"What?!" Grant snapped, shooting up from his seat so abruptly the chair scraped loudly against the floor. "So now you're dumping everything on me?!"
He stormed toward Max and grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward. "You ungrateful idiot. You think you'd even have a job without me? You were nothing before I took you in. A bunch of strays begging to survive!"
Max froze, trembling under his grip, unable to respond as the room tightened around them.
"Grant."
Jade's voice cut through the tension cleanly.
Grant's hand loosened slightly as he turned toward her, the anger on his face faltering. "B-But—"
"I think it's better if you rest," Jade said, her tone flat.
He released Max's collar slowly, as the strength had drained out of him, but the desperation lingered. "But this—"
"Rest," Jade repeated, sharper this time. "You'll be back after the project is finished."
