Chapter 7: The Vow

Sofia Pov

I ignore the pain in my head as I peel my eyes open. The constant throbbing doesn't go away as I look around the room.

I'm in my room.

The last thing I remember is feeling dazed while Mom and Grandma argued.

Before I can analyze it, my bedroom door is gently pushed open. Grandma appears with a bowl of steaming soup and a glass of water. The fragrance hits me—delicious.

"Thank God you're awake. I was beginning to get worried, even after Lucy checked on you," Grandma says, smiling as she places the tray on the bed and climbs in next to me.

"What happened?" I manage to ask. My voice is hoarse, like I’ve been out for days. "Where’s—"

She waves the question off before I can finish.

"Young lady, eat first and talk later."

I chuckle. "Are you being strict with me, Granny? I'm sick—I deserve the baby treatment."

"Alright, honey." She gives in instantly.

Mom was right—Granny spoils me too much. Maybe that’s why I feel safe here. At home. Somewhere I don’t have to earn kindness.

"You have to eat more so I won’t have to worry," she says, adjusting the tray. "I almost had a heart attack when you fainted."

"I'm sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose."

"I know."

She picks up the spoon, blowing softly to cool it down. There's something awkward in her hands. Probably Mom said something, and now she doesn’t know how to break it to me.

"Mom doesn’t think the same, right?" I ask. "She probably thinks I passed out on purpose because..."

"Sofia," she cuts in gently, "your mother is that way—it doesn't mean she doesn’t love you and want the best for you."

"Best for me?" I scoff. "Or best for her and her fancy new family."

Right.

She never cares about me. I'm the dramatic one. Always the mistake. The best thing she ever did for me was divorcing Dad. At least that gave me some days of silence—without being reminded of how imperfect I am.

Grandma offers me a spoonful. I open my mouth reluctantly.

"You should’ve met your grandfather Jonathan," she says with a nostalgic smile.

The taste of soup collides with the sourness in my mouth. Delicious.

"Your mom is just a tip of the iceberg."

I raise a brow. "Yeah, Grandma Tessa?"

She chuckles. "I'm being serious. Your grandfather was a narcissistic jerk."

She manages to pull a small smile from me.

"If you don’t believe me, just look at my face. I’m barely seventy and already all wrinkled."

I chuckle. I don’t see wrinkles. Just beauty lines—on the most beautiful and understanding granny.

She feeds me another spoon.

"Grandma, I love you so, so much."

She drops the spoon and pulls me into her arms.

"You are the only person who understands me."

Her chest vibrates with emotion. I was only being thankful—I didn’t mean to make her cry.

"I wish you could stay, but your mother is taking you back..."

"I'm not going with her."

My chest tightens at the thought. Her husband. Brianna. The house that’s not mine.

"She is your mother and legal guardian..."

"But I'm twenty-one."

"It doesn’t matter to us mothers. Till the day you marry, you are always going to be our little girl."

“So I’m always going to be your little girl, huh, Granny Tessa?” I tease.

She laughs, ruffling my hair. “Always and forever. You’re my only grandchild, so my love is only for you.”

“I’m going to be really greedy, Granny.”

“Awwn, child, you’re allowed to be.”

I laugh, letting her warmth soak in—but the ache in my chest only deepens.

How am I supposed to pass anything when I haven’t even been paying attention in class?

And Professor Lucien… earlier…

That was insane.

I still can’t believe he asked me to give him a blowjob just because he caught me stealing the answer booklet.

My problems went from bad to off-the-charts insane.

Heat creeps up my neck as I recall the way he grabbed my hand and placed it on his—

I shudder.

I don’t even want to think about it.

Cool, grumpy-pants Professor Lucien acting like that? Totally unbelievable.

How could anyone be that… well, big down there?

I even let my fingers—

“Sofia Carson…”

I jolt. A light flick lands on my forehead. I look up and meet Grandma’s disapproving gaze.

