Chapter 14 No One Knows
+8 Pearls
Maggie was taken aback by how many of them had deleted Joshua’s contact number and blocked him on Snapchat. She turned her gaze to Judy.
“What about you, Judy? Did you also delete his Snapchat and contact information?”
Judy, the lawyer, gave an innocent shrug. “Can you blame me, though? Sometimes, when I’m in the middle of a court session, he’d keep messaging me. How was I supposed to tolerate that? If I didn’t block him, he’d probably harass me like what he did with Wendy!”
“Exactly! Mom, Joshua is impossible! You have no idea–he once came to my school looking for me! What right did he have to do that?” Shirley, the second eldest daughter, fumed. “If I hadn’t blocked him, he would’ve never stopped! It’s better this way. At the very least, he doesn’t bother us anymore.”
Maggie and David exchanged looks, both frowning at their daughters‘ reactions.
“Wendy!” Maggie turned to her eldest. “What about you? Did you block him, too?”
As the eldest, Wendy always had a relatively good relationship with Joshua. When he first returned to the Frasers, he often sought her out for conversation, and she had treated him with kindness. Maggie guessed that Wendy wouldn’t have blocked him.
Wendy hesitated for a moment, avoiding her mother’s gaze. After a pause, she replied, “I didn’t delete his number, but I did block him. Last year, he showed up at our company unannounced, and I had no choice but to ask security to escort him out.”
“Are you saying no one in this family has his contact information now?” Maggie asked, her face darkening as the realization sunk in.
“And you
don’t even know if Joshua still has a phone? Or what his number might be?” she added in exasperation.
Maddy muttered under her breath, “That’s not really our fault, is it? He was so annoying! Mom, don’t worry. He’ll come crawling back in a few days. By then, you can ask him whatever you want. But I’m telling you now, I’m not adding him on Snapchat or saving his number again. I don’t need that kind of trouble.”
“Me neither,” said Shirley.
“Same here. Not a chance,” added Indy, the fifth eldest daughter.
Seeing her daughters‘ resolute attitudes, Maggie sighed and turned to Wendy. “Wendy, go and check Joshua’s room with Judy. See if you can find any of his contact information there.”
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Chapter 14 No One Knows
+8 Pearls
“Alright,” Wendy replied, and with Judy in tow, the pair headed upstairs to Joshua’s room.
His room was located on the second floor of the mansion. Originally, it had been a small, cramped maid’s quarters, but when Joshua returned to the family, he was temporarily placed there. David and Maggie had decided not to give him a better room, claiming it was best not to let Joshua get too comfortable, especially since they didn’t want him causing trouble for the family. They had told him that if he performed academically and behaved well, he could eventually move into a better room.
Despite the modest accommodation, Joshua had been overjoyed when he first moved in, seemingly content with the arrangement.
Looking back, Joshua had been living in that tiny room for four years now, and the family still hadn’t moved him into a better space.
“Wendy, what’s wrong with Joshua anyway? He’s talking about cutting ties with us–what a joke! Who on earth put that idea in his head?” Judy mocked with a smirk.
Wendy glanced at her, frowning slightly. “Judy, did you know Joshua lost his phone late last year?”
Judy blinked, then chuckled. “Yeah, I knew. But what’s that got to do with me? I didn’t lose it.
“You knew, and you didn’t get him a new one?” Wendy pressed.
“What does that have to do with me? Don’t blame me, Wendy. If Mom and Dad didn’t get him a new phone, why should I? Besides, you didn’t buy him one either, did you?” Judy shot back, sounding innocent but clearly defensive.
Wendy sighed. “Mom told me that she and Dad hit him pretty hard five days ago. They even busted his head open.”
“What?” Judy’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean he’s really serious about leaving the family?”
Wendy didn’t answer, her expression growing darker. She quickly stepped into Joshua’s room upon opening his door.
Both sisters were taken aback by the sight in front of them.
“What?” Judy gasped.
The room was spotless, with not a speck of dust or any clutter in sight. The bed was made with military precision, and the blanket was folded into a neat, crisp square. It seemed as if Joshua had left with everything in perfect order.
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6:20 pm
Chapter 14 No One Knows
+8 Pearls
The small room, which was barely 75 square feet, contained only a bed, two bedside tables, and a wardrobe. With just those few items, the space already felt cramped.
Despite its size and limitations, the meticulous cleanliness and order stood out, leaving both sisters momentarily speechless.
40
6:20 pm
Promise to Punish My Ridiculous Family
