“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 81

***Noah’s POV:***

We all watched as Graceland made her way downstairs back to the storage closet. I couldn’t believe it; she really didn’t want the room. Over the past several years, Graceland had been humble, docile, sometimes a flat out doormat all out of desperation for us to love her. But tonight, tonight I saw something in her eyes that I had never seen before. Pure disgust. I felt like a storm was coming and there was no way we could stop it.

As the shock wore down, Cole spoke first.

*“Maybe we should go down there and apologize, maybe it’ll convince her to take the room.”*

Mother scoffed.

*“Let her sleep in that closet if she wants too! Now we’re supposed to beg-”*

*“Why was she in a storage closet to begin with Sharon?”*

Dad was now looking at mom with an unreadable expression. I could tell that last remark Graceland said got to him.

*‘If you truly wanted to find me, you could have.’*

She was right. I remember the night Graceland went missing; mother seemed detached.  They searched for about three days before mother wanted to give up. She claimed it was too painful to deal with if she couldn’t find her. A few days later, Olivia came home.

Mom looked at dad with shock in her eyes. Her face had gone ashen.

*“I only told her she had to stay there for a little while; it’s not my fault she never left!”*

Dad called Zelma our head maid into the foyer.

*“Yes Sir.”*

Still looking at mom, dad barked his orders.

*“Someone tried to frame my daughter by taking a necklace from our bedroom, check the security cameras and tell me everyone that’s been in there.”*

Zelma looked at my father with slightly shocked and puzzled expression. For a moment, I could have swore she glanced at Olivia.

*“Did you not understand me!”*

*“O-Oh yes sir! I’ll have the report first thing in the morning.”*

Mom spoke up.

*“Calvin! What are you doing this for? Why does it matter now?”*

Dad turned and looked at mom, something was definitely bothering him.

*“When you thought Graceland stole the necklace it was WW3. Now you’re asking me why I want to know who not only stole something from our bedroom, but tried to frame our daughter?”*

Mom looked around the room with a nervous expression, her question really was ridiculous.

*“I’m just saying, it’s over now. She didn’t take the necklace. So, what’s the big deal.”*

Dad sneered.

*“Maybe because for the first time since she’s come back home, she called Mr. Rochester, instead of dad.”*

Dad didn’t say another word, leaving mom speechless as he went to their bedroom. Suddenly, Brian spoke up.

*“Graceland is getting out of control! I admit, we were wrong about the necklace, but for her to say all of that stuff!”*

*“You mean like the fact that she had to do your schoolwork because you kept screwing up?”*

Cole was now looking at Brian with irritation in his eyes. The family was starting to fall apart. In an attempt to calm everyone down, I stepped in.

*“Look everyone, it’s late. It’s been a long night okay. Let’s just all go to bed, we’ll deal with all of this in the morning. Mom, you did hit her…it might not be so wrong to at least say sorry.”*

Mom looked at me with anger and irritation, but she didn’t object. She stormed to her room for the night. Suddenly, Brian started up again.

*“Hey Noah, when exactly did you become team Graceland? Trying to make up for the fact that SHE was the reason you were able to get that contract?”*

I turned to look at my idiot little brother.

*“Perhaps Brian. I suggest you start trying to make up for the fact that she’s the reason you’ll be graduating college.”*

I decided to go to bed, she wasn’t going to come out of that closet tonight. By tomorrow, she should be cooled off.

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***Graceland’s Pov:***

I woke the next morning feeling surprisingly light despite that crappy bed. Maybe it was because I was able to lash out after all these years! And even though I was pretty sure it would change absolutely nothing, it felt good to finally get it out. After I finished showering, I received a text from my mother-in-law.

***\[Good morning, I hope you were able to sleep well. Call me as soon as you get the chance, Grandpa Teddy thinks he may have found a solution to your concern.\]***

Hmm. If he’s referring to my not wanting the Rochesters to benefit off the Christiansens…I knew me and my new grandfather would be good friends.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I could hear what sounded like an argument coming from the breakfast room.

*“All I’m saying is you didn’t have to hit her mom. We really didn’t have any proof. Why are you being so combative about this?”*

Silence. Sigh. Sharon’s voice.

*“Because the maids weren't the ones who found the necklace Noah.”*

Silence.

*“Then who did mom.”*

*“Livie.”*

Silence. Sigh.

*“So, what you’re telling me is that Livie tried to set Graceland up for theft?”*

*“No!!! I’m just saying she found the-”*

*“That’s impossible mom! There’s no way she could have found that necklace in Graceland’s room!”*

Silence.

*“Maybe one of the maid’s-”*

*“Mom stop. Livie never went back into Graceland’s room after yesterday morning.”*

*“Noah, she’s my daughter…you’re sister! I don’t want her to get in trouble for this! Your father is already on edge after what happened last night!”*

*“What about Graceland m-”*

*“What about her!!”*

Silence.

*“What I mean is, now that we know the truth, it’s no point in harping on this. I’m asking you to protect Livie.”*

Silence. Sigh.

*“Fine mother, but tell her to relax, that wasn’t necessary.”*

*“I will! She knows! She feels really bad! She said Graceland was mean to her that morning, so she reacted out of frustration.”*

*“I get it. But next time…tell her to come to me. I’ll handle dad. Mom, apologize.”*

Silence. Exasperation.

*“Fine.”*

I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically to myself. WOW!! All that crap Noah tried to pull last night acting all concerned, only for him to cover for *Livie*. I knew it was too good to be true. I walked to kitchen to grab me some orange juice before leaving. As I closed the refrigerator, Sharon was standing near the counter.

*“Graceland. I trust you sleep well.”*

I said nothing. She continued.

*“I just wanted to apologize for last night. Even though the evidence suggested otherwise, I now know you weren’t the one who took the necklace. We think one of the maid’s-”*

*Hahahahahaha.*

I began to laugh hysterically. Who the hell was she trying to fool!! After wiping the tears from my eyes, I grabbed my orange juice and left leaving her just staring in shock.

As I made my way to the foyer, I was stopped by Noah.

*“Graceland. A word.”*

I slowly turned around, irritation on my face. Noah looked at me with slight guilt as he cleared his throat.

*“Um, I trust you spoke with mother.”*

I stared at him nonchalantly. He continued nervously.

*“Did she apologize?”*

*“She did.”*

*“That’s good. Well then you-”*

I began laughing causing him to pause and stare at me confused.

*“Did I say something funny?”*

*“As a matter of fact, you did. I never said I accepted her apology.”*