From Ruin, She Rose - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

When Lucas mentioned the upcoming event, Emily didn't hesitate. "I'm busy that day," she said, shutting him down flat.
But Lucas wasn't about to give up. He moved to block her path in the hallway. "This isn't optional. You're coming."
Emily studied him with genuine confusion. "You can't stand having me around, Mr. Bennett. Why insist? Unless you enjoy watching me kill the vibe."
Lucas almost revealed it was her welcome celebration but stopped himself when he remembered Lydia's insistence on keeping it a surprise. "It's a family event," he said instead. "You're family. That means you belong there."
Two years ago, those words would have set her heart racing. She'd have marked the date in her calendar and counted down the days. Now they settled like a weight in her chest.
These were the same people who'd told her she didn't know her place, who'd made her change her surname. Now they called her family. The irony almost made her laugh.
She opened her mouth to refuse again when a sudden thought gave her pause. "Will Grandpa Charles be attending?"
"Of course," Lucas answered too quickly, his voice booming with false confidence.
Charles had never acknowledged Lydia's place in the family. He skipped any gathering she attended, which was why she hadn't invited him tonight.
But Lucas needed Emily there, and he couldn't let Lydia down. If a white lie would solve the problem, he'd use it.
At the mention of Charles, Emily's resistance crumbled.
She'd consulted his doctor, who told her Charles's health had been declining from stress these past two years. For weeks now, she'd played her part, assuring Charles the Bennetts still treated her well. His peace of mind mattered more than her pride.
Luckily, her regular two days off fell right on the party date. She'd just need her boss's okay for it.
When Emily finally agreed, Lucas should have felt triumphant. But as he watched her walk away—shoulders straight, never glancing back—an unfamiliar weight settled behind his ribs.
Lucas's thoughts churned with justification. 'We took her things back then to help her. Now that she's returned, why hasn't she asked for them back? She must still be mad that we sent her to St. Gabriel's. Typical—she never understood we were trying to help.'
Frustrated and resolved to fix the situation, he tracked down a servant. "Which room are Emily's old things stored in?"
His plan was simple—return her possessions to improve her mood and prevent her from making trouble for Lydia at the party. He'd even get her a new phone so Lydia could contact her directly.
The servant replied quickly, "Ms. Harper's belongings are in the storage room, sir."
Lucas's temper sparked. "Storage? I pay your salaries to treat people's property this way?"
The servant recoiled before hurriedly explaining, "But Mr. Bennett, you specifically said seeing her things irritated you. You ordered us to store them away permanently."
The memory surfaced abruptly, giving him pause. He had said exactly that. Annoyed at himself, he ran a hand through his hair. "Whatever. Just show me the room."
Lucas had assumed handing Emily the box himself would silence her complaints.
He'd even rehearsed telling her to be sensible, to stop picking fights with Lydia. But when he saw the pitiful stack of belongings, barely two feet high, his words died in his throat.
He turned to the servant, his voice sharp. "This is everything? Nothing was taken while she was gone?"
The servant's face reddened, but the thought of her well-paying position kept her temper in check. "Mr. Bennett," she said tightly, "we've served the Bennett family for decades. We don't steal.
"Ms. Bennett told Mrs. Bennett that seeing those things reminded her of the eighteen hard years she spent away. So Mrs. Bennett ordered us to throw everything out. These scraps were all we could save."
Lucas looked through the box, finding only what the servant had mentioned—some dog-eared paperbacks and faded photographs.
Lucas questioned the servants automatically, though he knew they were innocent. These were long-term employees who wouldn't risk stealing. What truly bothered him was his own complicity—he'd been present when his mother ordered Emily's things discarded, but had conveniently forgotten over time.
Lucas stood rigid with pent-up frustration, his gaze falling on a half-opened box lying on the floor. Without thinking, he lashed out with his foot. "Clear this garbage away," he ordered sharply. "It's taking up too much space."
'What does it matter if we throw her things out? The Bennetts can always buy replacements. And Emily has always loved shopping more than anything anyway,' he told himself.
The servant scooped up the box without raising her eyes. As she turned, she allowed herself a discreet eye roll.
'To throw away Ms. Harper's things without even telling her? Fortunately, Ms. Harper has already checked the items and shown no concern, or she would be upset later,' the servant thought bitterly.
And so, the final remnants of Emily's possessions were erased from the Bennett residence.
Actually, Emily wouldn't be bothered. She'd long since stopped thinking of those things as hers. What the Bennetts did with them now was no longer her concern.
On the morning of the party, Emily awoke early out of longstanding habit, but made no haste to leave her room.
Aware of how unwelcome her presence would be, she first confirmed the family's gathering time with the butler. Then, with careful timing, she stepped out of her room exactly ten minutes early.
Emily had no desire to ride with the Bennetts, but walking to the Hiltin Hotel was impossible, and without her paycheck, a taxi was out of the question. Besides, she was afraid that showing up alone would make Charles suspicious.
But when she stepped into the driveway, she only discovered the family had departed thirty minutes earlier.
The butler shifted uneasily, unable to meet her eyes. "Ms. Bennett insisted on reviewing the hotel preparations personally, so they decided to leave early."
He had meant to tell Emily, but Lydia swore him to secrecy, calling it a surprise.
Their abrupt departure didn't surprise her—the Bennetts had left her behind more times than she could count. Her only worry was Charles's reaction if she arrived late. Steeling herself, she decided to borrow cab fare from the butler.
His shocked expression spoke volumes. Every Bennett heir carried a card with a thirty-thousand-dollar monthly allowance. The idea of one asking to borrow money was unthinkable.
The butler's expression softened with pity as he suddenly recalled something. Reaching into his pocket, he produced several crumpled bills and extended them toward Emily.
Emily averted her gaze as she accepted the money, promising to repay him before month's end. Without another word, she turned and left to hail a cab.
The Hiltin Hotel stood as one of Cloudridge's most prestigious establishments. In the past, Emily would have swept through the VIP entrance without hesitation. Now she found herself barred at the main doors.