As Grace spoke, her eyes grew misty, as if she were lost in the past.

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Olivia stood up, walked over, and hugged Grace, gentlyforting her. “Grandma Grace, it’s not your fault. They have had their eyes on me for ages. The Shermans just got a little benefit and couldn’t wait to sell me out.

“Grandma, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. So please, don’t me yourself,” Olivia said, her eyes filled with at tenderness she’d never shown before.

“My little Olivia has grown up…” Grace traced Olivia’s cheek with tender fingers. “Don’t let hatred hold you back, sweetheart. Your future’s just beginning–full of opportunities waiting for you. I hope you’ll go to Kingtonelle. That’s where you belong. where you can shine.”

Grace had seen too much in her life–too many joys and sorrows–and had learned to let go of many things. She didn’t want Olivia to be trapped by hatred.

Olivia noddedi, /ijust ying along, but in her heart, she wasn’t buying it. The grudge she held against the Shermans ran deep; she would never let it go.

“I’ll listen to you, Grandma,” Olivia replied sweetly. “Once I get to Kingtonelle, I’ll open a bookstore for you. Sean can handle the coffee, and you can just spend your days reading and rxing.”

Grace gently patted Olivia’s head, her eyes filled with relief and affection. ‘My little Olivia is so sweet and sensible. How could her own family ever bear to let her go?‘ she thought.

“But you still need to keep up with your studies. The Shermans have already wasted so much of your time. They can’t be allowed to ruin your whole life,” Grace said, pulling out a stic bag stuffed with loose change. She started counting it carefully.

After a moment, she pressed the entire bag into Olivia’s hands. “Nowadays, folks look down on you without a degree. I’ve been saving this for you–use it for tuition, alright?

“Promise me you’ll keep studying.” She paused, and then added quietly, “I heard the Sherman’s kid is top of her ss at Kingtonelle University’s Design Department…”

Olivia looked at the pile of money, small bills and coins. She knew every bit of it had been scraped together by Grace, selling herbs and washing clothes for others, saving up little by little.

Olivia’s heart ached. She gently pushed the money away. “Grandma, I’ve told you–I’ve got money now. You don’t need to work so hard. Let me take care of you.” She guided Grace to a chair and began kneading her shoulders. “Look how tense you are.”

“Sean, don’t mess with Jenny. Go get the herbal tea,” Olivia said, wrapping her arm around Grace’s shoulders and continuing to massage her. ‘Grandma, you really don’t need to keep working. I can make enough money for both of us.”

Sean, who had been ying with Jenny, froze at Olivia’s words. He looked like a kid caught doing something wrong, quickly scurrying off to mix up the herbal tea. He came back with two big bottles, still chewing on some of the leftover herbs from the tea.

Seeing Sean, Olivia shook her head.

Grace chuckled. “With Sean’s appetite, I’d go broke if I stopped working! The boy eats like a ck hole–seven or eight meals a day.

Last week, I took him for sandwiches. The vendor made one, and he devoured it. He wolfed down more than fifty on the

6:31 pm MMA

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spot. Then he packed another hundred to go. Still hungry? You bet. By the time we got home, he’d polished off half a pot of pasta.”

Olivia shot Sean a look.

Sean pursed his lips and lowered his head.

“He’s still growing, so it’s normal for him to eat a lot,” Olivia said.

“Yeah, being able to eat is a blessing,” Graceughed. “But it really freaked out the vendor.”

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