His Lisichka [MXM]

49 - Blow me an apology

Oliver carefully examined both Emily and Anna, his hands steady but his heart racing.

He exhaled deeply in relief when he confirmed that the girls were okay aside from minor bruises on their ankles.

"A little shaken up," he admitted, "but nothing serious."

"I'm so sorry, Emily. And you too, Anna," Oliver apologized, his guilt evident.

Both girls shook their heads.

"This is all my fault," Emily confessed. "I shouldn't have lied to you or snuck out to that party."

"And I shouldn't have pressured her into it," Anna added, leaning back against the hospital bed. "Believe me, no more partying for me."

Emily chuckled softly at Anna's dramatic tone, but her laughter stopped when her eyes landed on someone at the doorway.

Her grandmother.

"It was you!" Emily snapped, pointing an accusing finger. "I knew your sudden reappearance was suspicious!"

Her grandmother's face crumpled with guilt. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I-I..."

Oliver cut her off with a sharp glare. "Leave. You've done enough damage."

The older woman hesitated, then turned to leave without another word.

"Dad," Emily said firmly once her grandmother was gone, "don't forgive her. She's only here to make your life worse."

Oliver sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Emily, it's... complicated. But just know, I'm more cautious now than I was before."

Emily stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Fair enough. But you should go check on Ivan."

Oliver's cheeks flushed. "Peanut, I'm making sure you're okay first."

"Dad," Emily deadpanned, "stop being a wuss. I know you probably blamed everything on him, which is why you had Dr. Ravi stitching him up instead of doing it yourself."

"I didn't—"

"Yes, you did," Emily interrupted, crossing her arms. "Now go. Go."

Reluctantly, Oliver let himself be ushered out of the room by his very determined daughter.

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