Chapter 22 Hidden Secrets
“Mom, Joshua…” Wendy began, but the words got stuck in her throat. She didn’t know how to explain what was on her mind.
“Hmph! Don’t even mention him! The more I think about it, the angrier I get!” Maggie snapped. “Mr. Locker and Leonard are already talking to the police. They’ll find him. This time, after all this trouble, I swear I’ll give him a good slap!” Maggie’s voice was filled with irritation. “Go back to your room and rest! The storm’s here. No need to go to work!”
Wendy opened her mouth again but stopped herself. Instead, she quietly turned toward her room.
Just as she started to leave, she noticed Maddy lounging on the couch, casually watching TV. Without hesitation, Wendy grabbed her by the arm. “Maddy, come with me!”
“Huh? Wendy? What’s going on?” Maddy asked, startled.
“Come!” Wendy glared at her coldly.
Seeing her sister’s anger, Maddy didn’t dare protest. Wendy’s temper always frightened her, so she quickly followed, not saying a word.
As soon as they reached the third floor, Wendy held out her hand. “Give me Joshua’s phone.”
“What?” Maddy gasped, her eyes widening in shock.
“Now!” Wendy demanded as she glared at her.
Maddy hesitated, flustered. “Wendy, how do you know I have his phone? About the whole phone thing…”
Maddy started to explain, but the icy glare from Wendy silenced her. She stammered, “Okay, okay! I’ll give it to you! But let me just say I didn’t mean to hide it. It’s just… He’s so disgusting!”
Wendy’s breath caught, nearly choking her with frustration. She forced herself to stay calm.
Wendy had known for a while that Maddy had been hiding Joshua’s phone.
It all started last year during their family trip. A lot had gone wrong, but the worst was when Joshua’s phone went missing, cutting him off from everyone. He had walked for miles, lost and trying to find his way home, until the police found him and brought him back.
It had been Maddy who had secretly taken Joshua’s phone. She’d hidden it, leaving Joshua to believe he
had lost it.
Now, no one in the family knew that Joshua still had a phone.
The thought of that made Wendy’s eyes fill with tears again.
Maddy hurried to her room, grabbed a phone, and handed it to Wendy. “Here it is! But you can’t tell Mom, okay? She’ll definitely blame me!”
Wendy shot her a fierce look and snatched the phone from her hands.
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Chapter 22 Hidden Secrets
+8 Pearl:
At that moment, Wendy felt a deep realization settle in. Living in this family was like being in a nightmare -a terrifying, suffocating nightmare.
She thought about their sisters‘ Snapchat group, the cruel messages and casual jokes at Joshua’s expense. They were words that could choke someone’s spirit.
Wendy hadn’t given it much thought before, but now she understood that she had been a part of it all along.
She vividly remembered one day last year, during a particularly busy time at work. She was working on a company project, skipping meals because of the pressure.
Joshua somehow found out and made porridge for her. He even took a cab to deliver it to her office.
At the time, Wendy had been shocked and furious. She immediately called security and had him kicked out of the building.
Before that, every time Joshua saw her, his face would light up. He would approach her with a smile, offering to help, asking if she was tired or hungry.
Back then, Wendy had only felt annoyed by his constant presence, brushing him off.
For more than three years, Joshua had been like that every time he saw her, but after that incident, he never came to see her again.
And when he did see her, his once–bright eyes were filled with fear.
At the time, Wendy had felt relieved. She thought she had rid herself of a troublesome brother, someone who distracted her from work. But now, looking back…
She had been part of the problem, too.
They always said the eldest sister was like a mother. Wendy had failed in that role. She hadn’t been there for him.
Tears threatened to spill once more at that thought.
Sniffling, she returned to her room, clutching Joshua’s phone.
She tried to unlock it but realized it was password–protected. Without knowing the code, there was no way for her to access it.
She considered finding someone to unlock it for her, but a glance outside told her that the storm had worsened. The winds howled, and it would be dangerous to go out now.
Reluctantly, Wendy put the phone away, deciding to wait until the storm passed.
Meanwhile, Joshua sat in his rental house, watching the storm rage outside as he worked through a stack of test papers.
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Chapter 22 Hidden Secrets
to get into a top–tier university and earn a scholarship.
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* Paatt
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Promise to Punish My Ridiculous Family
