Page 101 of Destiny

“Yes. Left here by your grandmother. At my request.”

Anger fills me. I don’t try to suppress it, but it’s imperative that I at least hide it.

This woman manipulated Didi for God knows how many years. Didi, who I was close to. Didi, who had a damned shitty life until she moved in with us, according to my mother.

“Just tell me where they are, Grandmother. I will find them all.”

“Not yet, Ava. First of all, there are a few things you need to know.”

“Yes?”

“Your father will soon find out that Lauren is his full-blooded sister.”

“I see.”

“But, Ava… There’s a reason why you are my true progeny rather than Lauren’s son.”

“Why?”

“Because Ryan was made the natural way. Through Brad’s and my love. Lauren came a few years later, through artificial insemination.”

“Why didn’t you tell Brad he had another child?”

“He wouldn’t have believed me.”

“Did he know you had access to his sperm?”

“No.” She shakes her head, trembling a bit. “All the future lawmakers chose to immortalize ourselves, including me. The technology was fairly new at that time, so we were interested. I had my eggs extracted and frozen as well. A year later, when Brad met Sean Murphy, he told him about the process. Sean decided he wanted to take part as well.”

“So that was his decision?”

“Sean’s? Yes, it was. No one coerced him into it.” She pauses, breathing in deeply. “What your grandfather and the others didn’t know is that I retained access to their donations. I retained access to everything the club did. To everything, Ava.Everything.”

“You mean…”

“All their funds, earned through both legal and illegal means. Every cent, Ava. I retained access.”

“I see. And why did you choose Sean Murphy for your daughter?”

“I certainly wasn’t going to impregnate her with her father’s sperm. And the others weren’t even slightly worthy of my daughter.”

I nod. Since three of the others were rapists and child molesters, I see her point, though she’s the pot calling the kettle black. Big time. I clamp my lips shut, determined not to call her out on her hypocrisy.

“I’ve set it all in motion for you, Ava. You will continue my legacy and find your destiny.”

“My God…”

“What?”

“The future lawmakers club. The one in Snow Creek. That’s how this all started, with that club.”

Wendy shakes her head. “I didn’t go to Snow Creek High School. I went to a private prep school in Grand Junction.”

“So the club…”

“If there’s a future lawmakers club here in Snow Creek, it’s not related to anything I’ve done.”

“It’s not? Are you sure?”

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