Chapter 4

She noticed Sasha staring at her and smiled as she reached out to grab her hand.

“Sasha, you’re finally back. I’ve missed you so much.”

Sasha pulled her hand away, her gaze turning cold.

“Missed me? Then why didn’t you ever contact me… my dear best friend?”

Chloe’s eyes flickered for a second. “It’s not that I didn’t want to. A lot happened after you left…”

She quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, I’ve been living in this room for the past seven years. If you want it back now that you’re home, I’ll move out.”

Sasha had never thought of anything in this house as hers.

What she felt now wasn’t anger. It was confusion.

“Why are you living here?”

“Why shouldn’t she?” Gabriel’s voice came from the doorway as he walked in. “It’s just a room.”

Chloe immediately slipped her arm through his, smiling sweetly.

“Uncle Gabriel, did you meet Dr. Hawke today?”

Gabriel smiled and patted her head. “I did.”

“Did you get me his autograph?”

“No. Next time I’ll take you with me. You can ask him yourself.”

Chloe lit up. “Really? Uncle Gabriel, you’re the best!”

Sasha stood there quietly, watching them.

Her emotions tangled into something she couldn’t quite name.

Chloe was technically part of the extended family. Before Sasha came to the Quinn house, Chloe had never even set foot here.

It was only after they became friends that Sasha brought her over.

Back then, Chloe had been timid. She barely dared to speak in front of Gabriel. He wouldn’t even spare her a glance.

And now?

She lived here.

Clung to him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Over the past seven years, Sasha had thought about that night more times than she could count.

The way Chloe’s eyes had shifted when she handed her that drink.

At the time, Sasha had been too nervous to notice.

She had never understood why Chloe would hurt her like that.

But now…

She finally did.

Chloe wanted her place.

Wanted to become the cherished princess of the Quinn family.

And Gabriel…

He had let it happen so easily.

Did it mean that, to him, it didn’t matter who he raised?

Anyone could take her place?

Gabriel looked up and saw Sasha standing there alone, her lashes lowered, her expression faintly shadowed.

A trace of guilt flickered through him.

Had he been too harsh on her?

It was just a room.

Letting her stay there wouldn’t have mattered.

Chloe caught that change instantly.

“I’ll move out and give the room back to Sasha,” she said quickly. “It’s right next to your room, Uncle Gabriel. It’ll be more convenient for her too.”

Gabriel’s expression sharpened.

That reminder hit him at once.

Back then, he had placed Sasha in the room next to his so it would be easier to take care of her.

That arrangement… was no longer appropriate.

Annoyed at his own moment of hesitation, his face darkened.

“No need. Sasha can stay downstairs.”

Downstairs.

The guest room.

Sasha didn’t say a word.

She picked up her suitcase and turned to the maid. “Show me the way.”

The guest room was plain. Even the sheets were disposable.

Sasha didn’t mind.

She hadn’t planned on staying long anyway.

She unpacked a change of clothes and took a shower.

After drying her hair, she grabbed the gifts she had prepared and headed out.

The family was already seated in the dining room.

Grace sat there with a sour expression. “Seven years and still no improvement. Making the whole family wait for her just to eat.”

“Aunt Grace, no one told me dinner was ready.”

Sasha greeted everyone one by one.

Only then did Grace realize no one had actually called her.

Still, she refused to admit it.

“So what? You don’t know what time dinner is? I think you’re—”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Her eyes locked onto Sasha.

It wasn’t just her.

Everyone in the room froze.

Sasha’s slightly damp hair fell over her shoulders like soft waves, making her already delicate features stand out even more. Her face was small, her features refined, almost like something out of a painting.

Marianne felt a jolt of surprise.

Sasha had grown into someone stunning.

She couldn’t help glancing at her son, a faint unease settling in her chest.

Gabriel’s expression didn’t change. He simply gestured for Sasha to sit.

Sasha set the gifts down. “These are just small things I brought back for everyone.”

Marianne opened the box.

Inside was a set of skincare products with no visible branding.

She was well past sixty, but she took great care of her appearance. Nothing she used was ever less than luxury-level.

