Chapter 4

"Mom, Dad," she said, walking straight to Grandma, "you must be Magnolia. I'm Serenity, but please call me Sera."

Grandma looked at her, this woman who had lived the life she should have had.

"I know this must be... complicated," Sera continued. "I've been dreading this moment and looking forward to it at the same time."

"Why dreading?" Grandma asked.

"Because I've been living your life. The life that should have been yours. The education, the opportunities, the love of these wonderful people." She gestured to Harrison and Victoria. "I feel like I stole fifty-five years from you."

I expected Grandma to be angry, or jealous. Instead, she looked... sad?

"You didn't steal anything," Grandma said gently. "You were a baby. None of this was your choice."

"But still..."

"Still nothing. Look at what you've accomplished. Look at the woman you've become." Grandma smiled, and it was genuine. "I may have missed fifty-five years, but I'm glad they weren't wasted. I'm glad they were lived by someone worthy."

As I watched this exchange, I realized something that hit me like a truck. This is what women can be. Sera was confident, accomplished, respected. She spoke to men as equals, made decisions, commanded rooms. She wasn't anyone's servant or punching bag.

And now I could see Grandma changing in real time. Around these people, she stood taller, spoke clearer, moved with purpose. This was who she really was, under all those years of abuse.

"And this must be Sage," Harrison said, turning to me with that same kind smile he'd given Grandma.

"Yes, sir," I said, suddenly feeling very young and very poor.

"Magnolia told us about you over the phone this morning. She says you're brilliant, kind, and destined for great things."

When had Grandma talked to them this morning? And she said I was brilliant?

"We've already arranged for you to take placement exams for some excellent preparatory programs," Victoria added. "But that's for later. Today is about family."

As evening approached, the differences became even more stark. Harrison and Victoria asked Grandma about her life, her health, her dreams. They listened to her answers like they mattered.

Earl dominated conversations, talking about himself and what he deserved.

Sera asked me about school, books, my future plans. She treated me like my thoughts were important.

Daryl kept pitching business ideas that made no sense.

Victoria showed Grandma family photos, fifty-five years of Christmases and birthdays and milestones they'd celebrated while hoping she'd come home.

Brandi took selfies with expensive furniture.

But most importantly, I watched Grandma continue to transform. Every hour in this house, surrounded by real love, she became more herself. The self she was always meant to be.

This is what Grandma's life should have been. Education, respect, love, choices. And now that I'd seen it, I understood why she'd come back to Pine Ridge with that dangerous smile.

She didn't just want justice for what was taken from her.

She wanted to make sure it never happened to another woman.

Starting with me.

The next morning, I woke up in the most comfortable bed I'd ever slept in, in a guest room bigger than our entire trailer.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Sage? It's Sera. May I come in?"

"Of course."

She entered carrying a breakfast tray, and I realized this was what having an older sister might feel like.

"I thought you might be overwhelmed. New places can be a lot to handle."

Overwhelmed was an understatement. Last night I'd had dinner with people who owned skyscrapers. The silverware alone probably cost more than our monthly food budget.

"How are you feeling about everything?" Sera asked, settling into a chair near the window.

"Confused. Happy for Grandma, but also..."

"Scared?"

"Yeah."

"That's normal. Your whole world just changed overnight." She leaned forward with a concerned expression. "But Sage, I want you to know something. Your grandmother has plans for you. Big plans. She wants to make sure you have every opportunity she never had."

Downstairs, Grandma was meeting with Harrison, Victoria, and several other people in expensive suits. The Johnson family was clustered on one side of a massive conference table, looking like they were trying not to drool over the mahogany and crystal.

"Now then," Grandma said, and her voice carried complete authority, "I want to take care of my family. All of them. They've... sacrificed so much for me over the years."

Sacrificed? The only sacrifices had been hers. But I could see what she was doing now. Setting the trap.

"Earl," she continued, "you've been my husband for thirty-eight years. That deserves recognition."

Earl straightened up, trying to look dignified in his wrinkled shirt. "Well, I always tried to do right by you, Maggie."

"I know. That's why I want to offer you an investment opportunity. Harrison, could you explain the Louisiana project?"

