Chapter 38
Chapter 38
He also knew how proud Emily was-if their social circle discovered where she’d spent the last two years, the humiliation would crush her.
‘She did this to herself, Lucas reasoned. ‘If she hadn’t pushed Lydia down the stairs, none of this would’ve happened.
Two years later, Lydia still carries the guilt of sending her away. The only reason I even mentioned the reform academy was to stop people from thinking Lydia forced her out.
‘I’ve made everyone swear to secrecy, especially around Grandpa. Only our inner circle knew the truth. After everything I’ve done to shield her, she had no right to glare at me like that.’
The flicker of guilt in Lucas vanished as quickly as it came. He folded his arms and met her gaze. “I was stating facts. Why the look? Sean’s right. That place taught you nothing. You just came back with a bag of petty tricks.”
His voice dripped contempt. “Mom took you and Lydia shopping several days ago. And you show up like this on purpose? You take us for fools? Think we’re that easily duped?”
Emily gave a hollow laugh. “If you’d actually been paying attention, Mr. Bennett, you’d know I’d come back with nothing that day. I’ve been wearing these same clothes for weeks.”
This was her only outfit. Every night after her shift at the restaurant, its kitchen stink clung to her clothes.
She’d scrub them in the sink and drape them over the outdoor AC unit to dry. By morning, they’d be stiff but wearable, ready for another day.
The Bennetts hadn’t noticed, of course. It would have taken just one glance to see she owned nothing else.
Lucas went still. The realization hit him like a slap-Emily had been wearing the same clothes every single day. This wasn’t the Emily he knew-the one who wouldn’t be caught dead in the same outfit twice a month when she’d been cherished by the family.
These privileged kids couldn’t begin to understand what it meant to own just one set of clothes. But hearing this from Emily -the same girl who used to have them all tripping over themselves to please her-left the room dead silent.
Lydia slipped out from behind Lucas, wringing her hands. “I’m sorry. This is my fault. They rushed me to the hospital that day, so Mom forgot about your clothes.”
She lifted her gaze, eyes wide and pleading. “Please don’t blame Lucas. He was so worried about me that it slipped his mind too. I shouldn’t have gotten injured at such a bad time.”
Her apology snapped Lucas out of his thoughts. He turned on Emily, eyes blazing. “How dare you bring that up? If you hadn’t shoved Lydia and landed her in the hospital, we would’ve gotten your clothes. You brought this on yourself.”
Sean’s temper exploded as he glared at Emily. “What? She pushed Lydia again? Two years ago, you threw her down the stairs and almost killed her. And now you’re putting hands on her again? You’ve got a death wish.”
He rolled up his sleeves and swung at Emily. “I must teach you a lesson today for Lydia’s sake.”
Emily instinctively threw up her arms just as the blow came down-missing her face but landing hard on her forearm. The sting shot up her skin like fire.
That movement, that sneer, that sudden violence-it was all too familiar. Sean looked and acted just like the bullies at St. Gabriel’s.
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