Chapter 11 · There's No Going Back

Chapter 11

Inside the iron box were several manuscripts.A letter was tucked between the first pages.On the envelope, it read: [Monica, open this when you turn eighteen.]The handwriting was delicate and elegant, unmistakably my mom's.My fingers were shaking so badly that I almost couldn't get the envelope open.Leonard quietly moved over to the window, giving me some space.I took a deep breath and finally opened the letter.The paper was already yellowed with age.In her letter, my mom said she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to stay by my side, so she made plans for me early on.She left me the house on Maple Street.She set up a trust fund for me to access when I turned eighteen, enough to pay for my education, living expenses, and anything else I wanted to pursue.She also wrote: [Monica, if one day you feel like you have nowhere else to go, come home. I'll always leave the light on for you.]I covered my mouth and could hardly breathe.I did have a home.It turned out someone did leave a light on for me.But when I turned eighteen, Regina gave me a little piano figurine.She said, "Monica, you're an adult now. It's time to start acting like one."Matthew gave me an art book.He said, "I hope you'll always keep this quietness."No one ever gave me this letter.No one told me my mom had made sure I had a way out.I closed the letter, my voice rough and shaky. "Did my aunt know all this?"Leonard turned around."From what I've found so far, Mrs. Shelton is one of the trustees," he said.That was the last bit of hope I had, and it shattered."One of them?" I asked.Leonard glanced at me. "Another copy was sent to the Payne family back then."I froze."The Payne family?" I asked."To be exact, it was Matthew's father. Back then, the Richardsons and the Paynes were close. Your mom wanted the Paynes to look out for you if the Sheltons let you down," Leonard said.My grip on the letter tightened, my fingers digging into the paper.Did Matthew know about this?I wanted to ask, but I couldn't bring myself to say it out loud.Leonard seemed to read my mind, his tone calm and matter-of-fact."Right now, we can't say for sure if Matthew knows about any of this. We'll have to dig into the letters and delivery records," he said.I nodded.But my chest was starting to ache.If Matthew didn't know, why did he look so rattled when he saw Leonard last night?If he didn't know, why was his first instinct to jump in and stop me from meeting Leonard?But what if he did know?What if he'd known all along that I had somewhere to go, but still kept insisting I had nowhere else if I left the Sheltons?So what did these past two years even mean?I was lost in thought when my phone suddenly buzzed.It was Matthew calling.I stared at his name flashing on the screen, but couldn't bring myself to pick up.After the first call went to voicemail, he called again.He called me four times.Finally, he switched to texting.Matthew: [Where are you?[The driver said you didn't go to the restoration studio.[Monica, pick up the phone.[Are you with Leonard?]The last message came a few seconds later.Matthew: [Don't make me worry.]I stared at those words, and suddenly, it all felt so ironic.What was he even worried about?Was he afraid I'd finally learn the truth?Or was he scared that I had somewhere else to go?I didn't reply.But Matthew must've figured it out quickly.Half an hour later, there was a knock at the door downstairs.Leonard glanced out the window and said in a calm voice, "It's Matthew."My heart clenched.He actually showed up.Leonard asked, "Do you want to see him?"I gripped my mom's letter tightly.I wanted to say no.But some things wouldn't go away, no matter how much I tried to run.So I tucked the letter into my bag and followed Leonard downstairs.Outside the front gate, Matthew was standing in the snow.He didn't have an umbrella, and a thin layer of white snow dusted his black coat.When he saw me step outside, some of the tension in his face finally faded.But as soon as he noticed Leonard by my side, his face went cold again."Monica," he said.He hurried over, reaching out as if to pull me closer.I instinctively stepped back.His hand froze in midair.This scene felt all too familiar.But every time, he acted surprised, like he couldn't believe I'd step away from him.Matthew frowned, "Why didn't you pick up when I called?"I met his gaze."My phone was on silent," I replied, keeping my voice distant."Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?" he pressed.I didn't answer.Matthew's brow furrowed, his expression tense."Why did you come to a place like this with him and not tell me?" he demanded.A place like this?I suddenly laughed."This is my home," I said.Matthew was stunned.The wind swept through the alley, sending dead leaves skittering across the ground.He looked confused, like he didn't get it."What?" he asked.I looked him in the eye and said, word by word, "No. 17 Maple Street. That's the house my mom left me."For a moment, Matthew looked pale.But he quickly pulled himself together. "Who told you that?"My heart sank.He wasn't surprised.He didn't ask if it was true.He wanted to know who told me.

Chapter 11