My legs finally gave out, so I hailed a cab home. However, when I tried to unlock the front door, I realized the passcode had been changed.

I keyed in Nicholas' birthday—nothing. So, I tried Madison's, but it was still wrong.

Frustrated and exhausted, I fought off my drowsiness and called Nicholas, who took a long time to answer.

"What's the passcode for the front door?"

Nicholas replied flatly, "You can't go in right now. Brandon and I prepared a surprise for Maddy—we've completely redecorated the entire house inside and out."

I froze, my eyes widening in disbelief. I immediately thought about Mom's journal, worried if they had thrown it out during the cleanup.

Panicked, I quickly said, "I couldn't care less about you redecorating the house, but can you at least let me in to pack my own things?"

Nicholas couldn't help but question me. "Why do you need to pack anything? There's still a place for you in this house. Just wait at the door until we get back; we'll open it then."

I wanted to ask more questions, but he immediately hung up. The exhaustion I'd felt was gone now, and I had no choice but to crouch by the door and wait anxiously.

Mom was a researcher and barely home. We never even took a single photo together. However, before her last assignment, she left behind a journal filled with stories from her youth, her hopes and dreams, and her expectations for me and Brandon.

Unable to resist my curiosity, I read it like a storybook. Then, I'd carefully put it back in its place, waiting for Mom to come home and add more entries.

Unfortunately, she never did.

Mom was kidnapped, and Dad, being a police officer, went to rescue her. Yet, by the time they realized the criminals had deliberately lured people there, it was too late, and they both perished in the explosion.

The police were worried that the criminals might target Brandon and me, so they made us move overnight—the only thing I could take with me was that journal. It was the only proof I had left of the life I'd shared with my parents.

At 3:30 am, I finally saw Brandon's car appear, and I immediately stood up. After Nicholas got out of the car, he carefully carried the sleeping Madison from the passenger seat.

I staggered to my feet, leaning against the door as I watched Brandon's every move intently. The moment he opened the door, I tried to rush inside, but he blocked me.

He said, "Let Maddy go in first."

Nicholas slowly crouched down, gently shaking her awake. "Maddy, we're home. Time to wake up."

I had never seen Nicholas acting this way before.

After a long while, Madison finally opened her eyes slowly. She murmured, "We're home?"

Brandon immediately stepped forward to help her up. The lights inside the house finally turned on, and I saw that all the interior decorating had been changed to the princess style that Madison loved.

I froze at the sight but quickly recovered. I couldn't hold back any longer and rushed upstairs. To my surprise, the master bedroom had been locked.

I yelled from the top of the stairs, "Where's the key to the master bedroom?"

Downstairs, they were still giving Madison the grand tour. Nicholas glanced up at me, then turned away without saying a word.

I stormed down and blocked their path. I said coldly, "Give me the key."

Nicholas clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Can't you see we're in the middle of something? Why are you so hung up on that room?"

Brandon joined in immediately. "That room's Maddy's now. I already moved your stuff into the guest room."

Their words hit me all at once, and the blood rushed to my head. Everything else faded into noise, and I stared hard at Brandon, warning him, "If Mom's journal is missing, I swear I won't forgive you."

I didn't wait for an answer and sprinted toward the guest room. Calling it a "guest room" was generous because it was more like a cluttered storage closet with no windows.

My clothes were shoved into corners, and my personal items were scattered on the floor like piled-up trash. I dropped to my knees and dug through the mess, frantically searching for Mom's journal.

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find it.

All three of them came rushing up, and Madison approached me with fake concern. "Adeline, let me help you pack."

I flung my arm without thinking, and she stumbled backward, crashing to the ground with a shriek.

Nicholas rushed to her and pulled her up, his voice thunderous as he accused, "She was just trying to help! Did you really have to push her like that?"

Brandon grabbed my wrist, trying to yank me away. "Apologize. Or you're not coming back in here again."

The old me would've done it—lowered my head, begged them not to throw me out. But right now, the only thing on my mind was the diary, so for once, I shook off Brandon's hand.

"Fine. Give me the journal, and I'll leave without a second thought."

Brandon scowled, growing impatient. "It's just a book. Why are you making a big deal—"

I cut him off, voice sharp and furious. "It's the only thing Mom left behind! Are you telling me you've never seen it? It was right on my nightstand—"

Brandon's expression faltered, and even Madison, who had been crying in Nicholas' arms, stopped her tears.

After a long silence, it was Nicholas who finally spoke. "I remember. When I was clearing out your stuff that day, I threw a bunch of it into a fire."

At those words, I stopped what I was doing and slowly turned to look at him. "You had no right to touch my things."

And then, without hesitation, I slapped him across the face. My eyes burned hot with tears as I growled, "You're a shameless bastard."

Nicholas stumbled from the force of the blow, staring at me in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"

I slowly stood up, my voice deadly calm as I uttered, "We're done."