Chapter 5
Back home, Dad was still furious, pacing around the living room with his hands behind his back.
Mom gently pressed an ice pack to my swollen cheek, her eyes red with tears.
My brother Nathan, the company CIO, had rushed over after getting the call
Dad was stomping back and forth.
“That bastard! Absolute piece of shit!
“I must’ve been blind trusting him! He actually hit you!”
“Vi, talk to me. What the hell happened? And who’s this Madison chick?
I handed Nathan my phone. Madison’s Instagram post and the pics I’d taken at the restaurant.
I gave them the whole story–the stolen research, her nasty DMs, tonight’s little ambush.
Dad and Nathan’s faces got darker with every word. Pure rage burning in their eyes.]]
Nathan shot up from his chair.
That’s it! I’m gonna-
The doorbell started ringing like crazy, cutting him off.
An elderly voice from outside, desperate and shaky:
“Violet! Violet, sweetie! Please open up! Grandpa’s begging you
We all froze.
Mom checked the security monitor. “It’s Ryan’s grandparents!”
On the screen, Ryan was on his knees, head hanging.
Next to him stood two elderly people, gray–haired and weathered, looking absolutely devastated.]
Ryan’s grandpa was hunched over, face worn down by decades of hard work.[]
His grandma kept dabbing her eyes with rough hands, bowing over and over to the security camera.
“Violet, honey! Please open up! Ryan screwed up bad! He’s a piece of shit! Grandpa’s so sorry, baby“]
The old man’s voice cracked with desperation
Ryan looked up at the camera. Dad’s handprint still bright red on his cheek.
His eyes were totally broken as he stared into the lens, then suddenly started smacking the hell out of himself.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
The sounds crackled through our intercom.
“Violet! I’m such an idiot!
ot! I’m gachage!”
He kept slapping himself, yelling: “Please, just give me one more shot! I’ll ghost her completely! I swear to God… I’ll never talk to her again!”
He wasn’t holding back. Blood trickled from his lip, face puffing up like a balloon.
Grandma saw this and broke down, dropping to her knees beside him.]
She grabbed his arm, sobbing: “Stop it! Please stop! Violet, honey, have mercy on us! He’s all we have! He’s an idiot, but please! We’re begging you!”
Both elderly people started bowing on the concrete.[]
Looking at those worn–out faces.
Ryan’s pathetic breakdown]
Remembering he grew up dirt poor with just his grandparents..
The desperation in those old, tired eyes hit me hard.
They didn’t deserve this mess.
My resolve started cracking..
My voice sounded exhausted:
“Fine. Stop hitting yourself. Let them in.”
Our housekeeper opened the door.
Ryan crawled over and grabbed my legs, rambling apologies and promises
His grandparents kept bowing and begging.
Dad and Nathan still looked furious, but seeing those fragile old people, they stayed quiet
I said flatly:]
“Ryan, remember what you just promised. Remember what your grandparents did for you.”
“You saved me
three years ago, so I’ll forgive you this once. But that’s ff. If this happens again…”
“We’re over. Sterling Industries cuts ties with your family too. Take your grandparents honse.”
“As for Madison throwing her little fits at me, Dean Harrison can handle her defense. If she’s clean, she’ll graduate…“]
Ryan kept swearing he’d drop Madison completely.
Then he helped his worn–out grandparents up and they all shuffled out
poor closed. Everything went quiet.
Just us left in the living room, drained.]]
Dad sighed heavily. Nathan patted my shoulder.
I collapsed on the couch, ice pack going numb against my face.
My cheek still thrubbed, but something inside me felt hollow and bitter from seeing those old people cry.
This forgiveness felt so suffocating.
