Her Vengeful Rebirth novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Locked Out

"Take it with you," Dot said, and went to the cabinet over the sink.

She came back with the dented tea tin and pushed it into my hands.

"I don't like how he wrote that text."

I lifted the lid.

The blue cloth notebook lay between the Earl Grey and the shortbread, exactly where she had hidden it.

I put it in the bottom of my bag under my scarf.

"Do you want me to come?" Jericho asked.

"No," I said. "This one is mine."

The house in Brookline was lit from top to bottom, every window gold.

My father met me in the hall in his tweed jacket with his reading glasses hanging on their cord.

He did not kiss me.

"Study," he said.

The study had been my mother's once.

There were still shelves of her old journals behind the glass, and a faded rug she had bought in Istanbul.

Daphne sat on the leather sofa with a tissue in her fist and mascara down both cheeks.

My stepmother stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder.

Cameron leaned against the bookcase in his shirtsleeves, his face grave with concern.

I stood in the doorway and understood that I had walked into a courtroom.

"Sit down, Thalia," my father said.

"I'll stand."

"Cameron tells me you've been under a great deal of strain."

His voice shook with something that wanted to be kindness.

"He tells me you've been confused, and secretive. You embarrassed Daphne in front of the board."

"Daphne lied to the board," I said.

Daphne let out a small broken sob.

"Cyril, she's doing it again," my stepmother said.

"That's enough." My father held up a hand. "Thalia. As of tonight, you are on leave from Lab 4."

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