The Rich Grandmother

As I sit on the vast oak tree table, my surroundings captivate me with their extravagant grandeur.

The hall is awe-inspiring, adorned with elegant chandeliers that cast a warm glow, illuminating every corner. The sparkling lights create a magical ambiance throughout the place.

The floor is intricately designed with beautiful patterns, and at every few feet, there are exquisite vases filled with fresh flowers, emitting a delightful fragrance that permeates the air.

The oak tree table itself is a magnificent centerpiece, its surface smooth and polished, reflecting the surrounding splendor, and as I glance around, I can't help but marvel at the attention to detail. Everything seems to be thoughtfully arranged, exuding a sense of harmony and balance.

I notice that there are a total of twenty-eight chairs around the table, each one ornately designed and fit for royalty - sitting idly, I had decided to just count the chairs.

As I sit inside the conference room of one of the biggest hotels of Serence Escapes, I feel my head getting hazy.

Serence Escapes, the largest hotel chain in the country, has been the driving force behind my passion for hotel management.

The very reason I aspire to one day own or at least manage a grand and lavish hotel like this one.

The creaking of the big double door draws my attention, and my heart skips a beat as the elderly woman, Genevieve Whitaker who claims to be my grandmother, enters the hall.

She is accompanied by the same man who held the umbrella for her at my father's funeral.

Gone is the commanding look of the woman I encountered earlier, replaced by a soft, pretty purple floral dress that complements her elegant demeanor. As Genevieve sits beside me on the main chair, her warm look of affectionate familiarity only adds to my sense of astonishment.

The fact that she can utilize the conference room of such a grand hotel for a private meeting underscores her significance and influence, leaving me even more intrigued about her identity.

I try my best to compose myself, but I can't help feeling overwhelmed by the weight of this revelation. The idea that she is my grandmother seems almost too surreal to grasp fully.

Swallowing hard, I shift my gaze away momentarily, attempting to gather my thoughts and emotions. My mind is filled with questions and uncertainties, and I'm not sure how to process this unexpected twist in my life.

"Lila, my child, it looks like you have a lot of questions to ask," said Genevieve, and I scratch my head, realizing indeed I have tons of questions, but it's hard for me to put everything into words.

I cannot even say that I don't believe her, as I am an exact copy of her now that I am finally looking at her in a calm atmosphere. We share the same blonde hair, the same bright blue eyes, as if I am looking in a mirror that is showing me how I will look like after fifty years or so. The resemblance is undeniable, and it leaves me both astounded and contemplative.

As I continue to gaze at her, it becomes clear that the striking similarities between us go beyond mere physical appearance. There's an air of familiarity and connection that I can't ignore, despite the surreal circumstances.

Genevieve leans in, her eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "I understand that this is all overwhelming, my dear. You don't have to say anything right now. Take your time to process everything. I'll be here when you're ready to talk."

"If you are really my grandmother, then why have my parents never mentioned you?" I decide to ask the most obvious thing, and I can see the immediate change in her eyes.

Her warm gaze changes into a sorrowful one as Genevieve looks down at her lap, and a sigh escapes her trembling old lips. "It is all my fault," she says, and I frown my eyebrows in confusion.

"Felix was my only child, and I loved him dearly. He loved me back just as much. Losing his father at a young age and having a busy mother, focused on her own career, he miraculously grew up to be a well-behaved person on his own. He always agreed with anything I said without any question." Genevieve says, and she finally looks back at me.

I can see the motherly love she has for Dad in her eyes. Whatever she did, she sure regrets it greatly, and it's evident in her eyes. Looking into her eyes makes me tear up as well, and I sniff, wiping my tears away.

"He always agreed to take on the family business after graduation, but in his final year, he suddenly told me that he no longer wished to pursue this career, that he no longer wished to inherit the family business. I then told Mr. Adams to find out what Felix was up to." Genevieve points at the man beside her, and I spare him a glance as well. Although he is not as old as her, he can be in his 50s for sure.

"I found out that he had a girlfriend, whose background was way different from ours. I was cryptic about it, as I thought that she was the reason he was trying to gain freedom and that he had started to rebel because never in his life, even for once, Felix told me that he felt pressured to continue in the family business. I only had my son, and seeing him becoming distant over time, I could not bear it and told your mother to leave him alone and spare my only family." I clench my fist beneath the table. Even the regret in her eyes does not appeal to me now but nevertheless, I let her continue.

"Your mother did agree without a price, but somehow your father found out about it and threatened me to walk out and never come back to me again. But I did not take him seriously and ended up losing him for real." Tears start to well up in her eyes once again, and it becomes evident that she is just an ordinary old lady missing her child despite her status.

"At first, I thought that it might be your mother, Selena, who had been behind everything once again, but I gradually found out how wrong I was. My son had built a family without my knowledge, but Selena would always keep in contact with me. She even tried to make him come back to me, but he did not even listen to her; he sure was as stubborn as his mother." A sigh escapes her lips once again as she wipes her tears with her floral handkerchief.

"Selena would meet me often and tell me about everything related to Felix, what they were doing, where they were living. She requested that I do not meddle, no matter how much they financially struggled, so I complied as I did not want to drift any further away from Felix than I already was. But then your mother passed away after giving birth to you, and the only way for me to know about Felix and you was through private investigators. I am ashamed to do so, but I don't regret it; I could reach out to you at the perfect time because of it as well."

As Genevieve reveals the tumultuous events of the past, I can see the pain etched on her face. It is clear that she had her reasons for her actions, and while it doesn't excuse the pain she caused, it offers a glimpse into the complexities of her decisions.

Listening to her story, I begin to understand the layers of emotions that have shaped our family's history. The misunderstandings and the decisions made in the heat of the moment have led to the estrangement.