CHAPTER 3: TRUTH HAS A PRICE
The guests quietly began leaving.
No one wanted to witness what came next.
Jason approached me.
"Hannah..."
"I'm sorry."
I looked at him.
"Were you?"
He lowered his head.
"I didn't know what to do."
"You knew enough to stay silent."
He had no answer.
I slipped the ring he had given me into his hand.
"I deserve someone who stands beside me."
"Not behind the loudest person."
His eyes filled with regret.
But it was too late.
He walked away without another word.
Inside the house, Chloe was furious.
"This is ridiculous!"
"I've lived here too!"
"You don't deserve everything!"
I looked at her calmly.
"I never asked for everything."
"You did."
Dad made that decision.
Not me.
My mother sat quietly on the couch.
She suddenly looked ten years older.
Robert spoke gently.
"Mrs. Brooks, Hannah has every legal right to ask everyone to leave."
Mom slowly looked up at me.
"Are you... going to throw us out?"
The question hung in the air.
A few hours earlier...
She had asked me to leave.
Now our positions were reversed.
I thought about the slap.
The humiliation.
The years of trying to earn her approval.
Then I remembered Dad's letter.
Take care of yourself.
Not revenge.
Peace.
I took a deep breath.
"You can stay."
Everyone looked shocked.
"But things are changing."
"I'll renovate the house."
"I'll manage the finances."
"And from today..."
"We treat each other with respect."
Chloe exploded.
"I refuse!"
I smiled sadly.
"Then you're free to move out."
May you like
For once...
She had nothing to say.
