I sighed. “I always knew this was about business, but hearing it spelled out still stings.”
Tobias offered a faint smile. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
After wrapping up his work, Tobias drove me back to the Scott Manor.
The moment I stepped through the door, my mother enveloped me in a tight hug.
“Oh, my sweetheart, you’ve finally come home,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
My father, ever stern, simply said, “Let’s have lunch and discuss everything.”
Despite my initial apprehension, the discussion went smoother than I expected.
As Tobias had predicted, my parents were thrilled. They immediately began planning to take me to a banquet to introduce me formally to the other businesses family and of course the Livingston family.
By the time lunch ended, I was exhausted from the endless conversations about arrangements, expectations, and schedules.
I retreated to my old bedroom. It was still untouched since I left, so its princess-like decor feeling strangely foreign at that moment.
It was not long before my phone rang. Seeing Lewis’ name on the screen, I hesitated before answering.
“Have you come home?” he asked.
“Hm.”
“I’m sorry, Grace,” he began. “I planned to come back for you right after taking Katrina home, but her stomach started acting up, so….”
Before he could finish, a waitress’ voice came through the background. “Sir, your dishes are all served. Please enjoy your meal!”
Though Lewis quickly muffled the receiver, it was too late, I had already heard everything.
“It’s fine. I’m an adult now; I can manage myself,” I replied, both to reassure him and myself.
“Grace, I’ll come to the penthouse,” he said hurriedly. “I’ll explain everything later.”
Explain what? More excuses? More lies?
I ended the call without a word, muttering to myself, “Unfortunately, I’m not in the penthouse anymore.”
Later that evening, I called Tobias, who had returned to the penthouse. “Did Lewis come looking for me?”
“Nope. It’s just me and my freedom now that you’re gone,” he joked.
“Great,” I replied, laughing weakly. “You can finally bring back all your usual women.”
“Ha, very funny,” Tobias shot back, but I hung up before he could nag me further.
Feeling restless, I stepped onto the balcony and scrolled through Instagram.
My heart sank when I came across a new post featuring Katrina and Lewis.