Violet's POV
I sat in a corner of the living room, my head tilted downwards and my gaze assessing my feet. She called me by my middle name and I know whatever words come out next will either break me or drive me crazy.
"You won't be going to grad school. I don't know who put that stupid idea into your head. You have a responsibility as the first daughter of this family."
An unexpected whimper escaped my mouth. I folded my lip trying to hold back my tears.
"And that isn't all. You will be getting married to Benson."
At this point I divert my gaze to her. Her white silky textured hair stylishly sat on one side of her shoulder with her pretty, wrinkled face staring back at me in the most aggressive way ever. I never looked at grandma when she spoke to me because she always looked at me as if I was an enemy.
There's a lot I want to say to her. First that grad school was my mum's dream for me and secondly that she was so heartless for wanting me to marry Benson, the crazy son of Theodore, who only recently came out of the psychiatric hospital. But I hold all my words back, whatever I say to her will be pointless. Grandma was hard headed and never goes back on her words.
I focus my gaze back on my feet. A voice I have come to repulse deeply, suddenly interrupts the atmosphere.
"Grandma, but you know grad school has also always been my dream. If you stop her from going what about me."
"Oh, my dear. You are not your sister! Of course you can."
"Really!"
I hear her scream and looked up to see her pulling grandma in for a hug. "I love you grandma."
My hands swiftly brushed off a tear, as I sniffled.
Everyone remained silent as they watched the drama unfold. My mum sat, head facing her legs, beside her sat my uncle who looked at grandma with rage. On the other side were Grandma, my step sister, Elizabeth, her mother, Felicia, who beamed with so much pride and prestige. Felicia was a thief. She didn't just steal material things but she stole people's homes, their happiness, and their chances.
My father married Felicia while my mother was pregnant with me. He had promised my mother the world, and even proposed to her. He assured her, his mother wouldn't mind her status as their maid, he promised her everything would change, then right after she gets pregnant with me, he married another woman. Leaving my mum heartbroken and at the mercy of his wicked mother. Father made sure grandma didn't chase us out but she never stopped treating us with contempt.
Sometimes I feel like him having a stroke was his karma, for betraying my mother and I hope soon it catches up with grandma too.
The stupid family meeting was over. I locked myself in my room. Turns out my engagement to Benson is taking place next week. I have spent 20 years of my life obeying grandma but this time around, I just can't. I won't marry a crazy guy. No way.
____
If I wasn't the bride to be I would probably think my grandma was the one getting engaged. She invited a lot of people yet no one has said anything to me, they all keep greeting my grandma instead.
From a distance I watched grandma introduce Elizabeth to a professor from Harvard, my stomach turned at the sight of them laughing together. My so called fiancé wasn't even in sight and would not be present at the party because his mental health deteriorated and he had to be checked into the hospital.
I angrily swirled the glass of wine I was holding and gulped it all down. Now that I think about it, if the groom isn't present then why should the bride be? No one would notice if I was gone anyway. I placed the glass of wine into the tray a waiter was holding and walked out of the event. I do not even know where I am going but wherever my feet leads me is where I'll land.
I decided to go to a famous hotel. Journalists mostly hide around it because only famous and rich people visited to do crazy things that they could make controversial stories about. I feel like doing something very crazy. Something that would make the news and make grandma die out of rage.
I downed a few more glasses of wine until I was tipsy and didn't know what I was doing anymore. Now that I think about it, I would like to give away my virginity to a stranger. I can imagine grandma's face when she sees the news, 'Billionaire Tycoon's granddaughter, caught with lover on her engagement day'.
I laughed to myself, loud enough for the bar man to ask if I was okay.
I looked around to see if any of the men looked attractive enough for me. My gaze lands on a figure that was now standing beside me and about to order drinks himself.
"You're cute." I laughed.
"Hmm, and so are you sweetie pie."
I chuckled, now certain I wanted to go ahead with my plan.
"Can you make love to me, please?"
"I will do anything you want, love."
_____
I woke up to a dark room, and a really bad headache. I don't know how I got here or what happened but my last memory was of me at the bar drinking and wondering how to pay my grandmother back. I struggled to sit up but there was so much pain in between my thighs. By the time I sat up and turned the light on I could see blood stains on the sheet.
It immediately felt like my whole world was crashing. This wasn't my plan. This was never my plan. I wanted to make grandma angry but not by ruining myself like this. I tried to remember the image of the man with me but it was blurry.
"No, no," my whole body shook as I cried.
I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and I could see 19 missed calls from my mum. Grandma must have nagged at her all night asking about my where about.
There are bruises on my arms and thighs. I wonder what beast did this to me. As my heart raced I contemplated the next steps to take. I picked up my clothes from the floor and dressed up, then made my way to the bar. The bar man who attended to me was no longer on duty, I asked for his name but everyone at the bar acted clueless. I do not know how to face my mother or even that witch grandma, but if I do not go home, grandma will put mum through a lot.