"You're not playing your grandmother against me, are you?" I stood my ground, refusing to be intimidated by Nathaniel's intense stare.
His jaw tightened. "I don't need to play anyone. Especially not my grandmother."
"Then why is she convinced I'm your wife?" I pressed.
Before Nathaniel could answer, a gentle voice interrupted us.
"Because you are."
We both turned to see Old Mrs. Margaret watching us with surprisingly alert eyes. She hadn't been sleeping after all.
"Grandmother, please," Nathaniel's tone softened immediately. "You need to rest."
"I'm not a child, Nathaniel," she said firmly. "And I'm not senile either, no matter what that horrible girl and her mother think."
I glanced between them, uncomfortable being caught in their family dispute. "Mrs. Ricardo, I should probably go—"
"No!" Her hand shot out and grabbed my wrist with surprising strength. "You can't leave me tonight. I need you here."
