My Family Stole My Run I Returned A Leader Chapter 09
Stefan called everyone he could think of.
He was trying to find out where I was in Gray Harbor.
But Morningwatch’s provisional protection blocked every inquiry.
“This isn’t working. I need to go to Gray Valley and ask around.”
My father couldn’t sit still any longer.
“She couldn’t have handled the enrollment and the move without help.”
That weekend, the entire family and Stefan drove to Gray Valley together.
It was the first time in three years they had set foot in the old neighborhood where I had lived for fifteen years.
The little house looked even more run-down than they remembered.
Mrs. Rossi from next door was trimming flowers in her yard.
The moment she saw them get out of the car, her face went cold.
“So you finally remembered this street exists?”
My mother forced a smile.
“Mrs. Rossi.”
“We just wanted to ask if Paloma has contacted you lately.”
“Contacted me?”
Mrs. Rossi set down her shears and straightened up.
“Paloma already left Cedar Ridge.”
“You forced her to sever her affiliation. What would she be contacting me for?”
Tony bristled.
“What do you mean, we forced her?”
“We brought her back from Gray Valley.”
“We gave her a better life, and she was ungrateful.”
“A better life?”
Mrs. Rossi looked as if she’d just heard the most absurd thing in the world.
She turned, went inside her house, and came back out with a rusted metal tin.
She dropped it hard at my mother’s feet.
The lid flew open.
It was full of loose change and several old money transfer slips.
“Take a good look.”
“This is the better life you’re talking about?”
Mrs. Rossi pointed at the box, her voice shaking with rage.
“Your mother dumped a child here and never once gave her the care she was owed.”