Harrison looked uncomfortable as he pulled out some documents. "We've been considering expanding our drilling operations in Louisiana. It's... risky. Very risky. The initial investment is substantial, and the chances of success are..."

"How much?" Earl interrupted, his eyes lighting up.

"The buy-in is five million dollars."

Earl's mouth fell open. "Five million? And what's the return?"

"If it succeeds, potentially fifty million. If it fails..." Grandma shrugged. "You lose everything."

I could see the greed lighting up Earl's eyes like Christmas morning. Fifty million dollars. He was already spending it in his head, probably calculating how many cases of beer that would buy.

"Daryl," Grandma turned to her so-called son, "you want a position in the company."

"Yeah, something where I can really make a difference, you know?"

"I have the perfect opportunity. We're starting a new subsidiary. Environmental cleanup for oil spills. Very important work. Very... hands-on."

One of the suited men leaned forward nervously. "Mrs... Ms. Ravenscroft, that particular operation is under federal investigation for—"

"For being ahead of the curve on environmental regulations," Grandma cut him off smoothly. "Daryl, you'd be the president and CEO. Full authority, full responsibility. Your name on everything."

"President and CEO?" Daryl's chest puffed out like a rooster's. "That sounds perfect! When do I start?"

"Immediately. You'll need to sign these incorporation papers." She slid a thick stack of documents across the table. "Don't worry about reading all the details. It's just legal formalities."

Don't read the details? That was never good advice when signing anything. But Daryl was already reaching for a pen, probably imagining himself in a corner office ordering people around.

"Brandi," Grandma smiled with what looked like genuine warmth, "you want the full rich lifestyle experience."

"Oh my God, yes!"

"I'm arranging for you to work with Manhattan's most exclusive personal shopper. Designer clothes, luxury treatments, entry into the highest social circles."

"Really? Like, the Real Housewives kind of circles?"

"Even better. Old money circles. The kind of people who've never had to work a day in their lives."

Sera spoke up, her voice carefully neutral. "I can make some introductions. There are some... interesting women in those circles. Very interested in new money."

The way Sera said "interesting" made me think she didn't mean it as a compliment.

"You'll have unlimited access to the finest stores, the best restaurants, the most exclusive events," Grandma continued. "All you have to do is... blend in."

Brandi was practically bouncing in her chair. "When can I start?"

"Today. The personal shopper is waiting downstairs."

The trap was working perfectly. Each person was getting exactly what they'd always wanted, and they were too excited to think about consequences.

"And Brayden," Grandma turned to my sixteen-year-old cousin, "I understand you're interested in technology."

"Hell yeah! I want everything! The newest PlayStation, Xbox, gaming PC, VR setup..."

"What if I told you I could give you access to technology that isn't even on the market yet?"

Brayden's eyes went wide like a kid who'd just been told Christmas was happening twice this year. "Like what?"

"Prototype gaming systems. Beta software. Experimental virtual reality." Grandma leaned forward conspiratorially. "But you'd need to test everything. Document your experiences. Provide detailed feedback."

"That sounds awesome!"

"There's just one requirement. Everything you test needs to be monitored for quality control. We'll need to track usage patterns, performance metrics, user behavior..."

"You mean like, watch me play?"

"The systems watch. Automatic monitoring. You won't even notice."

Automatic monitoring. Of everything he did online. Every game, every website, every message. Brayden was agreeing to put himself under complete surveillance, and he thought it was a gift.

Finally, Grandma turned to me, and the atmosphere in the room shifted slightly.

"And Sage, my dear granddaughter."

Everyone looked at me. I felt that familiar pressure, the expectation that I'd ask for something expensive like everyone else had.

"I don't need anything expensive, Grandma. I just want..."

"What?"

"I want to learn. I want to go to college, study law, maybe help people who can't help themselves."

Harrison smiled, and it was the first genuine smile I'd seen from him all morning. "We've already arranged for you to take placement exams at several excellent preparatory programs. Full scholarships, of course."

"And during summers," Victoria added, "internships at the best law firms in the city. Real experience with real cases."

"We believe in investing in the future," Sera said. "And you, Sage, are definitely the future."

This felt different from the others' "gifts." This felt real. Like they actually cared about my dreams, not just throwing money at me to keep me happy.