Chapter 3
No, that was not it.
I never stole anything, and I didn't force Norah to leave.
Mom was so furious that she slapped me hard, the force sending me stumbling to the floor.
"Why?" she sobbed, covering her face, disappointment and anger written all over her. "We've tried our best to be good to you. Why did you have to make Norah leave?"
I clutched my face, tears welling up in my eyes.
"I didn't..." I choked out.
Luke's voice was cold as ice. "If Norah doesn't come back, you're no longer a Riley."
Mom and Luke rushed out the door, desperate to find Norah.
Left all by myself, I slumped down in the center of the banquet hall, drowning in everyone's judging and hateful looks.
That day, they turned the whole place upside down searching for Norah, but not a single trace of her could be found.
It was like she'd vanished into thin air, gone without a trace.
From that day on, everything changed.
I became the thorn in everyone's side, the one the whole family couldn't stand.
Luke's resentment toward me grew stronger with each passing day. He couldn't even bear to look at me, so he forced me into a dark, damp storage room.
"Until Norah comes back, this is the only place you deserve to be," he said coldly.
Mom was always in tears, and the only time she showed a hint of hope was when there was news about Norah.
But every single time, it just ended in disappointment.
I tried to comfort her, but she shoved my hand away, refusing any kindness from me.
She glared at me, her voice trembling with regret. "Why did I ever bring you back? I wish I hadn't."
The only one who ever showed me any kindness was the housekeeper.
"Whenever Miss Norah had a fight with the family, she'd always make Mrs. Riley's favorite peach pies to apologize," she said softly.
I wondered if Mom and Luke would forgive me if I made peach pies.
I failed several times, but I refused to give up.
As I pictured Mom and Luke tasting the peach pies, the pain from the burns on my hands seemed to fade away.
At dinner time, I placed the peach pies on the table, filled with anticipation.
Mom instantly brightened when she saw the familiar dessert, hope flooding her expression.
"Is this... Is Norah back?" Mom asked, her voice trembling with hope.
Luke asked the housekeeper anxiously, but she just shook her head.
I finally managed to speak, my voice shaking. "I made these peach pies."
As soon as they heard that, their faces fell.
Luke furrowed his brows, his face darkening instantly.
He marched over to the table, grabbed the peach pies, and tossed them straight into the trash without a second thought.
I stared at the peach pies, crushed beyond recognition, and suddenly the burns on my arm began to throb painfully.
It hurt so much that I could barely hold back my tears.
"You did this just to disgust us, didn't you?" Luke roared.
His eyes burned with rage, the fury almost palpable.
Luke's fury had me shaking.
"I just wanted to apologize. Please, forgive me..." I whispered, barely able to get the words out.
"Forgive you? You're not worthy!" Luke spat, his eyes cold and full of contempt.
In a fit of rage, Luke shot to his feet, yanked me by the arm, and hauled me straight down to the basement.
I kept begging him, terrified and desperate, but Luke was cold as stone, and he didn't even blink.
In despair, I looked toward Mom, searching for any sign of help.
Clinging to my last bit of hope, I sobbed so hard that I could barely speak, "Mom, please, help me."
She just stared back, her face icy and unmoved, watching it all happen.
That cold, empty look made me feel frozen inside, and I stopped resisting.
My body crashed into the steps, pain exploding through me all at once.
I sprawled onto the freezing floor, helpless, and the door slammed shut, locking me in.
The basement was pitch black. The chill and terror crept up from deep inside me.
Helpless, I banged on the door, sobbing, "Mom, Luke, I'm sorry! I swear I won't make peach pies again. Please, just let me out..."
There was no response. Only my own sobs echoed in the basement.
I kept crying until my throat went raw.
No one came to help me.
The dim, oppressive atmosphere brought back memories I thought I'd locked away for good.
Trembling, I hugged myself tight and curled up in the corner.
I was shut in there for a whole day and night.
When the housekeeper finally let me out, I was burning up with a fever.
I was sick for three days before I finally got better.
Neither Mom nor Luke even bothered to check on me, not even once.
After that, whenever Luke was drunk or pissed off, he'd just throw me into the basement.
At first, I'd cry and make a fuss, but after it happened so many times, I learned to endure it quietly and stopped fighting back.
He'd often grumble, "Why did you even come back? Would've been better if you'd just died out there."
After being locked up in that basement so many times, I couldn't help but think maybe I shouldn't have come back.
That day, Luke saw me wearing Norah's favorite color, and his anger flared. Without a word, he yanked my arm and stormed toward the basement.
Outside, the servants' excited voices suddenly burst out. "Mr. Riley, Norah is back!"
The servants spotted someone wandering near the house.
When they went to check, they couldn't believe their eyes. It was Norah who'd been missing for so long.
Even after all these years, they recognized her right away.
Norah walked through the door, her face ghostly pale and her clothes in shreds. She looked like she'd been through hell.
Mom was the first to move, throwing her arms around Norah in a tight embrace, with Luke following close behind.
"Where have you been? We've been so worried about you!" Mom cried, her voice trembling with relief.
Norah's eyes brimmed with tears, and they spilled down her cheeks.
"Mom, Luke, I've missed you so much..." Norah sobbed, her voice trembling with emotion.