She wasn’t pleased.

But there was no need to make a fuss over something like this.

She forced a smile, about to thank her—

“Grandma, your skin’s been sensitive lately,” Chloe suddenly cut in. “You shouldn’t be using random products.”

Grace didn’t hesitate. She picked up the entire set and tossed it straight into the trash.

“If you didn’t want to bring a gift, you could’ve just said so. The Quinn family doesn’t need whatever cheap junk you came up with. Don’t insult us with this kind of off-brand garbage.”

Under the table, Sasha’s hand tightened.

She forced herself to stay calm. “It’s from a lab. The results are really good. It helps with pigmentation, wrinkles—”

“Enough.”

Gabriel cut her off coldly.

Inside, he let out a quiet sigh.

After all these years, she had only gotten worse.

He had sent her that much money, and she had clearly spent it all on herself. Clothes, appearances. She couldn’t even be bothered to put thought into a gift for them.

Even a decent box of chocolates would’ve been enough. Who would’ve looked down on her for that?

Sasha watched as the housekeeper carried the box away.

It felt like something inside her was being scraped raw.

She used to bring them gifts too.

A handmade card from art class. Seashells she’d picked up at the beach. Even a single leaf.

Back then, they had treated everything she gave them like it was something precious. They praised her for being thoughtful. For being sweet.

“Let’s eat.”

Jason Quinn, Gabriel’s dad, finally spoke.

The so-called welcome dinner turned quiet around her.

No one spoke to Sasha again.

Only Chloe kept chatting nonstop, lively and cheerful. The rest of the family responded with easy smiles, clearly used to her.

Sasha sat there, watching.

Even though she had long since let go of any expectations toward Gabriel and the Quinn family, something heavy still settled in her chest.

It pressed down until she had no appetite at all.

Then Grace suddenly turned to her.

“Chloe’s in a master’s program at Huxley now. Biology.”

Sasha raised a brow.

Chloe? Getting into Huxley?

Back then, her grades had barely scraped past the special admission cutoff.

Going from an average school to a top-tier university for grad school… that would take something extraordinary.

Chloe wasn’t extraordinary.

She had gotten in through other means.

Still, she smiled sweetly. “Sasha, I know studying biology was always your dream. As your best friend, I helped make it come true for you.”

She tilted her head, all innocence. “I heard you’re working at Dr. Hawke’s lab now. Does that make you a scientist too?”

A sharp laugh escaped Grace.

“Chloe, just because someone works in a lab doesn’t make them a scientist. Labs need people to carry equipment, clean up, even feed test animals.”

Chloe played along smoothly. “That’s still nice, though. At least you get to see top researchers every day. Oh, Sasha, have you met Sage? She’s a really impressive young scientist.”

“If she knew anything about that, she wouldn’t be giving people random products to mess up their skin.”

“Eat.”

Gabriel cut his sister off, but he didn’t defend Sasha.

Instead, he turned to Chloe. “If you like Sage that much, I’ll take you to Professor Leed’s funeral tomorrow. She was his protégé. She’ll be seated with the family.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up instantly.

She used the serving tongs to place a piece of ribs onto his plate. “Thank you, Uncle Gabriel.”

Gabriel smiled easily.

He enjoyed Chloe’s admiration. Warm, enthusiastic, but never excessive.

Unlike Sasha.

Back then, the feelings in her eyes had been impossible to hide.

Chloe glanced at Sasha again. “Uncle Gabriel, Sasha just got back. She should get out and see more too. Why don’t you take her instead? I don’t have to go.”

Grace let out a cold snort. “What would she go for? To embarrass us?”

Marianne added gently, “Sasha should stay home and rest.”

Gabriel made the final call. “She’s not going.”

The satisfaction in Chloe’s eyes was almost impossible to hide.

“Sasha, in that case, I’m sorry—”

“You don’t need to be.”

Sasha cut her off.

“I’m going tomorrow too.”

“You?” Gabriel’s voice turned cold. “And under what identity? A guest? Or family?”

Sasha set her silverware down.

“Student.”

Gabriel frowned, caught off guard.

“Student? You’re Sage?”