Chapter 33

As everyone remained preoccupied with my absence from the Kennedy family gathering, Nicole, standing quietly to the side, suddenly burst into tears.

“Grandma,” she sobbed, “ever since I returned, you haven’t truly liked me. You think I’ve overshadowed Amanda, and no matter what I do, you perceive it as scheming. I’ve let Amanda and the Kennedy family down. I shouldn’t have come back. I’m such an unworthy granddaughter…”

She then darted toward the wall, calling out, “Amanda!” My eldest brother, having just entered, intercepted her; Nicole collided with his stomach instead.

The family rushed to her side, their faces etched with worry. “Nicole, are you alright? Why would you do something so reckless?”

“Dad,” she replied, “I just didn’t want Grandma to be upset because of me, and I didn’t want Amanda to return and argue with Chase over me. If I had known the Kennedy family would be like this because of me, I would have preferred never to return.”

Her delicate features accentuated her distress; tears streamed down her face, evoking everyone's sympathy. Moments before, everyone's concern centered on my absence; now, all attention shifted to Grandma. Even my usually reserved father spoke up. “Mom, Nicole and Amanda are both your granddaughters. How can you be so biased? Amanda has been acting out and keeping the family on edge, yet you scold Nicole. That’s just not fair!”

Grandma, already simmering with anger, trembled as her son rebuked her. Pointing a shaky finger, she retorted, “Are you blind? She…”

Nicole clung to her father’s arm, interjecting, “Dad, don’t argue with Grandma. It’s my fault. If you and Grandma fall out because of me, then I’ll look truly ungrateful. Grandma, blame me if you must, not Dad.”

My grandmother was furious at Nicole’s manipulation. She was finally experiencing a fraction of what I had endured. Nicole had done nothing overtly wrong, yet a few carefully chosen words easily shifted the family’s anger toward me. Soft words, indeed, cut deep, and in just a couple of years, she had left me emotionally scarred.

“Enough!” someone called out.

“Grandma, it’s your birthday today. Don’t let anger ruin your health.”

“Mom, why argue with a young girl at your age?”

“Marian, take good care of Mom and bring her to dinner later.”

The crowd ushered Nicole away, leaving Grandma so enraged she was about to grab her cane and throw it. “Get out, all of you!”

“Madam, please calm down,” Marian, Grandma’s longtime companion, pleaded, deeply concerned. She helped her to bed and brought her a cup of ginseng tea.

I watched Grandma with a heavy heart. Her silver hair, wrinkled face, and glistening tears were heartbreaking. She held Marian’s hand and said, “Go see if my dear girl has come back yet.”

“Yes, I’ll check now. You rest, Madam. Amanda would be so upset to see you like this.”

“Alright, I won’t cry. She’s battling depression. I can’t let her see me like this.”

I watched Grandma frantically wipe away her tears. Even powerless to help, I longed to be with her. But Chase’s restrictions prevented me from straying too far, leaving me to watch her alone from a distance.

I had thought I’d lost all hope in family and love, that no one in this world mattered anymore. Now, I realized the one person I couldn’t let go of was still my grandmother.

I murmured beside Chase, “Grandma, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how devastated she would be if she knew of my potential demise. Could her frail body withstand such a shock?