Chapter 32
“I practically raised Amanda; I know her intimately. She’s an angel who wouldn’t harm a fly, let alone her own sister. What could she possibly gain from this? You’ve let Nicole pull the wool over your eyes time and again.”
Nicole entered, tears streaming down her face. “Grandma, I know I left the Kennedy family when I was little and missed the chance to be there for you. But you can’t just disparage me because you prefer Amanda. I’m your granddaughter too—how can you play favorites like that?”
“You sly bitch, you’re the one causing chaos in the Kennedy family. What has Amanda ever done to you that you’d ruin her big day?” Grandma grabbed her walking stick and swung it at Nicole’s head. “You little troublemaker! I’ll teach you a lesson for stirring up trouble and making Amanda vanish! I’ll beat your ass!”
Grandma, bedridden for ages and weak, lacked the strength to connect, but Chase jumped in, shielding Nicole and taking the blow on his back.
Grandma was livid. “Oh, look at you two, making eyes at each other right in front of me. Now I know you’ve been even bolder at the Reyes house. You’ve turned my dear granddaughter into such a wreck.”
I had slowly become withdrawn and insecure, constantly second-guessing myself. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss between Chase and Nicole, leaving me in a cycle of pain and healing. It affected my mental health, leaving me dependent on medication for a year. I grew quieter and quieter—a change Grandma noticed, deeply distressing her. The rest of the Kennedy family focused solely on Nicole; no one seemed to care about my feelings or notice my change.
“Mom, you’re being too harsh. Nicole’s been with the Reyes family for years, and Chase has always treated her like a sister. If people hear you talk like this, what will they think of Nicole?”
Grandma looked heartbroken. “You’re only worried about what people will think of Nicole. Have you even considered Amanda’s feelings? Chase is her husband!”
Tears trickled down Grandma’s wrinkled face. “Just because I’ve been stuck in bed doesn’t mean I’m blind. Open your eyes, use your heads, and think—do you really believe Amanda is as you believe?”
Her words made everyone pause, seemingly replaying everything in their minds.
Grandma continued, “I heard she vanished on her wedding day and hasn’t been seen since. Yet here you are, letting this little troublemaker fool you. Amanda is your child, too! How can you be such a cold-hearted mother with no love for your own child?”
Chase looked shocked, still holding Nicole. “Grandma, what are you saying? Amanda hasn’t come home?”
My parents and siblings exchanged puzzled looks. They likely assumed I had returned to visit Grandma early. They hadn’t seen me and assumed I might have gone to bake Grandma’s favorite blueberry cake, as I always did when visiting.
My mother looked bewildered. “Hasn’t Amanda come back home?”