Chapter 3 Don't Touch What's Hers

Only then did Xavier remember—it was that time again. Every three months, the Fairchild family hired someone to bring in samples and get fit for next season’s wardrobe. The designer had just delivered the latest batch yesterday, and Olive's new clothes had filled up three walk-in closets. Not a single piece was meant for Quinn. Xavier frowned. No one had even remembered Quinn was coming back. No clothes were prepared for her, and everything she used to have had already been thrown out. Zayden just gave Xavier a half-smile, not saying a word. The Fairchilds had more than enough money to spare, but at that moment, Xavier felt nothing but shame. His expression turned cold as he glared at Quinn. "Drop the act. You’ve been locked up so long—we didn’t even know your size. Mom went out herself to buy you something even though she had a splitting headache. What are you rushing for?" She had to be doing it on purpose. Saying she had no clothes in front of Zayden was her way of accusing the Fairchild family of being stingy and cruel. And who knew—maybe the Grants would start questioning their character. It could even affect Olive’s engagement. Olive clearly realized the same thing. She turned back with a sweet smile and said, "Xavier, Mom won’t be back for a while. Why don’t you take Quinn to my closet and let her pick out something warm to wear first? It’s freezing out here." The contrast made Olive seem all the more considerate and obedient. Xavier dragged Quinn toward Olive’s walk-in closet. And that’s when Quinn understood why Xavier had stuck her in the servant’s quarters where Julie used to live. Because Quinn’s old room—and half the third floor along with it—had been turned into Olive’s walk-in closet. It spanned over 3,000 square feet, packed wall to wall with clothes. It looked more like a showroom in a castle than anything that used to be there. There wasn’t a single trace of what it had been before. Quinn blinked and stayed put at the door, tactfully not stepping inside. Xavier glanced around, grabbed a long, outdated black sweater dress, and tossed it at her."Olive doesn’t like other people wearing her clothes. Once you’re done with it, just throw it out." Quinn and Olive were about the same height, but Quinn was noticeably thinner. The dress didn’t fit, but at least it was warm. Some color finally returned to her pale face, and compared to how she’d looked in that ragged outfit earlier, she didn’t seem quite as grim. Xavier glanced at her, then quickly looked away. His voice was less sharp now as he walked her to the back and said, "Zayden and Olive are getting engaged soon. Both families already picked a date. They grew up together—if it weren’t for you, they’d probably have a kid by now. I don’t know how you and Zayden ever got involved, but you’re still his ex-fiancée. Keep your distance, so no one gets the wrong idea." Then he added with meaning, "You know a family like the Grants would never accept a woman who’s been to prison. If you’re thinking about using Grandpa to steal Zayden back from Olive, don’t blame me for what happens next." Quinn froze. She realized Xavier had misunderstood—he thought she was rushing to see Zayden. She quickly slowed down, forcing down even the small flicker of excitement she'd felt about seeing Norman again, and nodded with her head down. "I know." Just like the clothes on her back, she had to give everything back. But really, she’d already lost too much. Zayden was just one small part of it. She didn’t even hope for family love from the Fairchilds anymore, so why would she cling to Zayden? Step by step, she finally made it to Norman’s courtyard. But instead of Norman, she found someone else waiting outside his door—Betty, her mother, who had come back early. The moment Betty saw her, her eyes welled with tears. "Quinny, why are you only just getting here? Come, let me take a look at you…" She stepped forward and draped a brand-new coat over Quinn’s shoulders. It was awkward. Too big. Betty clutched at the oversized lapels. "But I bought it in your old size…" But Quinn had been this weight, this size, for more than two years now. She looked down at her parents’ hands on her chest. She used to love Betty’s hands more than anything. Soft, pale, graceful—carrying a natural elegance Quinn had never been able to imitate. Betty’s touch had always been gentle, like feathers brushing her skin. Quinn used to think that was what a mother’s love felt like. But the last time Betty had touched her was when she sent her to prison to take the fall for Olive. Quinn had already come to terms with it. Olive had grown up in the Fairchild family. Of course they'd be biased. It wasn’t something worth hating them for. But everything in front of her now… she didn’t want any of it. All she cared about was how close she was—just one step away—from seeing her grandfather again. Was he okay? Did he know she was back? It had been three years since he visited her. Did he… did he also think she deserved to take the blame for Olive? Her chest tightened. She couldn’t even bring herself to respond to Betty. She took off the coat and handed it back, calm and polite. "Let someone else have it. Someone it fits." Betty clutched the coat, tears suddenly streaming down her face. "Quinny, are you still mad at me?" Olive started crying too. "Quinn, Mom hasn’t had a peaceful night’s sleep since you left. She has nightmares every night. She was still dealing with a headache this morning, but the moment she heard you were coming back, she rushed into the city to get you new clothes. If you’re angry, blame me. Just don’t turn your back on her…" She cried beautifully, genuinely, like she’d be willing to kneel and beg Quinn for forgiveness on Betty’s behalf if it came to that. But Quinn just watched in silence. She didn’t want to talk about prison in front of Norman’s door. And she didn’t want to pretend those three years of pain could be smoothed over with a simple "it’s fine." They probably never even realized that there’s a difference between not being able to sleep and not being allowed to sleep. Cold? Who knew cold better than she did? Quinn couldn’t fake it the way Olive could. She stepped back, her eyes falling on the door just a few feet away. That’s when she saw Zayden walking out, talking quietly with one of the caregivers. With her sharp hearing, she caught a few words, "asleep," "don’t wake him." She lowered her gaze in disappointment. Even after rushing, she was still too late. Norman was already asleep. She wouldn’t get to see him today. But just knowing he was okay… made her breathe a little easier. She stepped back again. "If you think me coming back is upsetting, I won’t come anymore…" They were the ones who insisted on bringing her back for the engagement annulment. But before she could finish her sentence, Xavier’s face darkened. "You’re seriously this upset over a couple of missing outfits and having to stay in Julie’s room for a while? I offered to put you in another house, but you didn’t want it. Now you’re here acting like the victim again. If you don’t want to be part of the Fairchild family, where else can you go? Back to prison?" "Xavier!" Betty cut him off sharply, her voice full of pain. "How can you talk to your sister like that? And what do you mean, Julie’s room? I told you to put Quinny in the main house!" Xavier frowned and stayed quiet. Olive kept crying. "Mom, don’t blame Xavier. It’s my fault. By the time you said something, Xavier had already turned that room into my closet. I was planning to give Quinn my own room. I just didn’t get a chance to tell her before she said she wanted to leave. I’ve always been the extra one anyway. That room should’ve been Quinn’s in the first place. I’ll stay in Julie’s room instead." "No!" "That’s not happening!" Xavier and Betty said it almost in unison. Ever since Olive came into the Fairchild home, they’d never let her suffer—not even once. Olive opened her mouth again. "Then Quinn…" Betty took a deep breath and looked at Quinn. "Quinny, the weather’s getting colder lately. Your grandfather’s not doing too well. He’s been in and out of consciousness. I’ll get a room ready for you as soon as I can. Just stay in Julie’s room tonight, okay? That way, if your grandpa wakes up, you’ll be nearby." Quinn had been ready to turn and walk away. But the moment she heard that, she stopped. She nodded obediently. "Okay." Only then did Betty break into a smile. "That’s better. I’ll have the kitchen whip up a nice dinner to celebrate our family being back together again!" Quinn almost laughed. She was only getting this meal because she agreed to stay in the servant’s room, which Olive didn’t want to live in. So what exactly were they celebrating? That she spent three years in prison without ever speaking up or telling the truth?