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All Chapters of All Roads Lead Back to You: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

29 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Mom, remember that guy you wanted to set me up with? I've decided to meet him."The moment Noelle Anderson said it, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders.Julia Badger's voice softened when she realized her daughter was finally giving up on Stephen Sedgwick."I'm glad you've come to your senses, Noelle. The Sedgwicks are way out of our league. Besides..."Julia caught herself and quickly changed the subject."The guy I want you to meet might not be quite like Stephen, but he's handsome. I think you two would make a good match."Noelle knew her mother was only trying to make her feel better. But after nine years of following Stephen around, she couldn't help feeling a little let down."Okay. One more month.""What's happening in a month?"Noelle scrambled to end the call before turning around. Stephen was standing in the doorway, looking amused."Your birthday. It's in a month," she said calmly.Stephen scoffed. "I thought you meant you'd finally leave me alone in a month

Chapter 2

Stephen's father, Oscar Sedgwick, had died in his study. Julia had been accused of neglecting her duty and thrown out of the house without mercy.Noelle had stared at the luggage scattered outside the front door, trying through her tears to explain what had happened. She'd hoped Stephen would believe her and her mother.But when he finally looked at her, all she saw was hatred and disgust."Noelle, we paid your mother to work for us, and she couldn't even do her job right. She got my dad killed, and you have the nerve to ask me to forgive her?"If my mom hadn't insisted on letting you stay, you'd have been thrown out right alongside her. But don't get too comfortable. One day, you'll leave this house on your own. I'll make sure of it."Stephen hadn't been bluffing.At school, he'd told everyone that Noelle was the person he hated most. He'd let Rachel bully her and ignored her pleas for help.Noelle was right back in the same nightmare Stephen had once rescued her from.Night a

Chapter 3

Once Stephen was gone, Noelle resumed her search for part-time work online.She only had one month left, and she wasn't going to waste it waiting for Stephen to come home every day. She also wanted to pay him the equivalent of all those years' rent before she left. Then they'd finally be even.She soon found a tutoring job. She'd spend two hours every evening tutoring a student at their home, earning 2,000 dollars in two weeks.With the money she'd saved from other part-time jobs over the years, she'd have enough to cover the rent.Noelle was about to leave when Stephen called to her from the stairs."Where are you going?""I got a part-time job. If I don't leave now, I'll be late."Stephen leaned against the stair railing, looking amused."Are you that desperate for money? Doesn't my mom already pay you to look after me and keep tabs on me? Oh, right. My birthday's coming up. Don't tell me you're working this hard just to buy me a present."He wasn't wrong about the present.

Chapter 4

Rachel eyed Noelle suspiciously, clearly surprised she'd given in so easily."What are you up to now?"Noelle shook her head. "I've come to my senses, that's all."By the time Rachel got over her surprise, Noelle was nowhere in sight.Even at 9:00 pm, the subway station was still crowded. But Noelle felt utterly alone.She'd once believed home was wherever Stephen was. Yet even after nine years, she still felt like an outsider in a city full of wealth and privilege.When Noelle got home, Stephen was sitting on the couch playing a game. He frowned as cold air blew in through the open door."What are you standing there for? Trying to make me sick so you can take care of me?"Noelle quickly shut the door and stood in the entryway, trying to shake off the chill."So that part-time job of yours is tutoring Rachel's sister?"Noelle instinctively gripped her pants. He must have been chatting with Rachel when he kept checking his phone earlier.Stephen glanced at her. "What were you

Chapter 5

For days after he'd chewed her out, Stephen had barely looked at Noelle without scowling. Then one day, he called out to her."I'm having some friends over tonight. You'll stay and wait on us. Oh, and Rachel's coming, too. Since you like waiting on her so much, you can spend the evening doing just that."His words cut deep.Stephen had once been the one to protect her, but now he was the one hurting her. Still, she'd spent nine years loving him, holding on to those few moments of kindness.Now that her feelings had finally worn away, she could see that the guy she'd fallen for was long gone. She couldn't help feeling that she'd wasted those years.At least she was graduating soon, and then she could leave.Noelle kept her emotions in check and said evenly, "Okay."Stephen couldn't explain why Noelle's indifference unsettled him. Even when Rachel bullied her, she'd always tried to get back on her feet and fight back. Now she showed none of that resistance.Still, he wasn't about

