Chapter 4
Emily took a deep breath, then said, “St. Gabriel’s is really far from here. I took several buses and walked a long way to get
here.”
It wasn’t that she came back late on purpose-she simply had no way to get back any sooner.
But Lucas scoffed. “Still pretending, huh? I told you to take a cab, but you walked and took the bus instead-just to look pitiful.”
Emily looked at him calmly. “I didn’t have any money.”
“That’s nonsense!” Gale snapped. “You lived in this house for years. When did we ever treat you badly?”
Lucas gave her a disgusted look. “Couldn’t you come up with a better excuse? Even a hair tie of yours costs tens of thousands. No way you had no money.”
Emma and Andrew didn’t say anything, but both frowned, clearly unhappy.
Seeing how they had all forgotten what they’d done, Emily almost felt like laughing.
She glanced around at them. “You’re the ones who said I need to live without luxury if I want to change. So when you sent me to St. Gabriel Reform Academy, you took everything from me.”
Her eyes finally landed on Lucas. “And that expensive hair tie? You were the one who pulled it off my head,” she said.
Even after two years, she could still remember the pain-like it had ripped her scalp right off.
After her reminder, the Bennetts finally remembered what they’d done. None of them said a word.
Seeing their silence, Emily asked, “Can I go to my room and rest now?”
In the awkward quiet, Andrew cleared his throat. “I’ll take you upstairs.”
Emily lowered her head. “Thank you, Mr. Bennett.”
Andrew paused, turned like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just opened his mouth, said nothing, and quietly led the way up.
Once they turned the corner and could no longer see the others downstairs, Andrew finally spoke. “Emily, what everyone did back then… it was for your own good.
“Mom had the whole house cleaned top to bottom just to welcome you home today. They didn’t go pick you up from St. Gabriel’s because they were trying to make Lydia feel better.
“After all, you did push her down the stairs. Mom and Dad just want Lydia to forgive you. You should try to understand, okay?”
Emily stayed silent the whole time, walking behind him without saying a word. She’d heard lines like these too many times before-and never had anything to say back.
Ever since Lydia returned to the Bennett family, the thing Andrew said to Emily the most was, “You should be more understanding. Emily, apologize to Lydia.”
“Mom and Dad feel they owe Lydia. You need to understand that, okay?”
“Emily, if you did something wrong, you should accept the punishment. Don’t be so stubborn.”
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Chapter 4
He never shouted at her like Lucas did. Instead, every time after Emily explained she hadn’t done those things, he would firmly tell her to admit it and say sorry.
He judged her based on what he thought had happened, handed down the punishment, and made all her explanations and hurt seem like a joke.
After he finished talking this time, Andrew waited for Emily to argue back-just like she used to. He even had his next speech ready, the one about “being good and understanding their parents.”
But even after they reached the door to Emily’s old bedroom, she still hadn’t said a word.
She kept her head down and stayed quiet. Only when she reached out and pushed open the door did a flicker of surprise cross her otherwise numb face.
The room she used to know was now neatly filled with brand-new clothes, shoes, and bags-like a fancy, well-decorated walk-in closet.
But none of it belonged to Emily.
Andrew suddenly seemed to remember something and looked a little flustered.
He glanced at Emily and quickly said, “You know, Lydia went through a lot while she was out there. Mom and Dad feel guilty, so they kept buying her nice things.
“When Lydia’s closet got too full, Mom figured you weren’t coming back anytime soon… so she turned your room into extra space. It was her idea-and ours too-since Lydia’s room is right next door.
“Don’t blame Lydia. She actually said no at first…”
“I don’t blame Ms. Bennett,” Emily cut him off calmly, not at all interested in why her room had been turned into a closet.
Like they’d said, she had lived in Lydia’s place for eighteen years-surrounded by wealth and love. It was only right to give it all back.
She wasn’t going to fool herself anymore, begging for things that were never hers to begin with. All she wanted now was a place to sleep.
She looked up at Andrew and asked carefully, “Can I stay here for the night?”
If the answer was no, she’d have to leave while it was still early enough-to find somewhere she could hide, where she could escape quickly if something happened.
If possible, she also wanted to find something small and sharp to keep with her while she slept. That would help her rest easier.
“Of course you can. This will always be your home,” Andrew said, pushing up his glasses. “I’ll go ask Mom which room she set up for you.”
Emily was going to say it wasn’t necessary, but Andrew was already walking off-fast, like there was something behind him
he didn’t want to face.
Downstairs, Lydia was holding Emma’s hand, her face full of guilty tears. “Mom, it’s all my fault.
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have sent Emily to St. Gabriel Reform Academy. You wouldn’t have taken away everything she had, leaving her with no money-not even enough for a cab. She had to take the bus.
“Emily’s never taken a bus in her life. She probably didn’t even know how the fare worked. I’m different—I used to ride the bus for over an hour just to get to school, then walk up and down mountain roads.
“She must’ve had a really hard time getting home today.”
Emma, clearly heartbroken, comforted her, “How could this be your fault? It was because Emily was petty and jealous. She pushed you down the stairs and never admitted she was wrong.
“Sending her to St. Gabriel’s was your dad’s and my decision-it had nothing to do with you.”
Lucas nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Lydia, this was all on Emily. She’s manipulative. I bet she hid something back then. Otherwise, how would she still have money for the bus?
“She’s clearly pretending-acting all sad to get our sympathy. That’s always been her trick. She almost fooled us again.”
Just as he finished, he saw Andrew coming down the stairs and snapped, “Andrew, is Emily in her room? Go get her. I want to call her out right now and expose her for the liar she is.”
But Andrew shook his head. “She didn’t go back to her room. I forgot it’s been turned into Lydia’s closet. Mom, where’s the new room you set up for her?”
Emma had looked angry just a second ago, but after hearing that, she froze.
Seeing everyone looking at her, she replied, sounding a little guilty, “I-I’ve been busy planning Lydia’s graduation party. I just… forgot.
“But we have plenty of guest rooms. Just let her stay in one for now. First thing tomorrow, I’ll have the staff set up a room for her-exactly like her old one. Just make sure she doesn’t blame Lydia for this, okay?”
