Lisa froze, staring at her father blankly, while he pointed at her while still holding the handkerchief against his face like he was disgusted by his own daughter.
"I told you to leave your mother and come with me, Lisa. But you didn't listen! You stayed with her—with that diseased woman!"
His voice rose higher, louder, until it almost echoed.
"You've also been touching her, breathing the same air—you're probably infected too! And now you dare come near me? You want to spread it to me too?!"
Lisa's breath caught in her throat.
"How dare you!" Rufus went on, his face twisted with fury. "Do you not care about your father's life?! Do you want me to end up like her—like that?!"
He pointed viciously toward Esme, who lay trembling on the bed, tears spilling silently down her cheeks.
"Stay away from me! Stay back you unfilial girl!"
Lisa didn't cry this time.