“Grandma, that hurts,” I groan playfully. Not that she actually hit me hard.

“What were you thinking about? I’ve been rambling for a whole minute, and you didn’t hear a word.” She narrows her eyes.

Crap. I totally zoned out. Thinking about that creep.

“It’s… nothing important.”

“Sofia,” she drawls.

I squint at her. “You always say my name like that when something’s up.”

“Sofia.”

“Grandma, just spit it out. I’m not a baby,” I grin. “I’m a grown-ass—”

“Shut up.” She cuts me off with a glare.

“You’re too tiny to be a grown-ass.”

I chuckle. “What’s up, Mama Tess?”

“Shut up, girl. Mama Tess is only for—”

“Grown-ass women,” I finish, earning a laugh from her.

“I’m going to miss you,” she says.

I want to laugh. “Not going to happen.”

But her face shifts. Like she wants to believe me. But can't.

My mom. The volcano. She’s going to make my life a living hell.

“Becky told me if you fail the assessment and fall below average, you’re going to her house.”

I knew it. My mom is my nemesis.

I wince. If only I had been focused… I wouldn’t even be worrying about my result.

But then an idea hits me.

“All I have to do is ace the assessment and I get to keep my peace.”

Grandma’s face cracks. “Sofia…”

I almost laugh. She has no faith in me, huh?

“I’m gonna pass. All I need is an insanely good tutor who’s strict as hell.”

We both fall silent.

Then burst out laughing.

The idea of me acing anything? Yeah. Comedy gold.

“Sofia Carson, you are not going to kill this old lady.”

She hugs me tighter. I bury my face into her chest.

But even as her warmth wraps around me, that ache in my chest doesn’t go away.

Because I know what I’ve done.

What I let happen.

What Professor Lucien asked of me.

And what scares me the most…

Is that I didn’t say no.

I didn’t scream.

I didn’t push him away.

I froze—

And let his hand guide mine to where it never should’ve gone.

I hate that part of me.

The quiet part.

The frozen part.

The part that didn’t fight back when I should have.

And now that memory won’t leave me alone.

His breath near my ear.

The heat of his skin.

The way he looked at me like he could own me.

“I swear I’m gonna pass. I promise you, Grandma. Nothing is going to separate us.”

She pulls back just a little, brushing my hair off my face with shaky fingers. “I know, baby. I believe you.”

Then she lets out a sigh, like she’s been holding her breath this whole time. “I’ll go make your tea. Try to close your eyes, even if it’s just for a little while.”

I nod. She stands slowly and walks out, closing the door gently behind her.

As the door clicks shut behind her, a thought slips through the haze in my mind.

Small. Maybe even silly.

But suddenly, it feels clear.

What if I ask him to tutor me?

Professor Lucien. He’s the only one who knows the syllabus inside out. The only one who might actually get me through this exam.

But I’m scared of what it’ll take.

And hopeful it won’t break me.

Then—

The voices.

“She’s getting too comfortable in that school,” Mom snaps. “If she can’t keep her head down, I’m pulling her out. I mean it this time.”

“You’ll destroy her, Becky” Grandma shoots back, firmer now. “She’s trying. You just don’t want to see it.”

“Trying? Really? Lying to me, sneaking around, fainting out of nowhere like some drama queen? That school is a bad influence, and I’m done waiting for it to fix her.”

My chest tightens.

Change schools?

My heart drops.

No.

Not now.

Not when I’ve finally started to breathe again.

She’s not just threatening school.

She’s threatening the only version of me that still exists.

The only life I’ve managed to build from the wreckage.

And the worst part?

She might actually do it.

But even that isn't what scares me most.

What scares me—

Is what he said.

What he whispered after he caught me in his office.

“Suck it, Sofia Carson. Take your punishment. And maybe I’ll let this slide.”

I couldn’t move.

And now… I can’t forget.

The question won’t leave my head.

Can I convince Professor Lucien to help me—without getting on my knees?