out of the conversation for now. I’m not here to trade blows, Brandy. We all want what’s best for Grandma But if you can’t respect that, maybe leaving is for the best.”
Albert, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension, intervened with a calming voice for the first time ever. “Let’s all take a moment to breathe. We’re here for Grandma, remember?”
“Woah, that’s expensive coming from you uncle.” Leslie said, with her irritation barely contained.
Brandy’s threat sliced through the air with a venomous edge in her voice as she challenged Leslie. ” Let me tell you this, Leslie. If I can take away your achievements, I can take away anything else. You’d better slow down. Otherwise, I’ll ruin your whole life! Do not think because Flora supports you she can free you from my wrath. No”
Leslie frowned her brows in response with a flicker of defiance glinting in her eyes. She inhaled deeply, steadying herself before meeting Brandy’s gaze head–on. “You’ll get what you deserve one
day. I’ll look forward to seeing you ruin your own life!” Her voice, though measured, carried a resolve which was a silent belief in her own strength.
At that moment, something clicked for Leslie. She really believed Flora’s whispered words held She held onto the belief that Flora, in some unforeseen way, would help her reclaim everything that was rightfully hers.
Brandy, burning with anger, lunged forward, gearing up for a confrontation. But sensing the brewing storm and the risks of a scene in public, Albert jumped in, quickly holding Brandy back. With a firm touch, he restrained her. “Brandy, not here,” Albert urged, his voice urgent but hushed, trying to
diffuse the situation.
