Chapter 4

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the Graham family home.

The party had ended hours ago, but the living room was still brightly lit. A mountain of beautifully wrapped gifts sat along the wall. Every single one had my name on it.

Dad stood beside the presents, checking his watch for what had to be the hundredth time.

"Why isn't Noelle home yet?"

His brows were tightly furrowed.

"It's completely dark outside. It takes two hours at most to get from the city to that mountain. Her foster father said she's terrified of the dark and can barely stand being in it. Even if she got delayed on the way, she should be home by now.

"What if something really happened to her?"

As he spoke, he grabbed his coat from the entryway and turned toward the door.

However, Mom stepped in front of him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find Noelle." Dad sounded frantic as he reached for his car keys. "She's a young girl who's been left alone on a mountain in the middle of the night. What if she got lost, or ran into..."

"There is no 'what if.'" Mom pressed down firmly on his hand, her voice calm. "She'll be fine."

"How can you be so sure?" Dad stared at her in disbelief. "That place isn't some ordinary hiking trail. Even the mountain patrol doesn't always dare go up there at night.

"She grew up away from us, and this is her first time back in the city. She doesn't know the area. How could you leave her there alone?"

Mom did not answer. She simply stood in his way, refusing to move even an inch.

Dad's eyes drifted toward the pile of presents by the wall. Slowly, his eyes grew red.

"You prepared all of these, didn't you? You love her that much. When she disappeared ten years ago, you tried to take your own life more than once. You cried until your eyes were nearly swollen shut. You spent ten whole years looking for her.

"When you found out she was coming home, you were so excited you couldn't sleep for nights. You even traveled all over the world to collect the discontinued toys she loved as a child."

Dad stared at Mom, anger creeping into his voice. "You loved her so much. You wanted her home more than anyone. So why are you treating her like this now? What are you thinking?"

Mom's eyelashes trembled, and suddenly, her eyes turned red. "Because I love her."

Dad froze.

I floated beside her, staring at her in shock.

She loved me?

Mom lifted her head, determination filling her eyes.

"Because she's the person I love most, I can't spoil her.

"That mountain may be dangerous, but I've already looked into it. There aren't any wild animals known to live there, and there haven't been any attacks in the past ten years. She's my daughter. Of course, I care about her safety.

"Didn't you hear something wrong in the things she said when she came home?

"'I can never refuse anyone. If you don't love me, just tell me and I'll leave.' How could anyone actually be that foolish?"

The more she spoke, the more worked up she became. Her fingers curled tightly into fists.

"She was doing it on purpose. She knew Janice had been with this family for 16 years and that we had a bond with her. So, she deliberately acted hurt and obedient, trying to make us feel guilty and pressure us into sending Janice away.

"She looks like she isn't fighting for anything, but she's more calculating than anyone."

I floated there in midair, desperately wanting to shake my head, but no sound came out.

No. Every word I had said was true. I really could not refuse anything or anyone.

It was not because I was manipulative or because I wanted to drive Janice away. The truth was, all my life, I had been terrified of being abandoned.

Mom wiped the corner of her eye, and her voice turned icy again.

"The Graham family has spent generations building its reputation. We cannot let it be destroyed by an heir who lies and schemes.

"She left this family when she was little. She never received the upbringing she should have had. No one taught her how to carry herself with dignity, and no one ever held her accountable for her behavior. If someone grows up like that, why would it be surprising if she turned into a liar and a schemer?

"She's our biological daughter, and one day she'll inherit the Graham family fortune. If we don't correct her now, then once she takes over the company, she'll destroy everything we've built."

Dad glanced out the window, still looking torn. "But—"

"She just needs to learn a lesson," Mom cut him off.

Her voice caught, and a flash of pain crossed her eyes. "I know she's afraid of the dark, so I deliberately made her come home and admit what she did herself. Then I can teach her without making it look like I'm forcing her. She has to realize her own mistake.

"She needs to remember this lesson deeply enough to understand that the Graham family will never tolerate manipulation. She can be foolish, and she can struggle in school. But she has to be a decent person.

"Everything I'm doing is for her."

As she spoke, tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

Her emotions were so overwhelming that she failed to notice the resentment flashing through Janice's eyes.

She did not notice Janice quietly slipping the bottle of animal bait out of sight.

Janice linked her arm through Dad's and said softly, "Dad, Mom is right. I'm sure Noelle isn't a little kid anymore. If she's really scared, she'll come down the mountain herself. She won't just sit there and let something happen to her.

"She has too many bad habits. We have to teach her a lesson and make her come home and admit what she did."

Dad remained silent for a long time. Finally, he slowly lowered the car keys in his hand.

"Then... we'll wait a little longer."

Mom seemed to finally breathe again and turned toward the kitchen.

The dining table was already covered with a carefully prepared dinner. There was herb-roasted steak, creamy roasted potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a big pot of chicken soup that had been simmering for hours.

Every dish was something I had casually mentioned liking just once during a phone call.

Mom had spent hours searching for a five-star chef and an entire day having the meal prepared.

As they waited for me, the food was reheated over and over again.

Dad sat in the living room, still checking his watch every few minutes.

The night grew deeper.

Just as the food in the kitchen was being warmed up again, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Everyone in the living room looked up at the same time.

The tear marks on Mom's face were still there, but a smile lifted the corners of her lips.

"I knew it. I knew she'd come back."

Dad shot up from the couch and hurried toward the door.

However, when the door opened, Mom's smile froze.

It was not as she had expected—me standing outside, covered in mud and crying as I apologized. It was several grim-faced police officers.

The officer in front was holding a clear evidence bag. Inside was the necklace, stained red with blood.

"Excuse me. Is Noelle Graham your daughter?"