Theodore didn't expect this from his grandfather. His cruel words were like a blow that hit his heart hard, almost knocking the air out of his lungs.
Theodore, fists clenched at his sides, glared at his grandfather. The elder man's face, usually a stoic mask of power, was flushed with anger.
A strange cocktail of agony and annoyance churned within him.
"You only care about her family background," he hissed with bitterness in his tone. "You only consider her an illegitimate child. "Is it her fault her father left? She is innocent in all this!"
Drawing in a sharp breath, Theodore squared his shoulders, defiance hardening his features. "I will never leave her," he declared with newfound resolve. "You may forget she saved my life, but I haven't."