My silence didn’t stop him. He kept flipping pages. “Oh, and I spoke to someone I know who has contacts in London. They can get you into a solid medical program there.”
I blinked slowly. “London?”
He nodded, almost excited. “Yeah. Top schools, great future. You’ve always wanted to be a doctor, right? This is your chance.”
“And… leave?” I asked quietly.
He gave a small shrug. “Long distance isn’t impossible. We’ll manage. Maybe it’s even better. You focus on your studies. And I—” he smiled lightly “—focus on business.”
Something cold settled in my chest.
If this was the old me, I would’ve believed it was love and support. Now I could only see it for what it was—convenience. A way to quietly move me out of the picture when I was no longer useful. A way to pass me around without Grandma noticing.
My fingers curled tightly in my lap. “Do you want me gone?”
He didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Something inside me didn’t just hurt—it snapped into place. Like everything suddenly made sense.
I nodded faintly. “I’ll think about it.”
His face brightened immediately. “Good. Really, London would suit you.”
Of course it would. For him.