Back then, Kimberly had oftenined to her that Liz waszy and unmotivated, running around all
day with troublemakers.
But when the college entrance exam results came out, the so–called “good student” Mandy only scored high enough to get into an average university, while Liz ranked among the top fifty in the entire state. The school deliberately kept her score under wraps.
Instead of recognizing her own favoritism, Kimberly insisted that Mandy had simply underperformed, while Liz had just gotten lucky.
In front of everyone, Mrs. Smith Sr. called her out and asked, “If luck really was all it took, then why didn’t Mandy have it?”
The argument ended badly, and from then on, Kimberly rarely came to see her.
When it came time to fill out college applications, not a single member of the Smith family offered Liz any guidance. Instead, the three of them took Mandy on a trip, saying she needed to “rx.”
In the end, Liz filled out her own application and chose Capital University.
Mandy, on the other hand, consulted a group of teachers and insisted on applying to schools well above her reach. She ended up rejected by all five of her chosen universities. Unwilling to repeat a year, her parents spent a fortune to send her abroad to study.
Every time Mrs. Smith Sr. thought about the unfairness Liz had endured, she felt both angry and
heartsick.
But Liz was stubborn by nature. Once she cut ties, she truly severed them, and in the past few years, she
hadn’te back even once.
Mrs. Smith Sr. knew it was because Liz no longer held out any hope for Michael and Kimberly, and so she had no desire to return to the family.
Still, she could not stand by and watch everything that rightfully belonged to Liz be handed over to
Mandy.
If Liz would not fight for herself, then as her grandmother, she would fight for her. Whatever belonged to her granddaughter, no one else would take away.
Seeing her grandmother’s chest rise and fall rapidly, Liz grew rmed and quickly tried to calm her down. “Grandma, you just had surgery. You can’t get worked up like this.”
Mrs. Smith Sr. took a deep breath and fixed her serious gaze on Liz. “You see me lying here, unable to move. Shouldn’t <b>you </be back and take care of me?”
Meeting her grandmother’s solemn eyes, Liz hesitated before nodding. “Alright, I’ll take care of you. But only while you’re sick. Once you recover, I’ll leave again.”
The Smith family had more than enough servants. It was obvious her grandmother didn’t really need her care. She just wanted an excuse to bring her back into the house.
“We’ll see about that when I recover,” the olddy replied.
Liz gave a helpless smile. Just as she was about to respond, her grandmother turned her back.
“I’m going to sleep now. Go home tonight and pack your things. Starting tomorrow morning, you’ll stay here with me. That’s what happens when you get old–you sleep a lot more.”
Liz could only fall silent. After a moment, she gave in. “Alright. I’ll head back for now ande over in the morning. What would you like to eat for breakfast?”
“Anything. As long as you make it, I’ll eat it.”
“Got it. Rest well.”
Liz stood and turned to Mrs. Wood. “Mrs. Wood, I’ll head back for tonight. I’lle again in the morning.”
“Alright, Ms. Liz. I’ll walk you out.”
“No need. You should stay here. Grandma needs someone by her side at all times. Thank you for your
hard work tonight.”
“It’s my duty, Ms. Liz. You’re <i>too </i>polite.”
Leaving the ward, Liz made her way toward the elevators.
Just as she stopped in front of one, a low, steady voice called out behind her. “Ms. Smith?”
She turned and saw William, tall and straight–backed in a whiteb coat, walking toward her.
A momentter, he stopped right in front of her.
“I thought it looked like you from a distance, but I wasn’t sure. What are you doing here sote?”
Liz hadn’t expected to run into him either. “My grandmother fell and broke a bone, I came to check on her. Mr. Sanders, are you working the night shift today?”