Chapter 35
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Tabitha had even rehearsed how she’d pretend to turn down Geneva’s offer–she wasn’t about to let Geneva just take the son she’d struggled to raise all these years.
Stan let out a cold laugh. After all this time, Tabitha still thought she was the smartest person in the room, like everyone else was just waiting to be played.
She never stopped to think–if Geneva were only as sharp as her, she wouldn’t have made it this far.
But Stan had only one son. By the time he got out of prison, Barclay had grown up, and it was too late to raise him right. He didn’t know how to deal with Barclay anymore.
If Geneva could actually take Barclay under her wing, maybe the kid would have a shot at a decent future. That’d be some comfort at least.
Still, Stan had no plans to see Geneva. He let the Motley family go without him–maybe something good would come of it.
So Tabitha, her parents, and Barclay went together to see Geneva.
Getting to her wasn’t easy. They had to go through ID checks and full security screenings and were assigned escorts.
That was when they finally understood–Geneva wasn’t the same person anymore. She was a national treasure now. The government went out of its way to protect her, wanting her to live a long, healthy life. Anyone who tried to hurt her would pay a steep price.
After jumping through all the hoops, they were finally allowed to see her.
Geneva looked even younger in person than she did on TV–definitely younger than Tabitha. Her soft features gave off an air of quiet strength, like she’d weathered every storm and come out even more composed.
The Motley family was thrilled. Rocky and Salena even teared up, itching to rush forward and hug Geneva but hesitating— like a scene straight out of a family reunion drama.
But Geneva just looked at them calmly and said, “You’ve got thirty minutes. Say what you came to say.”
Her cool attitude instantly killed the warm atmosphere.
Rocky and Salena’s smiles froze for a moment before they began gushing about how much they’d missed her. Tabitha and Barclay then joined in.
They thought time had healed everything, and maybe now they could be a family again.
But the more they tried to create a warm, touching moment, the colder Geneva seemed in comparison.
Her mouth barely twitched. “You’ve got ten minutes left.”
The Motley family exchanged awkward glances, unsure what to say next.
Tabitha suddenly realized Geneva didn’t agree to see them because she’d forgiven them or wanted to reconnect. If she didn’t speak up now, she might lose her only chance.
So she got straight to the point. “Geneva, you don’t have any family with you now. Why not let Barclay stay and take care of
you…”
Geneva raised an eyebrow, catching on immediately.
Though she couldn’t work anymore, Geneva still had years ahead of her with the right care. She wasn’t one to sit around
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waiting to die–she’d told the government she was willing to keep training new talent.
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In response, they’d sent her some of the brightest young minds in the country–students she was now personally mentoring.
Now, Tabitha wanted to plant Barclay in that group, clearly with the same idea in mind.
Geneva glanced at Barclay and saw hope in his eyes.
If it weren’t for the Original Host’s wishes, Geneva might’ve actually taken a liking to Barclay’s potential. She might have been willing to guide him, even help straighten out his warped sense of right and wrong.
But since she was living in the Original Host’s body, she couldn’t go against her wishes.
Even though the Original Host had never asked for revenge, there was no way she’d want to help the very people who had hurt her.
There were plenty of gifted young people out there–it didn’t have to be Barclay.
So Geneva didn’t even consider taking him in. She said coolly, “No need. I already have people looking after me.”
Tabitha hadn’t expected her to shut it down so quickly. She panicked–this was the only decent option she could see for her
son.
She wasn’t about to give up just like that. “Geneva, no matter how well others care for you, they’re still outsiders. Isn’t it better to have family close by?”
Geneva glanced at Barclay with a sharp look. “Sure. He’s been looking out for his family since he was a kid–he knew how to hurt people just to please his mom.”
Tabitha’s face froze. Barclay quickly chimed in, “That was when I was a kid! I didn’t know any better. Aunt Geneva, are you really holding a grudge against a child?”
Tabitha nodded quickly. “Exactly! He was just a little boy back then. He didn’t know what he was doing. Geneva, you’re not seriously blaming a kid for that-”
pp In Geneva’s eyes, doing those things as a clueless child was bad enough. Now that he understood the consequences, it was
even more dangerous.
If it weren’t for the tracking bracelet he had to wear now, Geneva could not imagine what he might’ve become.
Geneva still didn’t respond, so Tabitha pushed harder. “Geneva, you know how smart Barclay is. You don’t have kids of your own–why not treat him like your own? He could take care of you when you’re older. And if he makes something of himself, that reflects well on you. We’re family. Shouldn’t we help each other live better?”
The more she talked, the more convinced she sounded, like not taking Barclay in would be Geneva’s loss.
Salena agreed. In her mind, Barclay hadn’t done well because Tabitha had no clue how to raise a kid. If he lived with Geneva, everything could turn around.
And if Barclay succeeded, the Motley family would have two scientists under its name. That was something to be proud of. So Salena chimed in, “Tabitha’s right, Geneva. You’re already mentoring strangers–what’s one more nephew?”
She leaned in, like she was letting Geneva in on a secret. “You should pass down your most important knowledge to Barclay.
Don’t let outsiders benefit from it.”
Geneva had once thought maybe the Motley family had changed in the past twenty years. Now, she realized she’d given
them too much credit.
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They were just as entitled as ever, pushing their plans onto others without a second thought.
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She said coldly, “And why should I keep him with me? I may be old, but I’m not senile. I still remember how his mother barged in, begging me to make her happy with my husband. I remember how his father had me committed to a psych ward.
“I remember how, at their suggestion, Harrison tried to hypnotize me into jumping to my death. And I definitely remember how this so–called ‘gifted child‘ rigged a knife above my bedroom door, almost cracking my skull open. How he arranged a kidnapping. How he spread lies about me online-
