Chapter 26 He Must Hate Them
Elsa left while Alexander was upstairs taking a phone call and went to visit her parents.
That evening, Alexander came to pick her up for dinner at the Horton family residence. As usual, he brought her parents another pile of expensive supplements and gifts.
The moment Elsa got into the car, she closed her eyes and rested. She didn't speak to Alexander once during the entire drive.
Alexander didn't try to talk to her either. His attention remained on his phone, as though he was messaging someone.
When the car entered the gates of the Horton estate, Elsa silently followed him into the living room.
Old Mr. Horton was there, along with Alexander's parents and Violet.
Violet immediately stood when she saw them and whispered, "Grandpa's angry. Be careful."
Elsa heard Alexander give a faint, humorless snort and glanced at him.
His jaw was tightly clenched. The way he looked at his grandfather was almost the way a man looked at an enemy.
Elsa quietly turned away.
Six years ago, Old Mr. Horton had separated Alexander and Serena.
Serena had left the country for six years and, according to what Elsa believed, had given birth to Alexander's son while unmarried.
Now Alexander was protecting his reputation and the family's interests, so he wasn't willing to divorce Elsa yet.
But that meant the woman he loved had to live with the label of mistress, while their son was branded illegitimate.
He must hate his grandfather for that.
"The daughter-in-law of the Horton family working as some assistant in a hospital—what do you think people will say about us?"
Charles Horton's voice pulled Elsa from her thoughts.
She was about to explain when Alexander took her hand and spoke first.
"Dad, I was the one who told Elsa she could work. If you have a problem, take it up with me."
Old Mr. Horton struck his cane against the floor. "Quit immediately. If you insist on working, work for the Horton Group."
Alexander refused. "Elsa studied medicine. What exactly is she supposed to do at the Horton Group?"
"Then do nothing!" the old man snapped. "Be a figurehead if necessary."
Elsa laughed bitterly to herself.
So Alexander wasn't the only one who saw her as decoration.
The Horton elders viewed the fallen Winters heiress the same way.
Alexander stood in the middle of the room without yielding an inch. "Grandpa, Dad, Mom—stay out of my marriage."
Old Mr. Horton's face turned livid. "Bring the family whip."
Charles pointed toward the butler. "What are you waiting for?"
The butler hurried away.
Eleanor realized how serious things had become and quickly stepped forward. "Dad, young people wanting to build careers isn't a bad thing. You don't have to—"
"Enough!"
Charles cut his wife off. "You don't understand these matters."
Eleanor fell silent.
Elsa stood where she was and said nothing.
After three years of marriage, she knew the Horton family well.
Old Mr. Horton was elderly, but his word remained law in the household. No one challenged his decisions.
Charles was a dutiful son who never contradicted his father and was especially strict with Alexander.
Eleanor was the warmest person in the family, but she had almost no authority here.
No matter how powerful Alexander and Violet might be outside these walls, at home they behaved with rigid obedience before the elders.
As for Elsa, a daughter from a bankrupt family, her position was even weaker.
Alexander had been raised by his grandfather and father to become the Horton heir.
In many ways, the three men were very much alike.
If Alexander hadn't feared Elsa would expose his supposed affair and create a scandal, he probably never would have agreed to let her return to work in the first place.
The butler returned with a whip.
He stood beside Alexander but hesitated. "Young Master, just apologize to Old Mr. Horton. Say something to calm him down."
Alexander glanced at Elsa, gently moved her aside, and knelt before his grandfather.
Charles's voice was cold. "Hit him. Keep going until he lowers his head."
The butler had no choice.
Elsa turned her face away.
In the silent living room came the crack of leather against flesh, followed by Alexander's muffled grunts.
After several lashes, Eleanor couldn't take it anymore.
"Dad, stop! You can't keep hitting him!"
Elsa seized the opening. "Grandpa, if the problem is that my job embarrasses the Horton family, I have a solution."
If she could use this chance to make Old Mr. Horton order a divorce, that would be perfect.
The butler quickly lowered the whip and stepped back.
Elsa's eyes fell on the torn skin across Alexander's back.
"If Grandpa agrees to let me divorce your grandson, then I—"
"Elsa!"
Alexander's hand closed around her wrist before she could finish.
Old Mr. Horton's shrewd eyes moved between them. "You two want a divorce?"
Alexander answered first. "No, Grandpa. We don't."
Elsa quietly withdrew her wrist.
After a brief hesitation, she opened her mouth again, but Alexander forced himself to his feet and dragged her toward him.
His face was pale. His warning gaze never left hers.
"You can make all the trouble you want with me at home. But in front of Grandpa and my parents, control yourself."
Elsa lowered her eyes and said nothing.
He wasn't afraid she would mention divorce.
He was afraid she would bring Serena and the child into it.
Eleanor hurried over to smooth things over. "Dad, you've punished him. They both know they were wrong. Let Alexander go upstairs and have Elsa treat his wounds. He has the shareholders' meeting next Monday. We can't let this affect it."
But Old Mr. Horton still wasn't finished with Elsa.
"You have one week to quit your job. Otherwise, I'll call the hospital director myself."
Elsa could no longer swallow her anger. "Grandpa, I married into the Horton family. I wasn't sold to it. What I do and where I work are my choices."
The old man gave a cold laugh and tore open one of her deepest wounds without mercy.
"When the Winters family went bankrupt, you, your parents, and your brother were nearly homeless. If Alexander hadn't paid the Winters family's debts, would you have the life you have now?"
Elsa's jaw tightened. "I owe your grandson. I don't owe you."
"Whether you admit it or not, everything Alexander has came from the Horton family."
Elsa wanted to answer, but Alexander forcibly pulled her upstairs.
In the second-floor bedroom, Eleanor set down a medical kit.
"The wounds on Alexander's back are serious. I don't know whether he'll develop a fever tonight. Stay here tonight so we can look after him."
Elsa didn't object.
Alexander had been beaten because he defended her right to work. And she was off tomorrow anyway. It didn't matter where she slept.
After Eleanor and Violet left, Elsa closed the door and moved to help Alexander remove his jacket.
His expression darkened.
He caught the hand she placed on his shoulder and asked coldly, "Why did you bring up divorce in front of Grandpa?"