Chapter 6

Stephen slammed his glass down, his manner suddenly cold."Rachel, Noelle's not yours to order around. Don't push it," he warned."But she's just the maid…" Rachel protested, her voice fading as she realized Stephen was genuinely angry.She hurriedly took off her shoe and handed it to Noelle. "Here. Clean it."The guests exchanged puzzled glances. A few seconds later, several guests who'd had too much to drink raised their glasses and cheered, and the party came back to life.Noelle took the high heel to the bathroom to clean it. She hadn't expected Rachel to follow her in.Rachel lifted her chin and sneered."Noelle, I almost feel sorry for you. You've been chasing Stephen for nine years, and to him, you're still just the help. And you still bend over backward to please him. Is groveling all you know how to do?"Noelle ignored her and kept cleaning the shoe.In the past, she would've brought up the few times Stephen had been kind to her, trying to prove she'd been right to lo

Chapter 7

Stephen's grip tightened around Noelle's throat. She started seeing double, but she forced herself not to pry his hand away.Noelle trusted her mother. Julia had worked for the Sedgwicks for years, watched Stephen grow up, and always treated his parents with love and respect.When Stephen's mother, Miranda Graham, was newly pregnant, someone approached Julia in private, claiming they had a gift to deliver.Instead, they offered her two million dollars to secretly put a drug that could cause a miscarriage in Miranda's food every day.Julia wasn't tempted. She told Oscar and Miranda everything, and from then on, she tasted Miranda's food herself before every meal.Miranda gave birth safely, but someone later broke Julia's leg in retaliation. She still walked with a limp.After everything Julia had done to protect the Sedgwicks, Noelle couldn't believe she'd neglected Oscar so badly that he'd died.On the day Oscar died, he'd sent Julia away, saying he had confidential business to

Chapter 8

Noelle realized what she'd said as soon as the words were out.Sure enough, Stephen sneered, his voice cold and cruel."Noelle, you still think I'd marry you, don't you? I'd marry anyone but you! You want me to agree to this arranged marriage so you can get away from me? Forget it!"He grabbed Noelle and pushed her toward the door."That's not what I meant!" she blurted out.But Stephen wouldn't listen. He threw her out the front door and stared at her coldly."Noelle, you're going to spend the rest of your life paying for what happened to my dad. Don't think I'll let you off that easily. Neither you nor my mom will ever control my life!"The front door slammed shut.Stephen went back to his room and looked out the window. Noelle was still standing outside, staring blankly at the door without moving.That strange feeling he'd had earlier was gone.To Stephen, her stillness only proved that she was still hopelessly hung up on him. No matter how much he yelled at her or tried t

Chapter 9

Furious, Stephen strode up to Noelle and slapped her hard across the face."Noelle, I'm so disappointed in you! You actually tried to kill Rachel? Am I next?"Noelle pressed her lips together. He'd known her for nine years, yet he'd believed Rachel without a second thought.She kept telling herself she'd be leaving soon, but after years of holding everything in, she couldn't stop the tears."Do you even know what happened? How can you just assume I did it? Rachel pushed me down the steps. I grabbed her hand, and that's why we both fell."Rachel hurriedly rolled up her sleeve to show Stephen the scratches on her arm, crying as she spoke."That's not true. Noelle tried to push me, but she lost her balance and fell forward. I reached out to catch her, but she grabbed me so tightly that I fell down the steps with her."Stephen, I might tease Noelle sometimes, but you know how easily I get scared. Why would I ever hurt her on purpose?"Stephen met Noelle's hopeful gaze, then walked

Chapter 10

When the train pulled into the station, Noelle spotted Julia waiting in the distance, her hair completely white. She hurried over and threw her arms around her mother."Mom, I've missed you."Julia noticed the wound beneath the brim of Noelle's hat, her eyes full of worry."How did you get hurt? Why do you always keep things from me? Don't you know how much I worry about you?"Noelle swallowed her hurt and kept her tone playful. "It's nothing. I just bumped my head. Come on, Mom, your daughter's hurt. Aren't you going to make me something good to eat when we get home?""Alright, alright. Let's go home. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Danny heard you were coming back, so he came over just to welcome you home."Julia's smile widened as she talked about Danny."I can tell that boy really likes you."She spent the whole ride home singing his praises, but she wouldn't tell Noelle who Danny actually was. She insisted Noelle would find out when they met.Seeing Julia so happy lifted a weig

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