Whitney flopped back onto the couch, exasperated. “Just say whatever you need to, Dad. I’m exhausted.”
Laura attempted to mediate. “Whit, your dad doesn’t have anything major to discuss. It’s just that your grandma held 5% of the shares. Your dad gave them to her to ensure she was looked after in her old age.”
*So that’s what they’ve been trying to say,* Whitney thought, a bitter smile flickering across her lips.
Whitney let out a cold, humorless laugh. “And? You want those shares? Well, you’re not getting them. Grandma had them legally transferred to me before she passed.
“If you really want some, why not ask my dad for a bit more? He still owns 59% anyway,” Whitney retorted, her tone frosty.
Laura’s anger simmered, her jaw clenching involuntarily.
*If I could get anything out of Samuel, would I even bother going after that tiny 5% Whitney’s holding?* Laura fumed internally.
*I’ve stayed with Samuel all these years and haven’t received a single share. Of course, I’m furious. Who wouldn’t be in my position?*
Samuel replied coolly, “You think I can just give away my shares like candy? I need them to keep the other major shareholders in line. Don’t make this a hassle. Just transfer the shares to Laura.”
“Whit, be reasonable. Don’t get your dad worked up,” Samuel added, trying to diffuse the tension.
Whitney scoffed, disbelief coloring her voice. “You can’t be serious. Why should I give away what my grandma left me? That’s mine.”
Seeing Whitney stand her ground, Laura tugged at Samuel’s sleeve, frustration evident. “Samuel, come on…”
Samuel was at a complete loss when it came to Whitney.
Whitney offered a faint smile. “If that’s all, I’m heading upstairs to get some rest. Don’t bother calling me for dinner. I couldn’t eat a thing even if I tried.”
Just being around them drained her appetite entirely.
*****
Once Whitney was out of sight, Laura finally unleashed her pent-up anger.
“Seriously? You promised me those 5% shares after your mom was gone, and now they’re all in Whitney’s hands? What about me and Tina? Are we just not your family?” Laura snapped, her voice rising.
Samuel rubbed his temples, exasperated. “You saw how stubborn she is. Give it a few days, and I’ll find someone suitable for her. Once she’s married off, those shares will come right back to us.”
Laura’s eyes sparkled with hope. “I’ve actually got a nephew who’s pretty decent. He graduated from a top university and has a solid career. Sure, he’s thirty-eight, but older men know how to treat a woman, don’t they?”
Samuel grunted, unimpressed. “What does his family do?”
“They run a business in medical equipment, and it makes good money. He even has his own place. It’s not on the Harris family’s level, but I think he’d suit Whit just fine,” Laura asserted, already envisioning her plan.
*Once she marries my nephew, those shares will be his,* Laura thought, plotting her next move.
Tina overheard her parents scheming and scoffed inwardly, *I can’t wait to see how smug Whitney looks once she loses the Harris family!*
Her eyes glinted with mockery.
*And when she ends up married to some old guy, she won’t even be able to show her face in our circle again,* Tina sneered to herself, relishing the thought.
*****
“Oh, and Samuel, Tina’s at just the right age to settle down. You’ve always hoped she could land a family like the Harris family, haven’t you? Why not let her spend more time around James’ youngest son? Who knows, something might develop,” Laura suggested, her voice low and conspiratorial.
Samuel pursed his lips, contemplating. “You mean Klein? He’s super picky, you know.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be single at thirty-three. Even James couldn’t persuade him to tie the knot.
“What if we just leave him with no choice?” Laura proposed, her voice dripping with intrigue.
Samuel felt a rush of excitement. “You mean…”
Tina’s cheeks flushed bright red as she listened to her parents plotting,
Just picturing Klein’s broad shoulders, the trim line of his waist, and those long, clean-cut legs made Tina’s heart race. He was the kind of man who turned heads effortlessly.
Imagining herself wrapped in his arms made Tina blush even harder, her mind swirling with girlish fantasies.
She glanced over at Whitney’s room, a smug smile spreading across her lips. “Just wait. When Klein marries me, we’ll see who ends up crying.”
Whitney decided it was time for a break from her job, taking a whole week off to gather her thoughts and emotions.
A week had passed since Patricia’s departure from this world. The grief had weighed heavily on Whitney, but today, she finally mustered the courage to enter the kitchen and prepare the dishes that her beloved grandmother had cherished.
As she stirred the soup, allowing it to simmer gently on the stove, the familiar aroma began to fill the house, wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth that she had been avoiding for far too long.
April, observing from the doorway with a soft smile, said, “Whitney, she must be so proud of you.” Her words hung in the air, a gentle reminder of the love that still lingered despite the sadness.
Once everything was prepared, Whitney instinctively set the table, the silence in the house pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. After a moment of stillness, she walked over to Patricia’s portrait, her fingers brushing lightly against the ornate frame.
“Grandma… I made your favorites today,” she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just wanted you to know.”
Standing there, she allowed herself a moment of quiet reflection, trying to find her footing in the midst of her sorrow. Finally, she turned back to the kitchen, letting the silence envelop her once more.
On the couch, Laura sat rigidly, her eyes fixed on Whitney as she moved about the kitchen. The delicious smell of food wafted through the air, but Laura could feel her patience wearing thin. The persistent gloom that hung over them was becoming unbearable.
Beside her, Tina slouched with an air of indifference, rolling her eyes.
“Mom, she’s been like this all week. Who even wants to eat now?” Tina muttered under her breath, her irritation bubbling just beneath the surface.
Whitney returned to the dining room, her gaze fixed downward, and without sparing them a glance, she quietly declared, “I didn’t make this for either of you. It’s for my grandmother. If it bothers you, then don’t eat.”
Tina’s mouth opened to retort, but no words came out.
Laura shot her a warning look, then turned to Whitney, her voice strained but gentle. “Whit, it’s enough that you remember her. She’d appreciate the thought.”
Laura had no intention of letting dinner devolve into yet another argument.
Whitney took her seat and picked at her food, taking a few small bites more out of habit than out of hunger.
“Whitney, there’s an auction tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me?” Laura suggested, trying to steer the conversation toward something more uplifting.
Whitney shot her a frosty glare. “My grandma just passed away. I’m really not up for that right now.”
Laura’s expression softened, a hint of understanding in her eyes. “That’s not what I meant, Whit.”
She continued, “There’s a bracelet up for auction that I think Patricia would have adored. When we visit the cemetery next time, you could buy it and bring it for her. She’d love it.”
Whitney narrowed her eyes, contemplating the idea. “Alright.”
In the back of her mind, Laura felt a surge of satisfaction. *She thinks she’s so smart, but look at her-she’s walking right into my trap. As long as I know her vulnerabilities, she’s mine every time.*
Later, back in her room, Whitney grabbed her laptop and searched for information on the upcoming auction.
She quickly typed a message to her friend, Lena.
Whitney: [Lena, are you going to the auction tomorrow? I want to bid on a bracelet for my grandma.]
Lena: [Whit, I’m not in Ravorport right now. But I think I heard Uncle Klein mention he’s going. He’s interested in some painting. Said he wanted to give it to someone.]
Whitney recalled what Klein had told her that day. He had promised her that he would agree to anything she asked.
Whitney: [Alright, Lena, no worries. I got it.]
*****
On the day of the auction, Whitney arrived dressed in understated black, her sunglasses shielding the exhaustion etched around her eyes.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.