“Burn those who burned me!” Chapter 84

***Graceland’s POV:***

I arrived back home around 2pm. After confirming my pickup time for tomorrow morning with Marla, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from my heart. I walked into the Rochester estate with caution, after all, last time I came home I was assaulted for something I didn’t do.

As I made my way to my room, I could hear my biological mother call my name harshly.

*‘Jesus, what now.’*

*“Graceland! Get in here immediately!”*

I walked into the grand room to see Sharon, Brian, Cole, and of course Olivia all staring at me. Just as Sharon was about to say something, her eyes darted to the bags in my hand.

*“You went shopping!?”*

She said it in an accusatory tone suggesting I had the audacity. Smiling politely, I nodded my head.

*“Yes, I decided to buy me a new dress. Is there something wrong with that?”*

Sharon’s eyes widen, anger seeping through.

*“How dare you talk me like that! I’m your mother!”*

My mother? I nearly laughed out loud at the hypocrisy. When was this lady ever a mother to me? Suddenly, Brian spoke.

*“What I want to know, is where she got the money to buy anything! Have you been stealing again!”*

Brian barked at me with hatred in his tone, awe, he must still be pissed from this morning. How laughable. I rolled my eyes over to Brian, a mischievous grin on my face.

*“Again? Brian, please correct me if I’m wrong but to steal AGAIN would imply I’ve stolen before. When would that have been?”*

Brian’s eyes widen, he’d realized he was still implying I stole that ugly necklace. Before he could respond, I continued.

*“As I’m sure you of all people are aware, I’m very proficient in academics. I’ve been tutoring to help others pass their exams. Not everyone feels my services should be free.”*

To that statement, all four of their eyes widen. They most certainly were not used to me defending myself this boldly, however, what really pissed them off was the fact that they could not refute my statement.

Sharon began to speak, her voice slightly trembling.

*“I-I don’t know what is wrong with you and why you have become so ungrateful!”*

As tears started to fall down her cheeks, the three fools ran over to console her. At least Olivia had it honestly. Suddenly, Cole looked at me, panic in his eyes.

*“Graceland, why are you behaving this way.”*

I looked at the weakest of my three brothers, Cole. In my previous life, Cole may have irritated me the most. He would always want to appear to be on my side, to understand me, but it was clear, he would always choose Olivia, he would always choose the Rochesters. Feeling myself get angry as I thought of my past, I lashed out.

*“What exactly did I do Cole?”*

He stared at me with a shocked expression, in the past, whenever he pull that little stunt I would simply apologize to maintain peace.

*“What do you-”*

*“I want to know what I did! You’re accusing me of acting some type of way. So, what did I do? From the moment I walked into this house I was greeted with hostility because I went to the store. Is THAT what I did wrong?”*

Cole looked around nervously, he didn’t have a response. Stuttering, he tried his best to defend himself.

*“I-I wasn’t implying you can’t go to the store Graceland! I just meant, why are you being so mean.”*

Coward.

*“When was I mean? Your mother called me into this room with hostility, and your brother just called me a thief…again. So, am I not allowed to defend myself?”*

Cole looked at me with a puzzled expression as I emphasized *'his mother and brother*'*.*

Just as Cole was about to answer, Noah walked into the room causing everyone to turn around.

*“What the hell is going on now!”*

On cue, both Olivia and Sharon ran over to Noah, tears filled in their eyes. Sharon spoke first.

*“Oh Noah, I think Graceland is still trying to punish me for last night. I don’t understand why she’s being so hostile.”*

Foolish.

Noah’s eyes darted over to me. His face began to redden with irritation.

*“Graceland, just what the hell are you doing! Look, the necklace thing is over! How long are you going to keep this attitude.”*

I smiled sardonically at Noah causing his eyes to widen.

*“I’ve done nothing wrong. Please ask ‘your family’ why they are yet again accusing me of stealing simply because I went to the store.”*

Noah looked at his brothers.

*“Is that true?”*

Brian immediately objected.

*“That’s not what happened! We asked her where she got the money from to go shopping!”*

Noah’s brows furrowed. It must’ve dawned on him that the Rochesters never once gave me spending money. Turning back to me, he looked as if he were demanding an explanation. Rolling my eyes, I began to answer.

*“As I explained to your brothers, I have been getting paid to tutor. Not everyone wants me taking their tests, doing their homework, or working on proposals without so much as a thank you.”*

Noah’s eyes widen in shock, he knew exactly what I was referring too. Suddenly, Sharon spoke up.

*“You see Noah! Such venom!!”*

Noah looked at his mother with an annoyed expression. He’d already spoke with her this morning and here we were again. Suddenly, Olivia spoke up, slight tears still in her voice.

*“Grace, we were all just worried about you. We didn’t know you had money to go shopping.”*

I looked at Olivie, a smile across my lips that didn’t reach my eyes.

*“I’m curious Olivia. Exactly how DID you find out I went to the mall? Did Tiffany tell you?”*

Olivia’s face instantly paled, in an attempt to feign concern, she’d given herself away.

*“Y-Yes, Tiff said she saw you in the sto-”*

I lifted my hand cutting Olivia off, this might be a moment for a little fun. I began to muster up some tears.

*“Wow. So, Tiffany called you about me buying a dress? Huh. You know, I only decided to buy this dress because she accused our family of being broke.”*

Olivia’s face turned to anger.

*“That’s a lie!!”*

I looked at Olivia, tears now coming down.

*“No…it isn’t. She said the Rochesters must be going broke seeing as to how I could only wear hand-me-downs.”*

Noah’s face began to redden, speaking ill of me was one thing, but speaking ill of the Rochesters, THAT is wear he drew the line.

*“Is that true!”*

Before I could answer, Olivia interjected.

*“Noah that can’t be true! Tiffany didn’t say that!”*

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I looked at Olivia.

*“Olivia, how would you know? You weren’t there.”*

For a brief moment, her mask almost slipped. Immediately fixing her face. She went back into her usual victim role.

*“Grace, I’m not saying you’re lying, it’s just…Tiffany is my best friend. She would never say something like that. Maybe you misunderstood her.”*

I smiled lightly at Olivia.

*“Maybe.”*

Olivia smiled smugly, thinking she’d won that round. Cole interjected happily.

*“I’m glad that’s all cleared up! Let’s go to the theater room! Noah, you got home just in time, we were about to watch a movie with Livie.”*

Before Noah could answer, Brian began to bark at me.

*“What’s with the look!”*

I smiled somberly.

*“Nothing. I was just wondering how Tiffany would know I wore hand-me-downs to begin with. Lucky guess I suppose.”*

With that, I turned and headed to my room, leaving them all in silence. After I left the room, I could hear Noah bark at Olivia.

*“I don’t want you hanging with that girl anymore!”*

*“Noah!”*

*“No buts! Anyone that speaks down on the Rochesters will be given no mercy!”*

I smirked as I walked to my room. *‘So fake crying does have its advantages.’*