I opened my mouth to speak, but Emily interjected with hopeful eyes, "Grace, you won't mind, right?"
Maybe because I was always too accommodating, but this time, I didn't want to swallow my pride.
I said firmly, "No, you have to come home with me tonight."
Alex got impatient, standing up abruptly to scold me, "Grace, how can you be so unreasonable? If Emily hadn't taken that knife for me, I'd be the one lying in that bed!"
"And what about me? I rushed here the moment I heard. You've been taking care of her for days. I'm not stopping you, but can't you spend some time with me? I've been so nauseous."
Emily sobbed, "Alex, you should go. Ethan is here. He can take care of me."
"Stop saying that, Ethan is too young to take care of anyone!" Alex shouted, emotionally strained.
He pointed at me, clutching his chest dramatically, "Grace, I thought you were grateful to Emily too. But you're just being selfish."
"Go home and think about this. Take the pancake with you."
A little boy beside him looked up innocently and said, "Daddy, I'm hungry."
Alex glanced at the pancake in my hands. I looked at him incredulously, gripping the container tighter.