Chapter 4

I no longer wolfed down my dinner.

Diana quickly noticed the anomaly.

I used to only get a full meal at dinner, so I'd eat as if I wanted to choke myself.

But recently, I'd been eating three meals a day, so dinner didn't seem as urgent.

Diana started to suspect me.

But she had no evidence.

She even secretly searched my bag, pillow, and bed... but found nothing.

I had long since tucked the 300 dollars under Yolanda's bed.

Diana would never find it.

"Don't celebrate too soon." Yolanda smiled. "You won't be able to hide it for long; my mom has ways to deal with you."

She said with certainty, "Hannah, we know you've made money."

I kept my head down, just reading, pretending not to hear.

Yolanda sat on her bed, advising, "Why work so hard? Even if you get admitted, my mom won't let you attend."

I looked back at her.

Yolanda said, "Don't waste your effort."

Her face again held that subtle, condescending mockery, scoffing that no matter how hard I tried, she would always find a way to cut me off and crush me effortlessly.

I said, "This is my home."

Yolanda froze, perhaps not expecting me to speak to her that way.

However, she didn't get angry, revealing a faint smile. "And then?"

She said, "Hannah, sooner or later, I'll drive you out."

I stared at her coldly.

"Do you want to try?" Yolanda said. "Let's see whose home this is?"

As if to confirm her words, the door was pushed open from the outside.

My dad stood at the door.

"I brought you some snacks," he said. "Pizza, Yolanda, eat it with Hannah."

"Okay." Yolanda walked over, took it in her hand, and looked up, saying, "Thank you, Dad."

My dad ruffled her hair, then looked at me. "Still studying? Don't study too late."

I said, "Got it."

Closing the door, Yolanda took a bite of the pizza and asked, "Want some?"

Without waiting for my answer, she smiled again. "Forgot, you're allergic to cheese."

She looked extremely pleased. And soon, I knew what way Yolanda was talking about.

*****

On Monday morning, the homeroom teacher was holding a morning meeting.

Diana rushed into the classroom and demanded to know why I had stolen money from home and what shameful things I had done with it.

"Hannah, what have you done? Tell me what you want, and I will surely buy it for you, but you cannot steal," Diana said, utterly distraught.

All eyes turned to me.

With a cold expression, I said, "I didn't."

"I don't believe it." Diana began searching my desk. She swept everything inside the desk onto the floor, scattering it everywhere. "Fine, you won't admit it. When I find it, let's see what you'll say then."

I understood then; she thought I had hidden the money at school.

But she found nothing.

The homeroom teacher came to her senses and held her back, saying, "Mrs. Bates, let's discuss it in the office. This is in class.

"Come, let's go to the office. Hannah, you come too."

*****

In the office, Diana cried breathlessly. "Mr. Page, I'm out of options. If I had any other choice, I wouldn't have come to the school.

"Hannah is simply too disobedient."

Baxter asked, "What exactly happened?"

"My wallet is missing 200 dollars. Only Hannah has entered my room," Diana said.

Baxter looked at me, "Hannah?"

"I didn't take it. I'm not the only person in the house," I said.

Diana exclaimed, "Are you trying to imply Yolanda? Hannah, Yolanda is my daughter. I watched her grow up and know her character. She wouldn't do something like this."

I sneered, "Are you sure?"

My laugh angered Diana. Her eyes went sharp with venom, but her voice was all fake sympathy. "Hannah, your mom died so early, and your dad's never home.

"I know you're craving attention. But even if you're desperate for money, you don't steal. What would your mother think?"

My expression changed in an instant

She shouldn't have mentioned my mother

My mother was so loving and decent. That woman wasn't fit to hold a candle to her.

I stood up straight. "If my mother knew I was being wronged like this, she'd crawl out and fight you to the death, you wretch!"

The office went silent for a moment

Baxter looked at me in shock, unable to believe that I, who was always so well-behaved, would say that word.

Diana completely lost it and lunged at me to hit me.

"Calm down, Ms. Bates, calm down." Baxter soothed her, then turned to me and snapped, "Hannah, apologize."

Apologize? Never.