part 9
PART 9
Thomas drafted the written statement in the library while the rest of us remained in the dining room.
Nobody ate.
The chicken sat untouched.
The candles sank lower.
The rain softened into a steady whisper against the glass.
Celeste sat with her hands folded tightly in front of her.
Vivian stared at her napkin.
Roland looked at the black folder like it was alive.
For years, I had imagined this kind of night.
In my imagination, I screamed.
I cried.
I threw every receipt in their faces and made them feel what I had felt.
But reality was quieter.
Heavier.
More powerful.
I did not need to scream because the documents were speaking fluently.
Celeste broke the silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I looked at her.
“When?”
She swallowed.
“Any time.”
I took a breath.
“Would you have believed me?”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
That was answer enough.
She whispered, “Probably not.”
“No.”
“You would have cried.”
“Mom would have defended Dad.”
“Dad would have called me bitter.”
“And by the end, I would have paid again just to stop the noise.”
Celeste lowered her head.
“I’m sorry.”
The words were small.
But for once, they did not feel like a tool.
I nodded.
“Be sorry with behavior.”
“Not tears.”
She wiped her face and nodded back.
Vivian finally spoke.
“We didn’t mean to hurt you like this.”
I looked at her.
“That might be the worst part.”
Her face crumpled.
I continued.
“You did not even need to mean it.”
“You just needed me to keep absorbing it.”
Roland slammed his fist weakly against the table.
“I provided for this family.”
I turned to him.
“You provided stories.”
“I provided receipts.”
The library door opened.
Thomas returned with three copies of the statement.
He placed them on the table.
Roland read the first page.
His face tightened.
“No.”
Thomas folded his hands.
“Then we proceed with filings.”
Vivian grabbed Roland’s arm.
“Sign it.”
He glared at her.
She did not release him.
“Roland, sign it.”
Celeste looked at him too.
For once, both of them wanted truth more than his pride.
He hated that.
He read the statement again.
It acknowledged the deed transfer.
It acknowledged my ownership.
It acknowledged unauthorized vendor representations.
It acknowledged that no family member had authority to use my name, accounts, property, or business contacts.
It acknowledged that the house was not the Vale family home.
It was my private residence.
Roland’s hand shook as he picked up the pen.
He looked at me.
“You’ll regret this.”
I looked back calmly.
“No.”
“I regretted waiting this long.”
He signed.
Vivian signed.
Celeste signed as witness.
Thomas collected the pages.
Then I picked up the black folder.
Roland’s voice was hoarse.
“Are we done?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“You have thirty days to find somewhere else to live.”
Vivian gasped.
Celeste looked at me with shock, but not accusation.
Roland stood.
“You promised terms.”
“I gave terms.”
I held the folder to my chest.
May you like
“And you proved I cannot trust you inside them.”
Read PART 10 👉 Roland has signed the truth, but Seraphina’s final decision will reveal what happens to Celeste, Vivian, and the house that was never theirs.
