Chapter 7: Beginning of the End

“Dexie, you misunderstood me. I’m happy you’re home.”

Sarry followed her into the living room, still smiling.

“If I’d known you were coming, I would have asked the servants to prepare your favorite dishes.”

Dexie did not answer.

The welcome sounded as warm as it always had. That was what bothered her. Sarry could still call herself Mom and speak as though nothing had changed.

But something had changed.

Dexie now knew what had been hidden beneath that familiar smile.

She walked farther into the room and noticed Roxane sitting on the couch.

Her younger sister wore a light brown knitted dress beneath a white wool sweater. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders, making her pale cheeks look even paler. There was little color in her lips.

She looked delicate and harmless.

Once, that appearance had made Dexie protective. She had thought of Roxane as a poor girl who had grown up without a father. Whenever Roxane seemed tired or unwell, Dexie had given way to her.

Now she knew Roxane had never been another man’s daughter.

She was Rodel and Sarry’s child.

Her own father had betrayed her mother, and then the family had raised the child from that betrayal beside her while calling the girl her stepsister.

Roxane was only a few months younger than Dexie.

There was no way to fit that fact into the story Rodel had told them about his devoted marriage to Wendy.

Dexie stopped near the couch.

Roxane looked up and noticed her staring.

“What are you looking at?”

There was no affection in the question.

Dexie let her gaze move over Roxane’s face.

“Nothing. I was just thinking you look uglier than the last time I saw you.”

Roxane froze.

For a moment, no one spoke. Dexie’s words had been casual, almost mild, and that seemed to make the insult harder to answer.

“Dexie!” Rodel snapped.

She turned toward him.

“How can you speak to your sister like that? You know she’s always been weak.”

Roxane lowered her eyes, her hands resting together in her lap.

Dexie had seen that response before. Usually, it made everyone speak more gently and ask whether she needed to rest.

“Don’t you think you’re being inconsiderate?” Rodel demanded.

“Was I being sarcastic?”

His brows drew together. “Dexie.”

“I was only telling the truth.”

Rodel’s expression darkened.

Dexie studied him. He had reacted immediately to one insult against Roxane. There had been no pause, no question about why Dexie had spoken so sharply.

His first concern had been protecting his younger daughter.

“People say that after a father marries another woman, he sometimes starts treating his own daughter differently,” Dexie said.

Sarry’s smile disappeared.

Dexie gave Rodel a faint smile.

“I never believed it before. Maybe there’s some truth to it.”

“Dexie, how can you say that?” Sarry asked.

Her voice shook slightly. When Dexie looked at her, her eyes were already reddening.

“I’ve treated you like my own daughter since you were little. I’ve never abused you. I’ve never refused you anything you needed.”

“Would you have dared?”

The room went quiet.

Sarry stared at her.

Dexie held her gaze.

As a child, she had believed Sarry’s kindness came from love. She had not understood what her grandfather’s protection meant or how much power the Hansley family still had after Wendy’s death.

Sarry could not have mistreated her openly without risking that comfortable life.

That did not prove every kind gesture had been false. But it meant Dexie could no longer use those gestures as proof that Sarry had loved her.

She remembered bringing Sarry small gifts and watching for her pleased smile. She remembered sharing her things with Roxane because she wanted them to feel like real sisters.

She had given them her trust so easily.

The thought hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Dexie kept her face calm.

Sarry glanced toward Rodel. He was looking at Dexie with a frown, and neither of them spoke for a moment.

Dexie noticed the exchanged look.

They might be wondering what she knew. They might simply be shocked by her behavior.

She would not give them an answer yet.

“Dexie, what’s wrong with you today?” Rodel asked.

His voice was quieter now.

She looked at him without replying.

“Did something happen?”

There it was. A reason they could accept for the change in her.

“You came home and immediately started attacking everyone,” he continued. “If something is bothering you, tell us.”

Dexie nearly laughed.

He wanted an explanation for her anger, but he had never offered her an honest explanation of his own past.

She could confront him now. She could say Roxane’s name and tell him exactly what she knew.

But she had come here to watch them, not to give them time to prepare their excuses.

Sarry moved closer.

“If I’ve done something to upset you, just tell me,” she said. “You don’t need to hurt me because you’re angry.”

Dexie glanced at her.

Sarry turned slightly toward Roxane.

“And you know your sister has always been fragile. What you said to her was cruel.”

Roxane remained silent, but her shoulders drew inward.

The picture was familiar. Sarry was hurt. Roxane was too weak to defend herself. Rodel was left to correct the difficult daughter.

Dexie had stood in that place before.

This time, she would not rush to apologize.

“Fine,” she said with a shrug. “I have a terrible sense of humor.”

She walked to the couch and sat down. The cushion gave beneath her, and she settled back instead of looking for permission to stay.

“But I really am in a bad mood.”

Rodel watched her.

Dexie crossed one leg over the other and looked at Sarry, then Roxane.

“So I need someone to take it out on.”

Roxane raised her head.

The shock on her face almost made Dexie smile.

“You and your daughter have lived comfortably in this house for twelve years,” Dexie said to Sarry. “Consider this a chance to repay some of that kindness.”

Sarry’s mouth tightened.

“At least then you’ll finally be useful to me.”

“Enough!”

Rodel’s voice filled the room.

Dexie slowly turned toward him.

He stepped closer to the couch. His brief attempt to sound understanding was gone.

“I’ve told you before that you were spoiled too much as a child.”

She rested her hands loosely in her lap.

“When did you become this disrespectful?” he demanded. “Sarry is your stepmother. She’s one of your elders. Have you forgotten even the most basic manners?”

Dexie listened without interrupting.

He had found an explanation he preferred. She was spoiled. She was rude. Whatever had brought her home in this mood, the fault was hers.

Roxane lowered her head again. Just before she did, Dexie caught a small change in her expression, a slight easing around her mouth.

It looked almost like satisfaction.

Dexie could not be certain, but she would remember it.

Sarry reached for Rodel’s arm.

“Forget it,” she said softly.

He turned toward her.

“Dexie already said she’s in a bad mood. There’s no reason to make things worse.”

Sarry glanced at Dexie, then lowered her eyes.

“Let’s just have dinner.”

Tears had gathered in them.

Dexie watched Rodel look at his wife’s face. His jaw tightened, and when he turned back, his anger had grown.

“You see that, Dexie? After everything you’ve said, she’s still defending you.”

Dexie said nothing.

Once, that sentence would have made her ashamed. She would have looked at Sarry’s tears and wondered whether she had been unfair.

Then she would have apologized, and Sarry would have forgiven her with a gentle smile.

Everyone would have praised Sarry for being patient.

No one would have asked why Rodel always became angrier after his wife asked him to calm down.

Now Dexie could see the pattern.

Sarry had not raised her voice. She had not ordered Rodel to punish her. She had only held his arm, lowered her eyes, and let him see how hurt she was.

He had done the rest himself.

Dexie looked from his furious face to Sarry’s tearful one.

The words about dinner sounded peaceful. The effect was anything but.

She had come home angry enough to want to shake the truth out of them. Instead, sitting here had shown her something she might have missed if she had made her accusation at once.

This was how Sarry protected herself.

She let someone else become the angry one while she remained gentle.

Dexie’s lips slowly curved.

Sarry looked at her, and the smile on Dexie’s face seemed to unsettle her more than the insults had.

Dexie did not explain it.

If Sarry wanted to keep playing the loving mother, she could.

For now, Dexie would watch and let her speak.

But this time, Sarry’s tears would not make her forget what she knew.