My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1221

Dennis clapped his hands over his ears, clearly feeling sorry for himself, his lips sticking out in a pout. “Please, just stop,” he mumbled. “Grandpa already gave me this whole lecture. I know I messed up. I won’t try to do something like that again. I promise. Dad, please don’t yell at me anymore.”

Andrew reached over and pulled Dennis’s hands away from his ears. His voice was cold and steady. “Then explain. Why would you even think of doing something like that?”

Dennis shot a quick look at Kevin, still clueless that his grandfather had already guessed Amelia was behind the fake suicide plan. He lowered his head, voice small. “I just… I miss Mom so much. Dad, I know some bad people took her. She’s stuck somewhere and can’t come back. I felt so sad, so… that’s why.”

He thought that would be enough, that Andrew would believe him just like Kevin had.

But Andrew only said, “You’re lying.”

Dennis’s eyes went wide with panic. “I’m not! I really haven’t seen Mom for so long. I miss her so much.”

Andrew’s brow tightened. He seemed even more serious, his voice dropping lower. “Tell me the truth. All of it.”

He knew his son too well. Dennis was a bright kid, but his mind was simple. He lived in the moment, happy when he could be. There was no way a little kid like him could really understand something as heavy as suicide, let alone try it. Sure, Dennis might cry about missing Isabella, or complain to the family, but that was it. The idea of him actually trying to hurt himself was just ridiculous.

Dennis liked his dad, but the man’s presence was intimidating. He shrank back, shoulders hunched, voice barely above a whisper. “But… that’s really what happened…”

Andrew stared him down. “One last chance. Tell the truth on your own.”

Dennis’s brows scrunched up tight. He remembered Amelia’s warning, clear as day. Never tell on her. But Andrew was so scary right now. He felt trapped.

Andrew watched him carefully, catching the way Dennis’s eyes darted around, clearly searching for an excuse. Finally, Dennis seemed to make up his mind. He straightened up a little, forced some bravado into his voice. “I’m telling the truth. That’s what happened. I’m not lying.”

Andrew’s face got even colder.

Dennis hugged himself, suddenly shivering, like the room had gotten colder.

Andrew pulled him close. “Stand up straight.”

Dennis quickly did as he was told.

Andrew turned to Kevin, who was sitting calmly with his tea, taking a slow sip.

“Dad, do you know what’s really going on?” Andrew asked.

Dennis felt a surge of pride. There was no way Grandpa would spill the truth. He and Aunt Amelia had convinced him to help Mom. He covered his mouth, eyes sparkling with mischief, trying not to giggle.

Kevin put down his cup, his voice calm. “Amelia told him to do it.”

Dennis started shaking, flashes of the last time Grandpa punished him running through his mind. His hands stung just remembering it. He felt sick with fear, his face pale. “Dad, I… I…”

Andrew glanced upstairs, catching a glimpse of Amelia’s back as she ran into her room.

He looked back at Dennis, voice colder than ever. “So you think you’re all grown up now? Getting bold, trying to threaten your own family with something like this? Do you have any idea how much you scared your grandfather and me? You put Grandpa in the hospital. His health isn’t good. If something happened to him because of this, could you live with that? If Grandpa hadn’t found out the truth, would you still be lying right now?”

Dennis’s lips quivered. Tears streamed down his face. “I know I was wrong…”

Andrew’s voice was sharp. “What did you do wrong?”

Dennis sobbed, “I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have tried to hurt myself. I should care about my life. I shouldn’t have made you and Grandpa worry. I’ll never do it again. I promise I’ll be good from now on. I really know I was wrong.”

Andrew let go of him and pointed to the corner. “Go kneel over there. Don’t get up until I say you can.”

Dennis looked at Kevin, eyes full of tears, hoping for help. But Grandpa just sipped his tea, not even looking his way.

So Dennis wiped his face, sniffled, and shuffled over to the corner to kneel.