Page 28 of Turmoil's Target

His laughter is a deep rumble that echoes around the room, drawing a chuckle from me as well. “That’s right! You were like my little shadow. Always inquisitive, always determined to know and learn everything.”

He reaches over and ruffles my hair affectionately. “You’ve always been driven, Seraphina. From the moment you could talk, I could see that fire in your eyes. That desire to make your own mark on the world.”

“I’d like to think I still have that fire,” I reply, my voice soft as I meet his gaze.

His eyes twinkle back at me, full of warmth and understanding.

“You do, my dear,” he says with a reassuring squeeze of my hand. “You just have to remember to use it for your own good, as well as for the family.”

There’s a weight to his words that makes me sit back, catching my breath.

He’s telling me something important here, something I need to listen to. “For my own good?”

“Yes,” he nods slowly, his gaze searching mine. “Your mother...she has her own way of dealing with things. But you are not her. You are your own person. Yes, we share a common goal, but you must remember to take care of yourself too. You have your own life to live.”

His words ring in my ears as if they were bells tolling the hour—it’s a wake-up call that I didn’t realize I needed.

I've spent so much of my life consumed by Mum’s vendetta.

I never once stopped to consider what I truly wanted.

Grandfather’s words echo in my mind, a stark reminder that there is a world beyond the shadows of revenge and hatred that have shrouded our family for so long.

His gaze softens as he takes in my stunned silence. “Your father wouldn’t want you to live your life in the shadow of retribution, Seraphina,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible over the soft crackling of the nearby fireplace.

I glance away, tears welling in my eyes.

I’ve tried not to think about Dad...it’s always been too painful.

But now, faced with Grandfather’s gentle wisdom, I can’t avoid it anymore.

A single tear rolls down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away. “I know,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. “I knowhe wouldn’t want this. But how can I honor him if I don’t seek justice for his death?”

Grandfather sighs, a heavy sound filled with years of heartache and wisdom. “Justice and revenge are not the same, my dear. Revenge is a road that leads nowhere but misery. Justice… true justice comes from understanding and forgiveness. From moving forward, not dwelling in the past.”

I shake my head, stubbornness surging in me. “How can I forgive them? They took him away from us.”

“I know,” he murmurs, his gaze intense on mine. “And I’m not saying you should forget what happened or ignore the pain. But when seeking justice, you must ensure you’re doing so for the right reasons. Not out of anger or spite, but to bring peace to yourself and to honor your father’s memory.”

My heart clenches at his words.

Could I truly let go of this burning ache for revenge that has consumed me for so long?

Could I find it within myself to seek peaceful justice instead?

He pats my back, then pulls away with a twinkle in his eye. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to visit the loo. At my age, when nature calls, you don’t keep her waiting.”

I laugh as he shuffles out of the room, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.

Maybe, just maybe, things are finally going to start changing for the better.

As I settle back onto the sofa, my phone buzzes with an incoming text.

I fish it out of my purse and glance at the screen, a smile spreading across my face as I see Rita’s name.

Plans tonight with Jack and Abe. Meet me at the bar, babe. Let’s get wild.

I grin, my earlier frustrations forgotten in the face of a night out with my best friend and our two favorite delicious pieces of eye candy.

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