Grace
I had been so proud to be under his mentorship.
"I'm going for biochemistry," I had told him, leaning against his desk, practically vibrating with excitement. "I'm going to become just like you in the future. And the best part is, you're going to be my primary research professor for next year."
"There is no one I would rather have in my lab, Grace," he had replied, his eyes shining with what I thought was parental pride. "We are going to do incredible things together."
Now, sitting on Kent's floor, those words felt toxic. It wasn't a rescue. It was an investment portfolio. He hadn't saved a lonely, terrified teenager from the state system because he had a good heart. He had checked my records, found whatever marker he was looking for, and pulled his asset out of circulation befor
