Chapter 7 The Person She Missed the Most


    Andrew had a serious look on his face. “Grandpa always liked you best. He never thought you actually pushed Erin down the stairs. He just wanted to hear your side in person. So, we told him you moved


    overseas.


    “But he didn’t buy it. He insisted on finding you himself. He ended up falling at the front door. It caused a huge mess, and he kept shouting for us to bring you back. Said if you didn’te home, he wouldn’t either. So, he’s been staying in the hospital ever since.”


    He adjusted his sses, the lenses shing in the light. “Honestly, if it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have fallen, and he wouldn’t have been stuck in that hospital bed these past two years.


    “Tracy, he’s not young anymore. His health’s getting worse. Maybe it’s time you stopped giving him such a hard time.”


    Tracy turned pale. She didn’t say anything because she had noeback.


    Back when the whole Jackmans took Erin’s side, Franklin was the only one who actually believed her. He knew how hurt and crushed she was.


    But she’d been too busy trying to win over the rest of the family and ended up ignoring the one person who really cared.


    And now he was the one stuck in a hospital, all because of her, and she hadn’t even visited once.


    He must’ve felt so abandoned …


    Seeing that she was quiet, Andrew kept going. “We told him you’d be gone for two years. He’s been waiting ever since. Just yesterday, he wanted to go pick you up at the airport. We told him your flight got dyed. That’s the only reason he didn’t show up.


    “Grandpa’s not doing well. His body’s weak, and he’s been dealing with a lot, especially because he always stuck up for you. Erin’s taken a lot of heat for that. So please, just stop making him worry.”


    Tracy knew what he was trying to do.


    Andrew was only saying all this to keep her quiet when she saw Franklin.


    Franklin had never believed she’d hurt Erin. If he ever found out they sent her to the Angelic Etiquette Academy over a lie, he’d be furious and bring her back immediately.


    The brothers felt that Tracy would continue to “bully” Erin after she came back, so they sent her to the etiquette school without Franklin’s knowledge and told the old man she had left the country.


    They were scared she’d tell the truth and make Franklin turn against Erin. That was why Andrew was here -so she wouldn’t mess things up.


    But Tracy wasn’t dumb. She saw through the Jackmans and all their twisted thinking.


    She just hadn’t wanted to ept that the people she lived with for 18 years could treat her so coldly just because she wasn’t blood-rted. She had ignored the truth because she wanted to feel like she belonged.


    “I get it,” she finally said.


    She had no ns to expose their lies.


    She never wanted Franklin to stress out. And it looked like they’d already handled that part.


    Maybe Andrew felt a little guilty because he softened his tone. “Tracy, everything we did … it was for your own good. You get that, right?”


    She didn’t answer. She turned toward the window, clearly done talking.


    She’d heard that line way too many times. It was for her own good.


    Was it “good” for her when they sided with Erin every time? When they made her admit to something she didn’t do?


    She wasn’t going to ept that kind of fake love anymore.


    At the hospital.


    Tracy followed Andrew into the elevator, her heart beating fast as they headed up to the top floor.


    It had been two whole years. She had no idea what shape Franklin was in now. Was he still sharp at chess? Was his hair all gray now? Was he mad at her?


    When they reached the room, Andrew opened the door, but Tracy just stood there, frozen. She couldn’t


    move.


    Franklin had loved her more than anyone. But she had vanished without a word. She figured he was furious with her.


    “What are you doing here?”


    Franklin looked up as Andrew stepped inside. He didn’t notice Tracy standing just outside the door. His voice was sharp and annoyed, full of bitterness.


    “Are you here to tell me her flight’s dyed again?”


    “You keep feeding me the same story, that she’ll be back in two years. I’ve been counting every day on my fingers, barely holding on just to see her again. And now youe in with the same excuse? Are you all just waiting for me to die before you bring her back?!


    “My poor Tracy …


    “1


    Franklin’s voice cracked. “Andrew, if you still think of me as your grandfather, then tell me the truth. Where is Tracy?


    “I’m almost in the grave already. You’re really gonna let me die without seeing her again?”


    Tracy had been so scared to face him again, unsure what to say. But the second she heard his voice, all that fear disappeared.


    Franklin had always been on her side and always loved her no matter what.


    The rest of the Jackmans couldn’t wait to send her away. If Franklin hadn’t stood up for her, they probably would’ve left her in that awful ce and never looked back.


    Some girls in that ce never got picked up again. They just got left behind, like they didn’t matter…


    She med herself for being stupid back then. She was so desperate to earn the Jackmans’ love that she ignored the only person who truly cared.


    Andrew, meanwhile, lookedpletely unfazed, as if he’d heard this rant a dozen times already.


    Every time they visited, Franklin got mad and begged them to bring her back. Sometimes he even got angry at Erin.


    Franklin was sure that Erin had something to do with Tracy leaving. Eventually, the brothers gave up and stopped showing up much.


    Now that Tracy was finally back and not causing trouble, they figured maybe Franklin wouldn’t blow up again.


    Andrew gave a quick tug on Tracy’s arm, pulling her into the room. “Grandpa, we weren’t lying. Look- she’s here.”


    Franklin, mid-rant, froze in ce. His voice shook with disbelief. “T-Tracy?”


    That one word, full of so much emotion,pletely broke her.


    “Grandpa…”


    Her knees gave out as she ran to him and dropped by his side, grabbing his hand tight. 1


    She had practiced this moment in her head so many times. She had nned to smile and tell him everything was okay so that he wouldn’t worry.


    But now, when she saw him for real, every bit of pain from thest two years came crashing down. She buried her face in hisp and sobbed like a child.


    Her cries filled the room, loud and full of hurt. Like she was letting go of everything she’d held in all that time.


    Back at the etiquette school, the person she missed the most was Franklin. She used to dream of crying in his arms, telling him how much it hurt.


    Franklin had tears in his eyes too. He held her hand tightly, and with his other hand, gently patted her head, his fingers shaking.


    “Tracy… my sweet girl. I’m sorry. I didn’t protect you. I let


    you suffer…”


    …