10
Because of what had happened, dinner was
awkwardly quiet.
Except for Mom, who’d just gotten back,
everyone sat far away from me, like they
wanted a moat between us.
Ryan, unexpectedly, scooped me a bowl of
my favorite egg drop soup.
“I hope that won’t happen again. I don’t want
Amy to get the wrong idea.”
<
As he spoke, his thumb brushed against the
back of my hand.
I didn’t know if he was doing it on purpose.
He used to like teasing me like that,
especially in front of everyone else, to
embarrass me.
I flinched away, not looking up as I wolfed
down my food.
After dinner, Amy stopped me. She spoke so
quietly that only we could hear.
She warned me not to go after Ryan.
“Behave yourself. Unless you want to
<
“Behave yourself. Unless you want to
experience more of the mercenaries‘
“hospitality.”
My pupils contracted.
My leg, which hadn’t healed right, throbbed.
Every scar on my body ached.
For six years, I hadn’t lived like a human
being!
A sob escaped my throat.
I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t
make a sound.
L
Amy spoke first, collapsing against the corner
of the table.
“Ashley, you don’t have to do this. I know I
don’t belong in this family. I’ll leave!”
She stared at me, her eyes filled with a spite
that didn’t conceal the triumph in them.
Suspicion, anger, resentment. The same look
as six years ago.
This time, before they could accuse me,
bowed.
“Miss Amy, I’m sorry…”
I
<
Then I spoke to everyone else, watching me
with complicated expressions.
“I have no intention of interfering with Miss
Amy and Mr. Ryan’s relationship. I just want
to see Grandma one more time. Please
forgive me if I’ve caused any trouble.”
“I promise Miss Amy that I won’t breathe a
word about the last six years!”
I just wanted to be left alone!
To have nothing to do with them!
I didn’t look at Ryan’s dark face..
く
I went straight to Dad, forcing myself to push
down the fear and talk calmly.
“Ashley, I don’t blame you for anything. Why
do you have to be so stubborn, go after Amy,
and try to see your grandmother?”
I didn’t want to explain any more. I just stared
at him.
Mom couldn’t stand it anymore. She tugged
at Dad. “Let her see her.”
After a long silence, Dad nodded.
“If you want to see your grandmother, you
have to promise me something. You’ve seen
r
how much your brother drinks, and Amy and
Ryan are contributing as well, so…”
He paused. “So, for the sake of Smith.
Enterprises, for your sister’s happiness, could
you talk your grandmother into transferring
your 30% share to Amy?”
If I agreed, the Smiths would take care of me
for the rest of my life!
I laughed.
So that was it.
They brought me back because I still had
some value to exploit.
Jake looked a little guilty. “It’s just a share.
Amy has been through enough because of
you. You should give it to her. Is it really a big
deal?”
Mom looked down, avoiding my eyes.
They were using my grandmother, the last
thing I cared about, to threaten me. Was that
why they felt guilty?
But I didn’t expect anyone to pity me. I was
as good as dead anyway.
I nodded.
I demanded that they not say a word about it
<
to Grandma.
They’d gone to all the trouble to find me, so
Grandma probably hadn’t agreed yet. She
wasn’t doing well. She couldn’t take any
stress.
As long as I signed the share transfer
agreement, no one would bother Grandma
after I left.
