Too Grown For Toys

"Are you trying to ice my tongue off? Why is this water so cold?!" Lawrence complained, shoving it back into Evelyn's hands. "Fetch me hot tea!"

Evelyn's lips thinned. With no power to object to one of the most powerful man in the country, she took the water with two hands and exited the room. To disrespect the great Lawrence Yang was to court death. With his influence and power, he could make her death look like a suicide. She would know.

The whole time, she cursed her weak-spined husband for not defending her. But her husband always wagged his tail for his father. Evelyn felt like she had no power, even in her own house.

"Grandfather, you should be kinder to mother," Milo mumbled, his shoulders slumped.

"Hmph," Lawrence turned his attention to his granddaughter. Noticing her blank expression, he smiled a bit on the inside. She was always good at hiding her thoughts, this lovely granddaughter of his.

"I saw the pictures," Lawrence told her. "Of you and that old rabbit's grandson. I do not know what you see in such a demure little man."

Lina blinked. Old rabbit…? Demure little man? Now, this was why Lawrence was her favorite relative.

"I specifically made sure you're never mentioned by the media, yet your picture was posted for the world to see," Lawrence coldly said. His friendly exterior melted away, revealing a threatening stare.

"Do not worry, my little Lina, whoever spread this picture will face a drop in their stock prices!" Lawrence had already begun to move his people in the shadows. Soon, there will be an article posted about the executive of one of the most reputable news reporting companies in this country…

"I never understand why you don't let Lina get some exposure, Grandfather," Milo slowly said, staring at both his father and grandfather. "I hear my older friends saying Lina used to be a very popular child socialite…"

Milo tested the waters and noticed his father's warning stare, but he pressed on. He had so many questions and he needed so many answers.

"But then after she returned from summer camp, she suddenly stopped being in photos," Milo said. "What happened?"

Instantly, Linden and Lawrence shared a glance at each other. Could Milo have remembered…? It couldn't be.

"I don't recall being a popular child socialite," Lina mused. She tried to think of her childhood, but then, a pounding headache kicked in.

Lina winced and clutched her forehead in pain. It was happening again. Whenever she tried to think about the past, it felt like someone was swinging a hammer at her head. She shook her head and decided to think of the present instead.

Instantly, the pain was no longer there.

"You were," Linden finally admitted. "Until that accident in boarding school."

Lina slowly blinked, her body growing tense. Right. That accident in the past. She saw her grandfather's shoulders growing tense, regret flashing on his face. Even her father's gaze was filled with remorse and guilt.

"What accident?" Milo naively asked. As the youngest in the entire family tree, he was always left out of the important talks!

"Father, your hot tea," Evelyn said, walking into the room, completely oblivious of the tension. What just happened?

Lawrence grew even more disgruntled and discontent upon seeing her.

"No need," Lawrence frigidly responded. "You kept me waiting for so long, I became hydrated by my saliva."

Lina said nothing of her grandfather's treatment, even when her mother was glaring daggers at her.

"So, what brings you here today, Grandfather?" Lina asked, grabbing his hand for his attention. Immediately, he patted her hand with affection, smiling warmly up at her. And he says she's his least-favorite…

"To give my little Lina her candy, what else?" Lawrence laughed.

Lina let out a sigh of relief. For a split second there, she thought her grandfather was going to try and convince her to go back to training.

"And my grandson some erectile dysfunction pills," Lawrence added, causing his grandson to choke.

"These were erectile dysfunction pills?!" Milo cried out, pointing an accusing finger at the table. "But I'm only eighteen."

Lawrence snorted in response and turned to his granddaughter again, affectionately patting her on the cheek. Out of everyone in this family, she needed love the most, but received it least.

"You take good care of yourself, okay?" Lawrence stated, leaving no room for any objections. "No more rabbit hunting with useless heirs like that Leclare boy. If you want a toy, I can bring better ones for you."

Milo chuckled, believing it was a joke, but his sister's serious expression made him sober up. Wait. What?

"I am too grown for toys," Lina mused, even though she knew what her grandfather was talking about. "Please take care of yourself as well, Grandfather. Truly."

Lina hoped this served as a warning for her mother. No. More. Blind. Dates.

Right?