Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Charles’s voice made Emily cry even harder, like she was trying to pour out every bit of fear and pain from the past two
years.
Back at St. Gabriel’s, she had imagined this moment countless times. She pictured herself running to Charles like she used to, crying to him whenever someone bullied her, letting him stand up for her and get revenge on her behalf.
But when Charles gently asked if she had been treated badly out there, Emily forced a smile through her tears and shook her head.
Still, she couldn’t stop the sorrow welling up inside her.
After entering that hellish place, she had never had enough to eat or warm clothes to wear. She was beaten and humiliated, treated worse than a stray dog. Even her name had been taken-she was just “Number Ten.”
Everyone there could hurt her in whatever way they pleased. Not only would they go unpunished, but they’d even be rewarded. The worse they treated her, the more they were praised.
She didn’t even dare fall into a deep sleep, afraid that the next time she opened her eyes, she’d be tied up and surrounded by faces that looked like monsters.
Her sadness ran too deep to hide.
But when Charles asked again, she still forced a smile and said, “No, I was fine out there.”
Charles’s hand trembled as he wiped her tears, his face full of heartbreak. “Don’t lie to me. If you were fine, why are you so skinny?”
Emily quickly wiped her face. “I’ve been on a diet lately. Grandpa, I really am okay. I’m just happy I get to see you again.”
To have made it out of St. Gabriel’s alive-to be standing here, in front of Charles-that was already enough for her.
“Silly girl…” Charles couldn’t help but cry.
He could tell right away she wasn’t thin from dieting. He didn’t know exactly what Emily had gone through, but it hurt him. deeply that she didn’t even feel safe enough to tell him.
Wiping away his own tears, Charles glared fiercely at Andrew, who was still standing by the door. “What did you people do to
her?”
Andrew sighed, clearly frustrated. “Grandpa, like I said-Emily was abroad. She’s back now. Why won’t you believe me?”
“Lies!” Charles snapped, grabbing the cup on his nightstand and throwing it at him.
At first, he really had believed the Bennetts when they said Emily had gone abroad. He’d even been upset that she didn’t say goodbye before leaving.
But as time went on and he never got a single call or message from her, he started to suspect they had lied. Going abroad didn’t mean losing all connection. Emily would’ve contacted him-he knew she would’ve.
He tried to speak again, but his fury overwhelmed him, and he suddenly broke into a fit of coughing.
Emily jumped up and gently patted his back. “Grandpa, please don’t be mad. I’m here now. I’ll stay with you every day. I’m not going anywhere.”
Right now, all she wanted was to stay close to Charles-far away from the Bennetts and from St. Gabriel’s-and simply
survive.
1/2
Chapter 10
Charles could see that she didn’t want to talk about what they’d done to her. That made his heart ache even more.
He had treated her like a precious treasure since she was a child. He didn’t even want to imagine what kind of pain she must’ve endured.
Choking back tears, he stroked her hair with trembling fingers. “It’s okay. You’re home now. That’s all that matters”
Emily’s nose stung, and she pressed her lips together, nodding hard.
Like a tiny boat finally finding a safe harbor, she clung tightly to Charles’s arm. For the first time in two years, she felt truly
safe.
Charles looked at her fragile, dependent face, and it hurt so much it felt like his heart was bleeding.