Chapter 559


    As soon as Hannah lobbed the question into the room, we both leaned forward, our expressions a mask of anticipation, hanging


    on Fidelia''s uing words.


    “After | slipped into the study, | crawled from the doorway, under the chairs, and then | ced it under the table," she spoke


    cautiously.


    The image of her tiny frame inching through the old family house sprang vividly to our minds, a feat only someone of Fidelia''s


    slight build could manage, considering the high thresholds that segmented the old manor.


    | nced at Hannah, who immediately dialed Ronan to report our findings.


    After hanging up, Hannah tousled Fidelia''s hair with a grin, "You''re a real lifesaver, kiddo. Ster job!"


    | turned to Fidelia, mentally retracing the unraveling events, "So, you''re saying you didn''t sneak out in the dead of night by


    choice, but Uncle Jesper coerced you into it?"


    She nodded, "Yeah after | did it, he told me to stay hidden in the Wood Manor. | was so scared, and | ran up to the attic. There


    was this tiny room, and | hid there. He said not toe out until no one could find me."


    “And then Monique found me and brought me a sandwich," her voice trailed off. "Monique asked if | was mad at Mom. | just


    repeated what Uncle Jesper told me to say. Monique wanted me to stay in Silverdale City and go to school with her, so she didn''t


    tell you guys. Andter...” Fidelia nced at Hannah before continuing, "Hannah found us and brought us back home."


    | shook my head in disbelief, looking at Hannah, "We''ve beenpletely yed."


    "Did Jespere looking for you after you got back?" | prodded further.


    "He wanted me to find a way to stay in Silverdale City too, but | didn''t want to. Not because | didn''t want to, | was afraid he''d


    make me do more bad stuff. But | really did want to go to school with Monique and Probert. It was so confusing.” Fidelia''s face


    twisted with the conflict of her emotions.


    "| didn''t let you stay here because of your mom," | exined gently, "She''s had a tough life, clinging to the hope of a family with


    you. | was afraid she''d miss you too much. Only your mom has the right to decide on that, you understand?"


    "My mom..." Fidelia''s big eyes darted towards me, hesitant to continue.


    “How has she been...?" | asked softly.


    Tears welled up in Fidelia''s eyes again, "She''s not that kind to me. She makes me kneel as punishment, and sometimes she hits


    me. She says if it wasn''t for me, her life wouldn''t be like this. It''s all my fault.”


    The revtion shattered my entire perception of Cami.


    How could she me Fidelia for her own choices? She was the one who couldn''t stay away from Jerome, and now she was


    pinning her misfortunes on her daughter Fidelia?This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    But in front of Fidelia, | couldn''t badmouth Cami.


    "She hits you? Makes you kneel?" | asked, trying to keep the shock from my voice.


    No wonder Fidelia knelt so readily when we were in Silverdale City. | had my suspicions that Cami had been physically


    punishing Fidelia.


    That was why | had snapped, "Nothing grinds my gears more than kneeling." Thatment must have struck a chord with


    Cami, considering the way she looked at me afterward.


    Turns out my hunch was right. She had been disciplining Fidelia in such a harsh manner.


    | had to reassess everything | thought | knew about Cami.


    “And what about her rtionship with your dad?" | ventured a question that wasn''t suitable for Fidelia, but one | needed to ask.


    "It''s bad. Dad hardly everes


    home. He''s go anpther\tamily how,


    evan alittle trot er." Please read the


    original content at .


    | was stunned, quickly asking for rification, "How do you know that?"


    Fidelia pouted, "| overheard them one


    time. Dad came home, and t were


    arguing their reom‘adout his other


    Tara eck and after that, Dad


    stoppeding home even more."


    Please read the original content at


    .


    "Butst time your dad was at home?" | recalled her mentioning a video call with her dad.


    "Yes, that''s true. He was home, and Mom even let me video chat with him."


    Astrange premonition twisted in my gut, a sense that something wasn''t adding up.


    Cami had always yed ignorant with me, iming she was clueless about everything.


    Even when it came to matters


    reported cM Cami would oT


    wean intajn chat Hewes


    ly in en dark. But now, | was


    sertair she knew it all, as clear as


    daylight. Please read the original


    content at .


    So why would she lie to me? What was she hiding?