Chapter 4

Things got pretty awkward for a bit.

Charles gave me a long look, then jumped in to smooth things over for Julia. "There was some trouble at the company, and I needed Julia's help, so I went to pick her up myself.

"If you need something from someone, you must show some respect."

The grown-ups all cracked up. They went right back to being one big happy family, except for me.

Over dinner, they started chatting about how Charles built his business from scratch.

Helen lifted her glass. "Mr. Grant, I really have to thank you for always looking out for Charlie."

She clinked her glass with his in a toast. "Charlie told me everything. When things were at their worst, it was your support that got him through. He never would've made it without you."

My fork paused in midair.

All the years I spent sacrificing for him, and now it was being spun as if it were all thanks to Lucas's generosity.

Lucas looked absolutely smug, soaking up the praise. "Oh, it was nothing, really."

He gave Julia's hand a proud little pat. "And we should thank Charlie, too. Julia studied in Meriland for three years, and he flew over to see her every single year.

"Whenever I couldn't be there, he was always by Julia's side. Honestly, I should be the one thanking him."

Helen was grinning from ear to ear. "That's what he ought to do."

Charles and Julia shared a glance, then smiled at each other.

There was a silent understanding between them, one I'd never been a part of.

I picked up a shrimp and peeled it. But when I finally ate it, it tasted so bitter that I could barely swallow.

Over three years, he went on 78 business trips. 51 of them were to Meriland.

Once, I was stuck in bed with a high fever. I asked him, "Can you skip this trip?"

He apologized and boarded his flight to Meriland without a second thought.

I thought he was busy with work. But it hit me that Julia was the one waiting for him on the other side.

I set down my fork, wiped my mouth, and walked out.

Julia's voice suddenly rang out. "Grace, seriously, after all these years, don't you feel a little embarrassed?"

I stopped in my tracks. "What?"

"I can't take it anymore. You went to college, so why are you sitting at home? Charlie's not a robot. He gets worn out, too." As she went off on me, her eyes were screaming how much she cared about Charlie.

Was she not bothering to fake it anymore?

"Did Charlie tell you that?" I asked.

"He didn't say a word, but it's obvious," she said.

I turned to look at Charlie. "So, you can't afford to keep me around now?"

He looked at me and suddenly spoke up. "Julia's right. It's time you got yourself a job."

I didn't have a job?

Before I threw myself into Charles's startup, I was the head chef at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant.

I was a rising star among young chefs in the country.

I reached the absolute peak of my profession.

But for him, I walked away from everything.

Now, to him, I was a mooch who sat around all day, an easy target for anyone to blame.

After a long pause, I finally spoke. "Fine."

With that, I turned and walked out.

No one stopped me. It was as if they'd been waiting for me to leave.

*****

When I woke up the next morning, Charles was already at the dining table, waiting for me. "Grace, my mom wasn't happy at all with how you acted yesterday."

I poured myself a glass of water and took a few sips. "And?"

"Aren't you going to think about what you did?"

"Think about what, exactly?"

"You showed up late, didn't bother to fit in, and your attitude toward Julia was off."

I set my glass down and looked straight at him. "So?"

He met my gaze, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. "Grace, I can only put up with so much. Don't wait until we're really over to start crying. I won't be there to comfort you."

I jerked my head up, staring at him. "I won't cry, and I don't need you to comfort me."

Charles scoffed, half-laughing in frustration. "After all these years, you're still so stubborn. You're sure I'll never be the one to break up with you, aren't you?"