Laura faltered. "Maybe I should head back first."

Betty looked displeased. "Mom, you know how close Aunt Olivia and Catherine are. She's exaggerating things. Ralph just locked Catherine in the basement. He didn't hit or yell at her. How could she be dead?"

She choked up. "Aunt Olivia likes Catherine more than Ralph and me. Are you going to follow her example?"

"Of course not. Come here, my sweet girl. Don't cry." Laura pulled her into a hug, patting her back.

Ralph waved his hand irritably. "Catherine just wouldn't stop causing trouble. Let's eat first. Don't let her ruin our mood."

His open disgust stung my heart, and I closed my eyes in pain.

Back before I got kidnapped, Ralph had liked me. When Betty and I fought over toys, he'd divide them fairly. "One for Catherine and one for Betty."

When I sneaked into his bed and begged for a story, he'd indulge me with a helpless smile. "What am I gonna do with you?"

But when I was rescued and taken back, everything had changed. He always took Betty's side and would not listen to my explanations.

Eventually, I stopped defending myself and grew quieter. But then, he complained about my gloomy personality. "You're so dark and moody. No wonder none of your classmates like you."

I had frozen in place, stunned.

When Betty said some kids were bullying her, I'd rush over without thinking to stand up for her. But turning around, she cried to the teacher. "Catherine grew up in the backwoods. She doesn't know how the world works. She didn't mean to hit anyone."

When they accused me of stealing, she'd pretend to defend me. "No way. Catherine isn't like that. Sure, she only gets 500 dollars a month for allowance, but she wouldn't steal. Our family's loaded; she doesn't need to. Though my mom lost two necklaces lately, we can't blame her every time something goes missing."

Thinking back on all that, I suddenly felt like dying wasn't so bad after all. Being framed again and again, with no one believing me, was suffocating. Every night before bed, it felt as if a mountain pressed on my chest.

At the restaurant, Betty ordered enthusiastically, considering everyone's tastes. The others watched her with pride.

Leaving the table, Ralph went outside and pulled out his phone. I floated after him and watched as he dialed my number. Only beeps came from the line. No one was answering.

"What a pain! Drives me nuts," he cursed under his breath.

Then he texted me: [What games are you playing now? You're something else—selfish, vicious, gloomy, and disgusting. Even locked in the basement, you still find ways to manipulate people. Don't you have a shred of decency?]

After the meal, they started to leave the mall. Ralph suddenly turned back, and when he returned, a gift box was in his hand. "Alright, it's almost ten. Time to head home."

Betty stared at the box, her eyes narrowing.

When they arrived home, the housekeeper, Ichabod, stood at the door, looking anxious.

He ran up to them. "Ma'am, why are you back so late? I called so many times. Why didn't anyone answer?"

The nanny and Olivia had called them, but Betty had thrown fits, complaining, "Aren't you here to shop with me? Why is everyone so busy on their phones?"

Zach had been the first one to turn off his phone. "Don't be mad. See? I've turned it off. Nothing is more important than spending time with my baby girl."

"Where is Catherine?" Ralph asked.

The rims of Ichabod's eyes reddened. "Come with me. Miss Catherine Stone... She is dead."

"Enough!" Ralph cut him off. "How long are you all gonna keep up this farce? Tell her to get out right now!"

Ichabod blinked, then forced a bitter smile. "She can't. She is dead."

"What do you mean by that?" Ralph snapped. "You're gonna cover for her? You've been with us for nearly 20 years. I never knew you were so blind to right and wrong."

Ichabod frowned, raising his voice. "What's right and what's wrong here? Miss Betty Stone's allergy to mango is mild. Just a few hives that fade in hours. That mango was Miss Catherine Stone's leftovers. If not on the table, where else should she put it? Everyone knows what it is. Miss Betty Stone ate it herself. Who is to blame?"

"Blame me," Betty interjected timidly. "Ichabod, don't get upset. It was all my fault."

"You don't owe anyone an apology!" Zach barked, glaring at Ichabod. "You're just the housekeeper. How dare you accuse your employer? You want to get fired?"

Ichabod laughed, looking relieved. "Yeah, I'm done. I don't even want this month's pay. Just can't stay another minute in a household that can't tell right from wrong. Miss Catherine Stone was the kindest, sweetest kid I've ever seen. You'll regret treating her this way."

He stormed off without looking back.

"Is Catherine really mad?" Betty sniffled. "I was just so itchy then, so I told you guys. If I'd known, I wouldn't have said anything."

But this time, no one responded to her.

Ralph frowned. "Let's go check on her. She might really be upset. Good thing I bought her something. We'll make it up to her."

I latched onto Zach's back, eager to see how they'd compensate a dead girl.

The basement was dim and reeked. Laura flipped on the light, and everyone jumped at the sight.