Chapter 7

• "I love you, Mr. Miller," Riley whispered softly into her cellphone, her voice filled with affection. She glanced at the packed luggage, contemplating whether to unpack it or leave it for later. The thought of delaying the task crossed her mind, as she didn't believe it was urgent enough to require immediate attention.
• "Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you speak a bit louder?" She imagined him saying those words with a smirk on his face. Propping her feet up against the wall, she reclined on the bed, her dyed hair cascading over the edge.
• A wide smile spread across her lips as she replied, "I wish I could shout it from the rooftop and let the whole world hear, but my little sister is in the next room, and I haven't told her about us yet, Noah." The smile faded, replaced by a familiar sense of fear that engulfed her heart.
• His laughter reached her ears, and she found comfort in its sound, dispelling her worries. "Who's Noah? I thought I was your babe," he teased, and his laughter continued for the next minute, soothing her nerves. She had loved him for so long, believing that nothing could come between them.
• Although he managed to stifle his laughter, she could tell he was still amused as he said, "She's seventeen now. I don't understand why you're still worried. She's not the little Ruby who used to rush to her mother, sharing every detail with her. Haven't you spoken to her since you returned from your trip?"
• "Of course not! I haven't seen her in months, and I can't even remember the last time we talked. Yet, the first thing I do when I reach my room is call you, even though we talk all day and all night," she confessed, her tone tinged with accusation.
• "Alright, I have to go, Riley. Looks like my little brother isn't in a good mood either. I love you," he said, ending the call.
• Regardless of how much they spoke, she knew it would never be enough. Nonetheless, she was relieved when the call ended, as the doorknob turned and an elated Ruby entered the room. Riley tossed her phone onto the bed and sat up, ready to engage with her younger sister.
• "Coffee!" Ruby exclaimed with joy, wrapping Riley in a tight embrace that almost took her breath away.
• The nickname "Coffee" had a backstory that made Riley cringe whenever she heard it, but she kept her feelings to herself, not wanting to hurt her little sister's sentiments. She never wished to do anything to upset Ruby.
• "I missed you so much! Why didn't you come see me when you arrived?" Ruby loosened her grip slightly, and then let go completely when she realized her wet hair was dripping onto her sister's clothes. "I'm so sorry!"
• "I was planning to, but you were in the bathroom taking a shower. By the way, open that drawer and get my hairdryer," Riley pointed to the pine chest in her room. "Let's dry your hair before you catch a cold."
• Ruby complied, glancing at Riley's luggage. "How was your work trip, coffee?" She sat near the foot of the bed, holding the hairdryer, while Riley sat cross-legged on the bed.
• "Why don't you tell me about your day at high school first?" Riley suggested, plugging in the hairdryer and skillfully working on untangling Ruby's hair strands.
• As Ruby excitedly recounted her day, Riley struggled to fully focus on the detailed report. Her mind kept wandering, and the fear she had felt earlier began to creep back into her chest, growing more uneasy by the second.
• Was she ready to confide in Ruby about her relationship? Could she trust her with this secret?
• She didn't want to contemplate how her mother would react if Ruby decided to spill the beans. And what about their father? Riley had always been the rebellious one, rejecting all the family traditions imposed on her because she deemed them absurd. Ruby, on the other hand, was the obedient child who followed everything without question. While her actions had been overlooked thus far, could this secret be treated the same way?
• ***
• "Olivia!" Her mother's voice reverberated through the house from the kitchen.
• "Yes, Mom?" She shouted back, but there was no response. Rolling her eyes, she tossed her bag onto her study table and started gulping down the drink in her hands.
• "Olivia!" Her mother called out once again.
• "Yes, Mom!" Olivia thought it foolish to expect an answer.
• Jace peeked into her room through a crack in the door, clutching a toy gun tightly in his arms.
• "Hands up! You're under arrest!" His voice echoed in the dimly lit room. Olivia noticed from the corner of her eye that he was struggling to hold back a grin. Then his gaze shifted to what she was doing, and his expression grew restless. He strolled over to her bed and turned her bag upside down, scattering its contents.
• "Where's mine?" he complained, frowning.
• "What makes you think I have to get you something every time I get something for myself?"
• "You're mean. I give you all my chocolates," he pointed out.
• She didn't want to push him any further. He was adorable even without the drama, especially when he was on the verge of tears. She tossed another bottle of cold drink into his hands, and he caught it with a wide grin.
• "You're the best sister in the world!" he exclaimed before scurrying off, leaving the toy gun behind.
• She picked it up and examined it. There was no way their father had spent money on that. It looked expensive. Then she recalled how, on Jace's seventh birthday, he had rushed into her room to show her all the gifts he had received. He had claimed that Caden's gift was the best and had played with the toy all night.
• A smile spread across her face. Caden was undeniably foolish, but he certainly knew how to bring joy to people. The impromptu movie plan that day had been executed perfectly. She cherished every moment of it. Her friends and her little brother were the only ones who truly cared about her.
• "Olivia!"
• She groaned in frustration and marched into the kitchen with long, angry strides.
• Her mother's face was filled with anger. "What if I were being attacked and screaming for help? Would you still sit in your room, casually doing whatever the hell you were doing?"
• She rolled her eyes. "Mom, stop being so dramatic," Olivia muttered, placing the blame on daily soap operas for instilling such thoughts in her mother's mind.
• "Okay, let's cut to the chase." Her mother clapped her hands together, dusting off the flour and narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "Why did you skip Biology class today?"
• Olivia swallowed hard, her eyes darting around as she tried to come up with a valid excuse, but none came to mind. Deciding to let it go easily, she chuckled and turned on her heels, preparing to make a quick escape.
• Her arm was suddenly gripped tightly, preventing her from fleeing. "I told Mrs. Cooper to inform me whenever you misbehave or skip classes," her mother said, her nostrils flaring. "If you do it again, we'll send you off to your grandma's. You can enjoy the peaceful life in the village. She'd be happy to marry you off to one of those boys there."
• Olivia's eyes widened in shock. "Mom, what are you saying? Let me go."
• "I'm not joking, Olivia! Don't take your education for granted. Your father works day and night so you can study at a prestigious school. We have to cut expenses in every way possible, sacrificing our own desires to fulfill yours. And here you are, skipping classes and disrespecting us. What sins have we committed to live such days?"
• Her heart shrank at the bitter words. "I didn't mean to disrespect you. I know how expensive the fees are. You and Dad don't have to remind me every hour of every day," she sighed. "We went to see a movie. Caden paid for it." She quickly added the last four words, not wanting to hear another lecture about wasting money.
• "Now you're living off his dad's earnings?!"
• "Where is this coming from? Ugh, I'm disgusted! He's my best friend, and friends sometimes pay for each other, okay? He's extremely wealthy, capable of supporting countless families for years. It was just one movie ticket," she explained and stormed out of the kitchen. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks.
• She had to second-guess everything before doing it. Her parents were always on her case, questioning her every move and objecting to every decision she made.
• Life was harsh for her, but she never showed it to anyone. To the world, she was the cheerful Olivia, always wearing a smile.