They Sang for Her and Saved Me Leftovers I Couldn’t Eat Chapter 04
I instinctively clutched the envelope in my pocket.
Before I could speak, Cillian pointed his finger right in my face. “What’s that bulge in your pocket? Hand it over!”
Dad caught on immediately, shouting sharply. “Sabrina! I never imagined you’d turn into a thief! Stealing your sister’s tuition money?”
Mom rushed forward, trying to snatch the envelope from my pocket.
I stepped backward to dodge her. Anger made my chest heave. “This isn’t stolen money! Grandma gave this to me!”
Grandma walked back in and learned what had happened. She trembled with rage. “That cash is for Sabrina’s university tuition! You’re all jumping to unfair conclusions!”
Mom cut her off. “Mom, stop defending her. Three thousand dollars—that’s exactly how much Wallis lost. It can’t just be a coincidence.”
Dad let out a cold scoff. “She’s always been quiet and sneaky—there’s no way she got into a top university. Mom, you’d be better off giving that money to Wallis.”
Wallis’s tears fell harder. “Sabrina, just admit it. If you needed money, you could’ve asked me. Why steal?”
That single sentence sealed my fate. No matter how I argued, nobody listened.
Dad locked me in my bedroom. “Stay here and think about what you’ve done. Don’t come out until you’re ready to confess.”
I slid down the cold wooden door to the floor, my heart sinking deeper into despair.
Hours passed before the lock clicked.
Wallis pushed the door open a crack, wearing a mask of feigned remorse. “Sabrina, I found the money. It slipped down between the sofa cushions.”
I studied her for a long moment, then said quietly, “You did that on purpose.”
She didn’t deny it. A faint smile tugged at her lips. “I did. I wanted to watch you get falsely accused. It was so satisfying. Sabrina, do you know how happy Mom and Dad are for me when you suffer?”
Mom walked in shortly after. She didn’t spare me a glance, pulling Wallis into a comforting embrace. “I’m so relieved it’s found. You must have been terrified, baby. It’s all your sister’s fault for putting you through this.”
She turned toward me, voice sharp with impatience. “Alright, it’s just a misunderstanding. Let’s drop it. Tomorrow is your sister’s college send-off party. Don’t show up with that sour face.”
She held out the envelope toward me. “Here. Grandma’s gift.”
I took it. It felt shockingly thin. When I pulled out the cash, I held only three ten-dollar bills.
“You scared Wallis badly. That three thousand will serve as compensation for her distress. These thirty dollars can buy snacks for your trip to school. We don’t want to treat you unfairly.”
I stared at the thin stack of bills. A dry, soundless laugh escaped me. “Keep it. Let Wallis have the thirty dollars as pocket money.”
I handed the bills to her.
Mom looked at me with approval. “Finally acting like a responsible older sister. If you’d always been as obedient as Wallis, I wouldn’t have so many headaches.”
I smiled and stayed silent.
Once they left, I packed all my belongings and the savings I’d earned from part-time shifts.
Once the house fell silent, I dragged my suitcase outside, hailed a taxi, and headed for the airport.