Chapter 124
I stare at the woman in front of me, and I don’t recognize her.
I mean, of course, I recognize her—she’s my grandmother. But there’s a disconnect between the vision of her that I’ve held onto for so many years and the woman standing here now.
She’s my height, average but commanding, her presence filling the room like a tidal wave. She doesn’t just occupy space; she owns it. Her wiry frame, lean and muscular, doesn’t fit the image of a scientist I’d pieced together. Then again, what the hell do I know about the life she’s really lived?
Her ash-blonde hair flows in perfect barrel curls down her back, catching the dim light like spun silk. It’s so flawless it feels otherworldly, and I can’t help but feel like a crumpled-up paper bag next to her. Then there are her eyes—deep, crystalline blue, like the darkest, coldest part of the ocean. They pierce through me, sharp and unrelenting. They’re not mine. Not even close. I didn’t inherit so much as a fleck of that color.
It’s not fair. She doesn’t look like anyone’s grandmother, least of all mine. She looks like my cousin, or maybe even my sister if not for the glaring fact that we share almost no defining features in common. She’s a walking enigma, wrapped in grace, confidence, and mystique.
And I’m… me.
A storm churns inside me—rage, disbelief, relief, and a gnawing ache I haven’t let myself feel in years. It knots tighter and tighter, a chaotic mess of emotions I don’t know how to process. I do the first thing that comes to mind.
I slap her.
The sharp crack of my hand against her cheek cuts through the tension in the room like a gunshot. The man behind me—Khale, I think she called him—reacts immediately. His hand clamps down on my shoulder, fingers digging in hard enough to make me flinch. Pain radiates through my arm, but I grit my teeth, refusing to cry out.
Her hand rises, palm out, halting him with nothing more than a gesture. The room stills. Khale hesitates, his grip lingering for a beat too long before he releases me. His presence is like a storm cloud, heavy and threatening, but she commands him without even looking his way.
And then, without warning, she pulls me into her arms.
I freeze. My entire body goes rigid, my breath catching in my throat. I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect her to hold me like this, like she’s been waiting years to do so. Her embrace is warm and strong, not tentative or cautious. It’s overwhelming in its intensity, and all the anger that had been boiling inside me crumbles.
I break.
The tears come fast and hard, and I can’t stop them. My knees threaten to buckle as the sobs wrack my body, shaking me to the core. Years of pain, confusion, and not knowing pour out of me like a flood, and I cling to her as if she’s the only thing keeping me from drowning.
Her arms stay steady, her hands moving in slow, soothing circles on my back. “It’s okay,” she murmurs, her voice soft and warm like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. “It’s okay, my darling. I’m here. I’m here.”
I pull back slightly, wiping at my face with trembling hands. “Why?” My voice cracks, barely audible over the sound of my ragged breathing. “Why didn’t you trust us? Why did you hide so much from me?”
Her expression shifts, just for a moment, a flicker of something raw and painful that she quickly masks. “I promise I’ll explain everything,” she says, her tone steady but tinged with sorrow. “But not here.”
She glances at Khale, who stands a few feet away with his arms crossed. His expression is carved from stone, unreadable and cold. Her fingers tighten slightly around my arm, a gesture of urgency but not force.
My legs feel unsteady, like I might collapse any second, but I nod. What else can I do? The answers I’ve been chasing my whole life are finally within reach. I’d be a fool to let them slip away now.
She takes my hand in hers, and her grip is firm, grounding me in the chaos of my emotions. As she leads me through the dimly lit corridor, my mind races with questions, each one more desperate than the last. I open my mouth to speak, but the words catch in my throat. What do I even ask first? Where do I start?
The faint sound of Khale’s footsteps follows behind us, a steady reminder of his looming presence. Every now and then, I glance over my shoulder, half-expecting him to say something, but he doesn’t. He just watches, his green eyes sharp and unyielding. It’s unnerving, but I don’t have the energy to confront him. Not now.
“I know this is overwhelming,” she says, her tone gentle but measured. “And I know you must have a million questions. I’ll do my best to answer them all.”
I meet her gaze, my stomach twisting with a mix of anger and hope. “You’d better,” I say, my voice shaky but firm. “Because I’ve spent my whole life not knowing, and I’m done with that.”
Her lips curve into a small, sad smile. “Good,” she says softly. “Because it’s time you knew the truth.”
I grip my hands into tight fists, bracing myself. I don’t know if I’m ready, but I’ll listen. For the first time in years, I’ll let her explain.
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