Chapter 12
Sometimes, someone's reaction told the truth better than their words.
Leonard stood off to the side, speaking in a cool, steady voice. "I did."
Matthew turned to him, his voice as cold as ice. "Leonard, this is the Richardson family's business. Stay out of it."
Leonard replied calmly, "I'm the appointed lawyer here.
"Monica is the one with the legal rights. If we're being technical, I'm not the one who should be excluded."
Matthew's expression turned colder.
He forced himself to keep his cool and turned back to me. "Monica, let's go home first. Don't worry. I'll figure all this out for you."
There came the same old story.
He always wanted me to follow him, to leave everything behind and go with him.
He wanted me to calm down before anything else.
He wanted me to listen to him, no questions asked.
He wanted me to hand everything over and let him take care of it, as if I had no say in any of it.
Back then, I used to feel safe.
Now, all I felt was fear.
I looked at Matthew and asked, "Did you know about this house before?"
Matthew didn't answer right away.
It was a moment of silence.
But that was all I needed.
My heart felt like it had been dropped from a great height, hitting the ground without a sound.
"You knew," I said softly.
"Monica," he frowned.
His voice had a hint of panic, almost hidden. "I knew something was up, but I didn't know the specifics.
"You were so young back then, and Regina was always taking care of you. It was only logical for her to handle those assets."
It sounded reasonable.
I didn't read the letter my mom wrote me until I was twenty-four.
The first time I walked into the house my mom left me, it felt like I was trespassing in someone else's faded dream.
He called it reasonable.
I looked at him, and suddenly, he felt like a stranger.
"Then why did you never tell me?" I asked.
Matthew avoided my gaze.
"I was afraid you'd overthink it," he said.
"Afraid I'd overthink what?" I pressed.
He didn't answer.
I finished his sentence for him.
"You were scared I'd realize I had somewhere to go, that I didn't have to rely on you anymore, that I didn't have to stay with the Shelton family and obediently be your little sister."
"No," Matthew finally snapped.
He stepped forward, his voice dropping to a low, urgent whisper. "Monica, don't see me that way. I thought you were too soft-hearted.
"And if you learned all this at once, you might not be able to handle it. I wanted to wait for the right moment to tell you."
The right moment?
There it was again.
He always said we had to wait for the right moment to go public with our relationship.
He said we had to wait for the right moment to talk about Phoebe.
And even the things my mom left me had to wait for his idea of the right moment.
I laughed, even though my heart was breaking.
As I laughed, tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Matthew, who gave you the right to decide when the time is right for me?" I asked.
He froze.
I continued, "That house was left to me by my mom. It wasn't some gift you gave me."
"Monica," Matthew said softly.
"Don't call me that," I said, my voice icy.
My tone was suddenly cold.
He opened his mouth, but stayed silent.
Snowflakes landed on his lashes, melting into droplets almost instantly.
For once, he looked unexpectedly vulnerable, almost defeated.
But I didn't want to feel bad for him anymore.
Leonard cut in right on cue.
"Ms. Richardson, the snow's picking up. We need to keep the documents dry," he said.
I nodded.
But Matthew stepped in front of me, blocking my way.
"You're really going with him?" he asked.
I looked at him. "I'm going back to my house."
"This place hasn't been lived in for ages. It's not fit for anyone to stay overnight," he said.
"I can handle it myself," I replied.
Matthew's tone turned serious, weighed down by frustration. "Monica, are you really going to push this to spite me?"
He still thought I was throwing a tantrum.
Suddenly, I was so exhausted that I didn't even want to fight anymore.
"Mr. Payne," I said.
As soon as I said it, Matthew's face went pale.
I looked at him calmly. "Please step aside."
He stood there, rooted to the spot, as if my words had nailed him in place.
Back then, I used to call him Matt.
When he tried to comfort me, I'd quietly call him "dear."
In those private moments, he loved it when I said his name.
But this time, I only called him Mr. Payne.
It was polite, distant, like there was a river between us that could never be crossed again.
For what felt like forever, he finally let his hand drop.
I stepped past him and headed back to the yard.
Leonard walked by my side, keeping the umbrella up for me.
As I reached the door, Matthew's voice called out from behind me.
"Monica, Regina's going to be mad at you tomorrow," he said.
I stopped in my tracks.
His voice was low and rough. "You know she's been looking after you all these years."
There it was again.
I closed my eyes.
Regina spent years raising me.
Matthew watched over me all this time.
The Shelton family gave me a home for so many years.
All those years felt like a gentle, suffocating web.
Every time I tried to break free, someone would remind me not to forget how much they'd done for me.
I turned to look at him. "And what about my mom?"
Matthew froze.
My eyes were red, but I didn't cry anymore.
I said, "She loved me for so many years, too.
"She left me a house, dollars, and a letter.
"Why does everyone want me to remember how much I owe the Shelton family, but no one ever told me my mom gave me a home of my own?"