Chapter 22
The study didn’t clear out right away.
My grandfather left first. Cane tapping once against the floor before the door shut behind him. Final.
Noah was the first to speak.
“Say you didn’t mean it,” he said, turning to me. “Say it was shock or pressure or whatever the hell that was p>
I stayed seated. Ivy was still beside me, her hand warm and shaking in mine.
“I meant it,” I said.
Lucas laughed under his breath, pacing the length of the room. “No. You didn’t.” He stopped in front of me. “We’ll figure something out. There has to be a way around this. Grandpa can’t just p>
“He can,” I interrupted quietly.
Lucas’s jaw clenched. “Then we push back p>
“You’ve tried that before,” I said. “You know how that ends p>
Noah rubbed his face, frustration bleeding through his usual calm. “Elaine, listen to me. We’re not letting you do this. We’ll talk to people. We’ll delay it. Hell, we’ll drag this out until he gets bored p>
Zane bored. I almost smiled at that.
“You’re all acting like this is still up for debate,” I said. “It isn’t p>
Ivy finally spoke. Her voice was small. “You don’t have to do this for me p>
I turned to her. “I know cupcakes p>
“Then why are you?” she asked.
Because I won’t be here long enough for it to matter.
Because this is easier than watching you suffer.
I didn’t say any of that.
Instead, I said, “Because I can handle it p>
Lucas stopped pacing. “You shouldn’t have to p>
He stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face. Like if he looked hard enough, he could find the crack in my resolve and wedge it open.
“This isn’t you,” he said. “You don’t just walk into fires with someone you don’t know p>
I almost told him he was wrong. That I’d been doing that my entire life.
Noah stepped closer, voice softer now. “Elaine. Please. Give us time. Just a little p>
I shook my head. “Time doesn’t change Grandpa’s mind p>
The room went quiet again. Not tense this time. Just heavy.
Lucas exhaled sharply and turned away. “This is him,” he said suddenly. “This is exactly what he wants p>
Noah frowned. “Lucas p>
“I’m not doing anything ” Lucas snapped. “I know better than that. But don’t tell me this isn’t about me p>
My stomach dropped.
Lucas grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. “He doesn’t do things without a reason. And this?” He laughed once, bitter. “This is a message p>
I stood. “Lucas p>
He turned, eyes sharp. “You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t recognize when someone’s trying to hurt me p>
“That’s not what this is,” I said quickly.
“You don’t know that,” he shot back.
I stepped closer. “Whatever this is between you and him, it doesn’t matter right now p>
“It matters,” he said. “It’s always mattered p>
Noah moved between us before it could escalate. “Hey. Stop. This isn’t helping p>
Lucas looked at him, then at Ivy, then back at me. Something in his expression cracked. Not anger. Fear.
“I won’t watch this happen,” he said. “I can’t p>
He turned and walked out.
The door slammed hard enough to rattle the shelves.
No one moved for a moment.
Ivy’s eyes were wet. Noah looked tired. Older somehow.
“This isn’t over,” Noah said quietly.
I nodded. “I know p>
But in my chest, something settled anyway.
Because deep down, we all knew the truth.
When my grandfather decided something, it was already done.