From Ruin, She Rose - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

In the awkward silence, Emma suddenly seemed to remember something. "You still love sleeping in, don't you? Just woke up now—must be hungry, right? Come eat with us."
She smiled and waved Emily over, completely forgetting that all the food on the table had already been eaten—except for some bread Lydia had taken one bite of and disliked.
Gale frowned. "Why are you bothering with her? She already ate in the kitchen. She stuffed her face like an animal, with zero manners."
Then he glared at Emily. "I told you—if you can't behave properly, you don't get to eat at the table. Are you just ignoring everything I say?"
Trying to calm him down, Lydia quickly said, "Dad, don't be mad. Maybe Emily's still hungry. I don't eat much—I'd be happy to give my breakfast to her."
She sweetly picked up the plate with the leftover bread and looked at Emily with innocent eyes. "Emily, come eat with us."
Emily didn't move. She lowered her eyes. "Thank you, Ms. Bennett. But I already ate."
The chef had given her plenty of spaghetti. She really couldn't eat another bite.
But Lydia's eyes started to turn red. "Emily, do you not want it because it's from me?
"I know it's leftover bread, but I didn't touch it—it's clean. I was just worried you didn't eat enough. I didn't mean anything else. If you're upset, I-I'm sorry."
Her face was full of guilt and helplessness, with tears welling in her eyes. Seeing that all-too-familiar expression, Emily already knew what would happen next.
Sure enough, Lucas slammed his fork down and glared at her. "Lydia offered you her breakfast out of kindness. What's your problem?
"Dad just saw you eating in the kitchen. And now you're here trying to take Lydia's food on purpose? Picking a fight first thing in the morning? Honestly, you should've stayed at St. Gabriel's and never come back!"
Emily had heard this kind of scolding more times than she could count two years ago. Back then, it always left her feeling wronged and upset.
But now, she just looked calmly at Lucas. "I never said I was still hungry. I never tried to take anything from Ms. Bennett. And I never said I had a problem with her leftovers."
She had even waited until they were all done eating before stepping out of the kitchen. The only thing she said was politely turning down Lydia's offer. She didn't understand how that turned into her picking on Lydia.
Facing Emily's steady gaze, Lucas suddenly felt a sharp pang in his chest.
Emily really hadn't said anything rude. But in his eyes, turning down Lydia's kindness—and making her cry—was enough to count as picking on her.
Furious and embarrassed, Lucas stood up and grabbed the plate of bread. "You don't deserve Lydia's kindness. If you don't want it, then forget it!"
He tossed the bread and the plate straight into the trash and stormed off.
The mood at the table grew heavy. Even Emma's smile disappeared. "Everything was fine—why does it always turn into this?"
She didn't say Emily's name, but it was clear who she meant.
Emily acted like she didn't hear it. She said coolly, "I want to see Grandpa Charles."
From the beginning, that was the only thing she'd wanted to say. But no one gave her the chance. They just jumped in and blamed her for picking on Lydia.
When Emily mentioned Charles, the angry looks on Gale and Emma's faces froze.
They had nearly forgotten—Charles had always loved Emily the most. Even though Lydia had suffered all those years outside, his favorite grandchild was still Emily.
Ever since Emily was sent to St. Gabriel Reform Academy, Charles had moved into the hospital, and for the past two years, he talked about her every single day.
Emma felt a headache coming on just thinking about how Charles always scolded them for favoring Lydia too much and ignoring Emily.
She never believed they'd ignored Emily. In her mind, it was just Emily being immature and always trying to take things from Lydia. They felt bad for all that Lydia had gone through and thought Emily should've been more understanding.
"I still need to get things ready for Lydia's graduation," Emma said. "Andrew, you take Emily."
Andrew didn't say no. He had meant to bring up visiting Charles last night, but after getting interrupted, he forgot.
On the way to the hospital, Emily sat with her knees together, pressed close to the car door, hands gripping her lap tightly, her head lowered.
For the past two years, whenever she felt like she couldn't go on, the person she missed the most was Charles.
If Charles knew she'd been bullied, he'd definitely grab a stick and break those people's legs. Then he'd hold her tight and tell her not to cry.
But if she told him everything she'd been through, he would be heartbroken.
Emily curled up in her seat, looking miserable. Seeing her like that made Andrew's chest tighten.
He spoke without thinking, softening his voice. "Emily, don't be mad at Lucas. I'll scold him for you later.
"But the reason he got upset was to protect Lydia. If you want to eat something, just ask the chef next time. No need to fight over food with Lydia."
Even though he said he'd talk to Lucas, his words still hinted that Emily was the one at fault for competing with Lydia.
But Emily had already explained—she never said she was hungry, never wanted Lydia's food.
Whether it was two years ago or now, her explanations always sounded like excuses to them. They never believed her.
So Emily stopped explaining. She just nodded and went back to staring at her knees, quietly thinking about what to say to Charles that wouldn't make him sad.
She didn't argue or talk back like she used to. Didn't chatter on endlessly like she once did. That used to be exactly what Andrew wished for, yet now it left him feeling strangely empty.
He figured Emily must still resent them for sending her to St. Gabriel's. That must be why she was acting so distant.
Still, he believed she would understand one day—they had only done it for her own good.
Andrew sighed. "Emily, do you know why Grandpa's been in the hospital?"
At the mention of Charles, Emily finally looked up.
She had thought Charles was still living at the Bennett residence. That was why she rushed back yesterday without rest.
But this morning she asked one of the maids, and they told her Charles had fallen at the front steps the day after she was sent to St. Gabriel Reform Academy. He was taken to the hospital and never came back.
She had no idea how bad the fall was if he had to stay in the hospital for two whole years.
Thinking about it now, she regretted not asking Lucas yesterday. She should've gone straight to the hospital to see Charles.