Chapter 2

Mallory smiled and cut in before anyone else could speak, "Don't be nervous, Brenda. Grandma just wants to meet Grady's future wife today.

"The tarot cards say you're carrying bad luck today. It wouldn't be a good idea for you to meet her. So, I'll meet her for you."

Before she finished speaking, Teresa called from the living room, "Mrs. Cabrera, Grandma Elena will be down in a moment."

Linda immediately urged her on, "Mally, hurry and change. We don't want to keep Grandma waiting."

Mallory curved her lips into a smile at me. "Of course."

A few minutes later, Teresa returned carrying a rosewood box. Inside lay a flawless tennis bracelet.

Linda turned to Grady, unable to hide the smile on her face. "Your grandmother has been saving this for her future granddaughter-in-law. Today seems like the perfect occasion. Mallory can wear it first."

Mallory walked over, her gaze lingering on the bracelet. "Linda, something this valuable really shouldn't be entrusted to me."

She said the words, but her hand was already reaching for it.

Looking at me, she deliberately lifted her wrist a little higher. "I'll just wear it for Brenda today. Once her bad luck has passed, I'll return it exactly as it is."

I smiled. "Anything you've worn… I don't want back."

Grady immediately turned toward me, lowering his voice in warning, "Brenda. That's enough."

I looked at him. "She's taken my place. And you're telling me to be quiet?"

His brow furrowed. "It's just a bracelet. Once the day's over, I'll have Mallory take it off. Just be reasonable."

I stared at him. So, to him, everything I'd been put through amounted to nothing.

Teresa helped Elena slowly into the living room, and Linda hurried over.

"Elena, watch your step."

Elena waved her off, but her eyes settled on Mallory. A smile spread across her face. "So this is the young woman Grady brought home?"

I looked at him, still hoping he'd correct her.

Instead, Grady smiled at Mallory.

"Grandma, I'd like you to meet her."

The last shred of hope inside me shattered.

Elena took Mallory's hand with obvious delight before picking up a small wrapped gift from beside her. "Our family has a tradition. The first time I meet my future granddaughter-in-law, I always give her a little welcome gift."

As she slipped the gift into Mallory's hands, Mallory deliberately glanced at me. "Thank you, Grandma."

Elena patted the tennis bracelet on Mallory's wrist. "Now that you're wearing it, keep it on. From now on, you're family. Take good care of Grady."

Several relatives chimed in.

"Grandma has excellent taste."

"They've been close since they were kids. It wouldn't surprise me if they ended up together."

Grady walked over to me. "When everyone sits down, I'll introduce you to the family. I'll tell them you're my girlfriend... the woman I'm going to marry."

I said nothing. I simply looked down at the message from my manager.

[Would you like to accept the assignment in Blackridge?]

My thumb hovered over the screen for a long time without replying.

When Grady saw that I stayed silent, he assumed I'd finally given in.

"We're getting engaged at the end of the year. The house and the wedding are already being planned. Brenda, stop being so stubborn."

Before I could answer, Teresas began arranging the seating. At the head table, the place beside Grady had originally been reserved for me.

Instead, Teresa removed my place card and replaced it with Mallory's.

I walked over. "Why was my seat changed?"

Teresa looked uncomfortable. "Miss Pierce said you shouldn't sit beside Mr. Cabrera today. She said it would bring Grandma bad luck after finally meeting her future granddaughter-in-law."

Mallory sat nearby, my tennis bracelet still on her wrist. When she noticed me looking, she smiled and lightly patted the seat beside Grady.

"Don't be upset, Brenda. I'm only taking your place for a little while. Besides, Grady already agreed."

I slowly turned toward him.

Grady avoided my eyes. Then he said quietly, "It's only one meal. Does it really matter where you sit?"