I’m Done Letting My Sister Take It All Chapter 12
After autumn arrived, I moved into a small residence granted by Lauren.
Lauren said, “Everyone should have a place of their own. That way, even if you never marry, you can still build a good life for yourself.”
I loved those words.
On moving day, Jenna carried my books and boxes, grinning with delight. “Miss Guzman, this will be our own home from now on.”
I stood in the courtyard. Yes, this was my own home. It was not gained through anyone’s charity or anyone’s favor. This stability was something I had earned myself.
Not long after, news came from the palace that Lauren had also bestowed two shops in the western part of the city upon me, allowing me to manage them on my own.
I decided to take over a pastry shop specializing in rare countryside sweets seldom seen in London. The first item I settled on was Bakewell tart.
Jenna clapped her hands in excitement. “Wonderful! From now on, we can eat as much as we like without caring what anyone thinks.”
I smiled with genuine joy.
On opening day, a crowd lined up outside the shop. I personally stood behind the counter and cut the first plate.
Suddenly, someone outside whispered, “I hear that after Lord Hinchcliffe got married, the couple doesn’t get along. His new wife keeps threatening to return to her parents’ home.”
“Serves him right. He brought it on himself.”
My hands never paused; I only slid the sliced Bakewell tart toward the customers.
A little later, I noticed an unexpected figure at the entrance.
Katherine had come. She had grown much thinner. When she saw the Bakewell tart on the counter, her eyes gradually reddened.
“Clare. I just want to ask you one thing. If I hadn’t touched your things back then, would we not have ended up where we are today?”
I looked at her calmly.
“We still would have. Because it was never a momentary impulse. Since childhood, you’ve always wanted whatever belonged to me. Even if you hadn’t stolen Christopher, you would have taken something else.
“Katherine, we reached this point not because of one man. We ended up here because you grew accustomed to stepping on me to get what you wanted.”
Her face turned ashen. Her lips trembled, but in the end, she said nothing and turned to leave.
I withdrew my gaze and continued attending to the customers.
Winter came early that year.
When the first snow fell, I was curled up by the window, warming myself by the fire, holding a fresh cup of honey drink.
Jenna ran in from outside. “Miss Guzman, someone has come from the palace! Her Majesty has bestowed a set of ruby jewelry upon you. She also said that after spring arrives, she’ll take you to see the royal estates and let you choose whichever hot-spring villa you like best!”
I set down my spoon and could not help smiling.
In that moment, I suddenly recalled a time long ago when I knelt in the basement until my knees went numb. Back then, I had been full of grievances, eyes swollen from crying, repeatedly asking, “Why must it always be me who yields?”
Now I could finally answer that little girl. Because they thought I would keep yielding, keep enduring, and keep clinging to that meager, pitiful family affection without letting go.
But they were wrong. Once a person saw what really happened, she could never accept being deceived anymore.
Later, I heard that Matthew had fallen into despair after missing the autumn hunt that year, drowning his sorrows in wine every day. Christopher’s marriage was unhappy, and his official career had cooled because the King had grown disgusted with him. Katherine was sent to recover at an estate outside the city and never regained the influence and admiration she once enjoyed.
As for me, my days grew better with each passing one.
I learned to review accounts, manage shops, handle social relations, and I also learned to hold tightly onto the things I liked.
I could buy as much Bakewell tart as I liked, drink as much honey as I pleased. My jewelry, shops, and residence were all earned after I had stood firmly on my own feet.
I no longer needed to wait for anyone’s charity, nor did I need to hope for anyone to turn back for me.