Sallie's POV
I drew in a long breath before speaking. "St. Chaim's is miles away from here. I had to catch multiple buses and walk quite a distance to make it back."
It wasn't like I'd deliberately stayed out late—I simply couldn't return any earlier.
Webster let out a harsh laugh. "Still putting on an act? I told you to grab a taxi, but instead you walked and rode buses—just to play the victim."
I met his gaze steadily. "I had no money."
"That's ridiculous!" Harvey burst out. "You lived under this roof for years. When did we ever mistreat you?"
Webster shot me a look of pure disgust. "Can't you come up with something more believable? Even one of your hair accessories cost thousands. There's no way you were broke."
Zora and Kevin remained silent, though both wore disapproving frowns.
Watching them act like they'd completely erased what they'd done, I nearly wanted to laugh.
I swept my gaze across their faces. "You were the ones who insisted I needed to live without extravagance if I wanted to reform. So when you shipped me off to St. Chaim Reform Academy, you stripped me of everything."
My eyes settled on Webster. "And that pricey hair accessory? You ripped it straight from my head."
Two years later, I could still feel that searing pain—like my scalp had been torn away.
My words seemed to jog their memories. The Noahs fell into uncomfortable silence.
In the tense quiet, I asked, "Kat I go to my room and rest?"
Kevin cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'll show you upstairs."
I dropped my gaze. "Thank you, Mr. Noah."
Kevin hesitated, turning as if to speak, but ultimately just opened his mouth wordlessly and led the way up.
Once we'd rounded the corner and lost sight of the others below, Kevin finally broke the silence. "Sallie, what everyone did before... it was meant to help you.
"Mom had the entire house deep-cleaned just to welcome you back today. They didn't collect you from St. Chaim's because they were being considerate of Jill's feelings.
"You did push her down those stairs, after all. Mom and Dad simply want Jill to find it in her heart to forgive you. Surely you can understand that?"
I walked behind him in complete silence, offering no response. I'd heard these same justifications countless times—and never had any reply worth giving.
Since Jill's return to the Noah household, Kevin's most frequent words to me had been: "You need to be more understanding. Sallie, you should apologize to Jill."
"Mom and Dad feel they failed Jill. You have to understand that."
"Sallie, when you've done wrong, you need to accept the consequences. Stop being so defiant."
He never raised his voice like Webster did. Instead, each time I tried to explain I hadn't committed those acts, he would calmly insist I confess and apologize.
He condemned me based on his assumptions, delivered his verdicts, and turned all my explanations and pain into nothing more than a joke.
After finishing his speech this time, Kevin waited for me to protest—as I always had before. He'd even prepared his follow-up lecture about "being good and understanding your parents."
But by the time we reached my former bedroom door, I still hadn't uttered a single word.
I kept my head bowed and stayed quiet. Only when I reached for the door handle and pushed it open did a flash of surprise break through my otherwise blank expression.
The room I once knew had been transformed into an organized display of brand-new clothing, shoes, and handbags—like an upscale, professionally arranged walk-in closet.
None of it was mine.
Kevin suddenly seemed to recall something, looking flustered.
He glanced at me and rushed to explain, "You see, Jill endured so much during her time away. Mom and Dad feel terrible about it, so they kept purchasing things for her.
"When Jill's closet became overcrowded, Mom assumed you wouldn't be returning anytime soon... so she converted your room for extra storage. It was her suggestion—and we agreed—since Jill's room is right adjacent.
"Don't hold this against Jill. She actually protested at first..."
"I don't hold anything against Ms. Noah," I interrupted quietly, completely uninterested in their reasoning for turning my room into storage space.
As they'd pointed out, I had occupied Jill's position for eighteen years—enjoying luxury and affection. It was only fair to return everything.
I wouldn't deceive myself anymore, pleading for things that were never truly mine. All I needed now was somewhere to sleep.
I looked up at Kevin and asked cautiously, "Kat I stay here tonight?"
If the answer was no, I'd need to leave while there was still daylight—to find somewhere I could hide, somewhere I could escape quickly if danger arose.
If possible, I also wanted to locate something small and sharp to keep beside me while I slept.
That would help me rest more peacefully.
"Of course you can. This will always be your home," Kevin said, adjusting his glasses. "Let me go ask Mom which room she's prepared for you."
I was about to say it wasn't necessary, but Kevin was already hurrying away—quickly, as if fleeing something he couldn't face.
——
Downstairs, Jill clutched Zora's hand, her face streaked with guilty tears. "Mom, this is all my fault.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have sent Sallie to St. Chaim Reform Academy. You wouldn't have stripped away everything she owned, leaving her penniless—not even enough for taxi fare. She had to take public transportation.
"Sallie's never ridden a bus in her life. She probably didn't even understand how the fare system worked. I'm different—I used to ride buses for over an hour just to reach school, then hike up and down mountain paths.
"She must have struggled terribly getting home today."
Zora, visibly moved, consoled her, "How could this possibly be your fault? It was because Sallie was spiteful and envious. She pushed you down those stairs and refused to acknowledge her wrongdoing.
"Sending her to St. Chaim's was your father's and my choice—it had nothing to do with you."
Webster nodded emphatically. "Exactly right. Jill, this was entirely Sallie's doing. She's manipulative. I bet she stashed money somewhere back then. Otherwise, how would she still have bus fare?
"She's obviously pretending—acting pitiful to earn our sympathy. That's always been her strategy. She nearly deceived us again."
Just as he finished speaking, he spotted Kevin descending the stairs and snapped, "Kevin, is Sallie in her room? Go fetch her. I want to confront her right now and expose her lies."
But Kevin shook his head. "She didn't return to her room. I forgot it's been converted into Jill's closet. Mom, where's the new room you've arranged for her?"
Zora had appeared furious just moments before, but after hearing this, she went rigid.
Seeing everyone's eyes on her, she responded with obvious guilt, "I—I've been occupied planning Jill's graduation celebration. I simply... forgot.
"But we have several guest rooms available. She can use one for now. First thing tomorrow, I'll have the staff prepare a proper room for her—exactly like her previous one. Just make sure she doesn't blame Jill for this, all right?"