“As he should be. If he wasn’t, I’d have to have words with him. You’re my favorite granddaughter after all.”
“I’m your only granddaughter!” My walls crumbled around my grandmother, and I told her everything about work, the managers, and the other interns.
“Why couldn’t you apply for a normal job like a normal graduate? This internship sounds like a battle royale.”
“First, I love a battle royale. Second, Simucon pays more than other firms. If I get this job, I could pay you back.”
“Lily,” she said, calling me by the nickname she’d given me.
There could only be one Elizabeth Gray, and I could never live up to how incredible she was.
“I never asked to be paid back,” she said.
“I know, but I also know you need it, even though you’ll say you don’t. I’ve just discovered how expensive your insulin is. You can’t fool me.” I swallowed the lump of guilt climbing in my throat, and before she could protest, I continued. “Third, there aren’t that many companies hiring junior roads and transport engineers right now.”
“And…?”
I took a long, deep breath before stating the next reason, the real reason. “And finally, with Douglas’s surname, it’s hard to tell what was given to me because of him and what was earned. He’ll claim my every victory until I can prove he had nothing to do with it.” I blew out a long, slow breath. “And I know I should be grateful. People would kill to be in my position, but it’s not fair to anyone. I hate it. But this internship’s final test is completely anonymous. It might be the one and only chance to see if I could do something without him.”
My grandmother hissed. “I can’t wait to see you prove him wrong.”
“I hope I don’t prove him right,” I said, my chest shuddering at the thought of his smug expression. “I never told you about what happened the night I left… How come you never asked?”
“I was so happy, Lily. So relieved. I knew you’d tell me eventually, once you’d processed it all. I didn’t think it would take two entire years.”
I fell backward onto my pillow and grumbled, “It kind of started and ended because of engineering. I mean, he was always awful, but I didn’t see it, I didn’t realize. I thought a man with his success and reputation had somehow earned the right to be difficult. He took every opportunity to remind me that everything I had, I had because of him. Until I started studying. He didn’t want me to. He said it was a waste of his money and my time because there was no way I was capable. My stupid twenty-year-old self believed him and I dropped out.”
My gran tutted. “I bet he was thrilled.”
“Oh, yes. He was so kind and supportive after that. He took Mom and me around the world on a de-stressing adventure, and when I returned, he shoved me into modeling. But I didn’t enjoy it. Mom noticed and, without telling him, drove me down to SDSU, where we spent the day wandering around the campus. I didn’t realize at the time, but she wanted me to get away from Douglas and UCLA was still too close to home.”
A whoosh of air came through the line. Gran’s voice cracked. “Your mother never told me that.”
“She wouldn’t, because afterward we drove home and pretended it never happened. When my application was accepted, I broke the news to Douglas and he lost his mind. He reminded me of how I failed the first time around and promised me I’d fail this time too. Mom tried soothing him—she even took the fall—but his rage-filled eyes were focused on me. I was so scared I ran to my room and considered staying there forever. But in the middle of the night, when Douglas was asleep, Mom came to me, gave me a handful of cash, and told me to leave. That was the night I showed up on your doorstep.”
“Oh, Lily,” my grandmother whispered. “It was one of the best and worst nights of my life. I’d never seen you so devastated.” Sizzling rage underlined her next words. “But I’d hoped and prayed that you and your mother would get away from him. He knew and hated me for it.” She took a deep breath and coughed. “You did the right thing. And look at you now, participating in a battle royale.”
I laughed, but a tear slid down my cheek. “I just don’t understand why she’s there. Why hasn’t she left? Why didn’t she leave with me?”
“Do you honestly think he’ll let his wife walk out? Lily, he’s barely let go of you. Darling, men like Douglas are powerful for areason.” My gran’s voice dropped back down to its usual rasp. “Your mother was once a strong and independent woman, but as soon as she fell in love with him, she lost herself and was entirely consumed by it. Despite how complex she is, she’s very simple when it comes to love. All the Gray women are. It’s our only weakness.”
“Not mine,” I huffed out.
“Mmm…” From the sound of it, my grandmother lit another cigarette. “Not yet.”
7
LINCOLN
[97 weeks ago]
@pancakesareelite:
I don’t need your help
@theanswerisno:
Wasn’t helping. They broke the rules and I told them off.
