Emily’s voice cut through the air, sharp with irritation, "I'm still talking to you, and you're already off chatting with someone else? Do you even have any respect for your elders?"
Allison took a deep breath, her gaze low before she looked up with determination. "Grandma Emily, I'm not sure what I've done to upset you, but if me being here bothers you so much, maybe I should just leave?"
Without waiting for an answer, Allison took the little girl's hand and started to walk away.
Joshua shot a meaningful look at Lillian, his expression turning cold. "If I find out you've been stirring things up with Grandma, there'll be consequences."
Lillian put on a face of injured innocence. "Joshua, I didn't do anything."
Emily glared at Joshua. "This has nothing to do with Lillian. Did you see how Allison spoke to me? And you expect me to like her?"
Joshua chuckled dryly. "Whether you like her or not doesn't matter; she's not marrying you."
Knowing that trying to reason with Emily was pointless, Joshua chose to remain silent.
"You..." Emily was fuming, her breath coming in harsh bursts. "Is this how you speak to your grandmother?"
Joshua ignored her and walked away.
Emily was left seething, and her breathing was ragged.
"Grandma, take it easy." Lillian tried to calm her down. "Don't argue with Joshua; it's all Allison's fault. She's got him under her spell, and she's not right for him."
Emily worked to steady herself and after a pause, said, "You're right. She isn't fit for Joshua."
A sly smile flitted across Lillian's lips.
...
Allison spent some time playing with the little girl until her mother came over.
"Ms. Allison, I'm so sorry for the disturbance. Kids can be such a handful," the woman apologized warmly and politely.
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