CHAPTER 50: ROLLER COASTER

Evening blanketed the city like an embrace, the sky painted in shifting hues of color. The dark blue car rolled to a stop in front of Erisia, and the driver stepped out, opening the back seat for her.

Flashing him a small smile, she slid into the car, the door closing softly behind her.

The driver returned to his seat and started the engine. Behind him, Erisia gazed out the window for a while before turning toward the handbag beside her. She reached inside and drew out the hard drive containing all the information Seliora had given her.

Tonight, there was going to be a show at the Wrenfords’ mansion.

A few minutes into the drive, Erisia’s phone rang, Rita’s name glowing on the screen.

She answered with a light, "Hey—"

"I saw your message. Did something happen?" Rita’s voice was filled with concern.

Erisia suppressed a smile and gave a small shake of her head. "No—"

"Then why are you going back there? Did they force you to come back?" Rita pressed, her tone rising. "Erisia, you know I told you to live with me. There’s no need to go back there."

"Rita, listen," Erisia said gently, "I’m not going back to live there. I’m only going to tie up some loose ends." She let out a soft laugh. "I wouldn’t go even if they begged me to."

A breath of relief came through the line. "Good. I just gave Rein her wet food, and she’s been looking for you. She’s really grown attached to you."

"Thank you for looking after her. I miss her too, and I’ll be back by tomorrow."

"Okay," Rita replied, the tension easing from her voice. "You can tell me what loose ends you tied when you’re back. Tomorrow’s my day off."

"You always have a day off every few days," Erisia teased.

"What can I say? I’m hard to refuse."

"Or you have too much blackmail material on your superiors," she chuckled, glancing out the window as Rita’s laughter bubbled through the speaker.

"Rita, your birthday is in a few weeks, right?"

"Yeah, it’s not even two weeks away."

"What do you think about getting a luxurious apartment in either Manhattan or Brooklyn for an early birthday gift?"

"What?! Of fucking course I want it!" Rita nearly shouted. "Are your parents finally coming to their senses? Are they going to give you an apartment as an apology? Take it! Take it!"

Erisia had to bite back a laugh at Rita’s desperate tone. "No, they wouldn’t be giving me anything. I’ll be taking it myself."

"Oh really? Then I guess they didn’t come to their senses. What am I saying? They never could." Rita’s scoff practically echoed through the phone.

"Yeah," Erisia whispered, her voice turning cool, "one of them would never."

Because she didn’t have a choice.

——

By the time the car turned into the compound, the sun was sinking low on the horizon. Erisia stepped out, thanking the driver before walking forward.

She stopped short.

Waiting in front of the mansion were two figures—David, her father, and Shane, her elder brother.

Seeing the two waiting for her was very surprising. The story was written in Lyra’s third-person POV. When Erisia was brought to the Wrenfords’ mansion, it was all told through Sierra to Lyra, and about a month after Erisia arrived at the Wrenfords’ family was when David and Shane went on a business trip.

And before they arrived—or was it after?—Erisia was murdered, so the exact situation of the relationship between the father, brother, and daughter was not written clearly.

But it seems it was different from the conclusion that Erisia had come to—that they were just like Leander, disdainful but distant.

David moved first, striding toward her. Shane followed a few paces behind, his expression harder to read—calm, watchful, but not unkind.

"Erisia," her father said, his deep voice carrying across the gravel.

She inclined her head, her voice soft but clear. "Father. Brother."

The titles still felt strange on her tongue—like words she’d borrowed from someone else’s life.

Shane stared at her and nodded, while David had a small smile on his lips. "Come on, let’s go in," David said.

Erisia didn’t hesitate as she replied, "Okay," following his lead.

When they stepped into the living room, there was only Leander, who was watching something on his phone. When he saw Erisia, he went still, then glared at her as if she were an evil creature.

Erisia met his glare with a mocking raise of her eyebrows, making Leander grit his teeth, yet he couldn’t do anything because of what his father had said that morning.

"You must not say or do anything that will insult Erisia. I do not know why you have such unfavorable feelings for her, but do not let me catch a whiff of it from now on. I do not care how you do it—be polite, or just keep your mouth shut, or don’t speak at all. Understand?" David’s voice was firm.

"...Yes, Father," Leander answered reluctantly.

"Good. Now leave. I have to go pick Erisia up for Adrian’s arraignment."

So, he turned away and focused on his phone, choosing to ignore her existence until she left.

But apparently, like the saying like father, like son, Shane called out to him. "Leander, won’t you say anything in greeting?"

"What?" Leander looked up, surprised by Shane’s words. Shane hardly ever spoke, and when he did, it was either business or necessity. "Shane, you can’t tell me what to do."

"Forget it, I don’t need his greeting. It’s nothing but words anyway." Erisia smiled provocatively at Leander. "I will be going up to my room. Call me when dinner is ready."

With that, Erisia turned and walked out of the living room toward the spiraling stairs.

Stepping on the first stair, she ascended it, and just as she reached the top, she saw Sierra walking toward her, looking down at her phone while cracking her knuckles.

Erisia tilted her head and called out, "Dearest adopted sister."

As if pulled from a dream into a nightmare, Sierra looked up, and her eyes widened when she saw Erisia. But when her eyes caught the smile on Erisia’s lips, her expression distorted.

Erisia grinned and walked closer. "I hope you enjoyed these couple of days. It must have been a hail of a roller coaster."