bChapter /bb23 /b

Cleanor’s eyes got teary as she thought Ste must have had trouble sleeping before. “Don’t worry; I sleep deep Once I’m nud, I won

Ste wanted to share a bed with Eleanor, so the nodded.

As Eleanor went to grab something from her room, Fiona stood at the door. “Mom, are you going to bed?” she basked /bwith a smile.

Eleanor frowned, “It’ste. Why are you looking for Ste!”

Fiona hesitated, “Um, I’ve got something to tell Ste.”

“bWhatever /bit is, you can talk tomorrow. It’ste, and everyone’s tired.” Eleanor was about to go back to her room when she saw Fionil trying to walk into Ste’s room. She turned and said, “Tonight, I’m with Ste,”

Fiona was stunned for a second. She just said to Ste, “Good night, Ste,” and left.

Ste slept great all night. It was the best sleep she’d had in three years.

When she woke up, Ste looked dat Eleanor and basked/b, “Grandma, I didn’t wake you upst night, did I?”

Eleanor smiled, “No, I slept great. I remember when you were little, byou’d /be over and sleep with me.”

When she was ba /bkid, Max would like to sleep alone. Anna got sick a lot. Even when Anna wasn’t sick, she slept with their parents.

Ste was the same age as Anna, but she’d balways /bslept alone since she could remember

Sometimes during the day, when Max was in a good mood, he’d tell Ste ghost stories. This scared her so much that she wouldn’t dare sleep alone at night. She’d go to Max, but he’d just push her baway/b.

Everyt

time Ste wanted to share a bed with Max; her parents would bscold /bher, saying that girls couldn’t share rooms with boys

With no other options,

Thinking of bthis/b, Ste hugged Eleanor, Eleanor hugged her back, shiling

Just then, a maid knocked on the door. “Ma’am, Ste, pleasee out for bbreakfast/b.b” /b

ns, Ste would go to Eleanor, Every time, Eleanor would take good care of her

Eleanor looked at Ste. “Want some food? The doctor said beven /bwater i

ater is okay. Just take it slow

Ste shook her head.

Knowing Ste was not happy

ay with t

the Hayes, Eleanor didn’t say anything

Not long after, Fiona showed up in Ste’s room. “Ste, I know you only eat once ba /bday, but you barely ate yesterday. You must bbe /b

congee for you.”

starving. We made

“Nah, I’m not going.” Ste refused. Her allergies had already cleared up, even the doctormented that he’d never seen them fade thatst. She knew why. She bhadn’t /bgotten ba /bsingle shot in two years, so the meds kicked in super quickly.

Fiona started to talk, but Ste said, “You should have y

o your breakfast”

Fiona had stuff to say, but it wasn’t the right time. She left quietly.

The door stayed open. Ste could hear the family in the dining room,ughing and happy, like she was never part of the bhouse/b.

Chapter 23:0

She saw Eleanor’s phone it up. It was a message from Jordan: We did in, Check it out)

Ste grabbed Eleanor’s phone, deleted the message, and replied: (Stop beating this number, I’ll reach out wh

As Ste was about to put Eleanor’s phone down, the saw a video alext about i

Hayes familyst night’s new.

Some replies popped up: He’s a joke. Handle everything None in a small town? He’s lying to us. He just wanted to clear his daughter’s

Honestly, it isn’t a big deal these days. No one cares anymore. Plus, she didn’t ask for it, right?)

But Mr. Hayes’s move is just mean.]

Ste quickly turned off the phone. She knew it was a free enuntry, but some words still stung. Over the past three years, she’d gotten tough, but sha wa only twenty–one. These words were too much for her.

On her bway /bto the bathroom, Ste overheard Max on the phone. He said, “We couldn’t hide that video from this morning, Did the Carvers make their movet Damn, they’re always like that!”

Ste frowned a little.

Then Max replied, b“/bbGet /bit. I’ll handle it.”

Ste stayed in her room. Eleanor came back after the meal, grabbed her phone, and said she was going for a walk. She asked Ste if she wanted to

be/b.

Ste said she bwanted /bto rest and wouldn’t go for now.

Eleanor remembered that Martin wasingter for Ste’s acupuncture, so she nodded.

Eleanor didn’t leave titer the acupuncture session. The house got real quiet, like everyone who had to go already had. Ste decided to head out, too.

Just as she stepped outside, Fiona cut her off. “Ste, are you going out?” Fiona smiled, but it didn’t look real.

Ste asked tly, “You need something?”

Fiona found that Ste had changed a lot. Since Ste came back, she’d only called her “Mother” once. Fiona remembered Ste used to talk bto /bher nonstop. It was annoying but full of life. Now, Ste was so quiet that Fiona would think she wasn’t home.

Fiona bsaid/b, “I came to check on your allergy. If it’s still bugging you, take you for another shot.”

Ste nced at her arm, all scratched up. There were no red spots, and it wasn’t itchy anymore. “Probably okay,” she said.

“Let’s still go check, I remember you loved seafood; I made extra hoping you’d eat more. Look how skinny you bare/b.” Fiona started crying while talking.

Ste wasn’t moved; she just felt annoyed. She wondered if she was being too bcold/b.

*Come in,” Ste said. Knowing she couldn’t leave right away, she moved aside

to let Fiona in..

Fiona looked around her room. Seeing nothing much, she asked, “Need anything else? Max got you this phone; keep it. It’s the newest one.” bShe /btook the phone out of her pocket and handed it over.

Ste noticed the phone was much cheaper than bAnna’s/bb. /bShe never bused /bto care about stuff like that, but this showed they didn’t really care about her otherwise, they would’ve gotten her the same thing as Anna’s.

Fiona put the phone in Ste’s hand. “We’re family. bSince /bit’s bought for you, it’s yours.”

Ste looked at the phone in her hand and put it on the table. She didn’t ept or reluse. She stared at Fiona and asked directly, “You here for

something else?”

b??? /b

E