I Took the Fortune, She Took the Slums

I rose from my seat, walked over, and gently patted Mom on the back. "It's alright, Mom. I'm already full."

I picked up a napkin and wiped my mouth. "Go get the chauffeur for me, Liam. I'd like to go out for a drive."

Liam hesitated for a moment, clearly not expecting me to let it drop so easily. He sized me up, his eyes full of suspicion. "Got it, Ms. Rosalyn."

He eventually lowered his head after saying that.

I had the chauffeur take me to the office of a friend who worked as a private investigator. In the past few days, using clues from my past life, I had managed to find some leads regarding the Sherwood family's financial discrepancies.

I sent a message to Dad while on the road. It was simple, containing only a photo of that oatmeal and dried cranberries. I knew that sometimes silence was far more effective than saying everything out loud.

Dad called me ten minutes later. "Your mother told me everything that happened this morning, Rosalyn. You shouldn't take it to heart. Liam—"

I cut Dad off, saying, "It's alright, Dad. I'm too busy with my schoolwork lately to bother with matters like this."

Dad fell silent for a moment on the other end of the line. "Got it. I'll take care of it, so don't concern yourself with the matters at home, Rosalyn."

I leaned against the car window after hanging up the call. I knew Dad would take care of the matter as I watched the cityscape flash past outside. I, however, also knew that this wouldn't end so easily. After all, Liam was too deeply entrenched in the Sherwood family to be put in his place by a couple of warnings.

I returned home that evening and found that the atmosphere had noticeably shifted. The household staff was all on edge, instantly bowing their heads to greet me respectfully whenever I walked past. Liam, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

Mom walked over and took my hand, her eyes already welling with tears. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Rosalyn. Your father has already dismissed Liam and the other household staff involved."

I shook my head and said, "I'm fine, Mom."

I found that the dinner was incredibly sumptuous. Dad even personally served me food, as if everything had returned to how it used to be.

Mom and Dad sat right across from me, and on the dining table was the paternity test report, ripped in two.

Dad stated solemnly, "We've talked it over, Rosalyn. We've raised you for 18 years, so regardless of everything, you'll always be our daughter."

Mom nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Your father is right, Rosalyn. We're family."

She tore the two halves of the report into shreds by hand and threw them into the trash can after saying that.

I nodded, feeling a trace of warmth in my heart. "Alright."

Mom and Dad resumed their warm, gentle smiles.

Phoebe stormed into the room just as we were eating, followed closely by Liam. She looked like an absolute maniac, with her hair a mess and her clothes in tatters. "Get yourself out here right now, Rosalyn!"

Phoebe got stopped by the guards, but Liam motioned for them to step aside and let her pass.

Mom's brows furrowed instantly upon seeing her, a look of pure disgust washing over her face. "What is she doing here?"

I set down the file I was holding and handed Mom a cup of chamomile tea. "You should head in and get some rest, Mom. I'll take care of this."

I walked to the doorway and looked at the almost frantic Phoebe. "Is something the matter?"

Phoebe was thoroughly enraged by my calm demeanor.

"How dare you ask me that! You're a freaking thief, Rosalyn! You stole my life, and now you're trying to take my money too!" Phoebe screamed at the top of her lungs, causing everyone nearby to look over.

"Those winning lottery tickets belong to me! That multi-million dollar jackpot is mine! What right do you have to keep it? Give it back to me this instant!"

I smiled faintly. "You think it belongs to you? Is your name written on it?"

"Why, you!" Phoebe was so furious that she was speechless as she glared at me intently. "Those were rightfully mine to begin with! You shouldn't have taken those winning lottery tickets with you since you've chosen to come back here!"

It was a laughable, absurd argument, but Phoebe's sheer irrational behavior was precisely what I required.