Chapter 167 - Gone For Real
"We want you to leave after all you would have been given your freedom if you were still in the orphanage," Valerie stated looking into Rose's hazel eyes.
Everyone in the room was shocked by the sudden statement Valerie made.
Justin was very shocked and confused. He wondered what made Valerie change her mind so easily since he spent more than an hour trying to persuade her that it was best that Rose leaves but Valerie was bent on keeping Rose with them.
Anna felt her heart hurt hearing that. She never knew that this was what the whole thing will turn into. She was angry with whoever sent the video and since Rose was the suspect with evidence, she decided to get angry at Rose. A little part of her believed Rose but because of the evidence she saw, she could not hold on to a baseless hope.
Rose felt fresh tears sip down her cheeks as she watched Valerie. She did not know what to feel at that moment. It would have felt better if Valerie did not look so much like her biological mother. She scoffed when she could not form the right word to say.
Valerie was also shocked. She had blurted those words out hoping to get Rose on her knees acknowledging her crime and beg for forgiveness so she won't get sent out. Looking at Rose, she was shocked because Rose did not give her the reaction she expected.
She wanted to take back her words when she saw the tears slipping from Rose's chin down. Rose looked very hurt but she could not just form the words and let them out of her mouth, it felt like the guilt she felt was choking her.
"I . . ." Rose began after a few minutes of absorbing the news. She was not going to beg to stay. It seems the chapter of her life in the Whitfred family was over and it was time for her to leave into the world with her true identity.
"I think if you confess and apologize you will be allowed to stay," Anna tried to persuade Rose. She was not ready for Rose to leave their home. She could not imagine the floor they lived on becoming empty once again. She prayed that Rose will confess and apologize just as she said. She was willing to forgive her if she did although she knew it will be hard for them to get back to the way they were.
"I did not do anything wrong, why then should I apologize?" Rose asked looking at each of them starting from her foster parents before her gaze finally rested on Anna. "You all believe I did it, right?" she asked smiling sadly.
She thought about just taking the very few things she owned in the house and leave but she knew it will be so unlike her to do such things so a little drama and expression of the hurt and pain she felt might do some good in making them believe she was going for good.
"I . . . I never knew you all thought so little of me. You must have smiled at me with the words on your mind of how I am just an orphan brat you saved from a country like Y country. I must have looked really pathetic and untrustworthy since you all think I did it. I only wanted a happy normal life. I wanted to know love. I lost my parents and I have not gotten over it.
"I thought I could enjoy some familiar love but I guess my luck is so bad that the people I took as my family doesn't care to listen to my explanation as soon there is a problem. This is the first time such a thing has happened, even if all the evidence points at me shouldn't that be enough to persuade you that I did not do to?" Rose said with enough emotion filling her voice.
"How can you proof that you did not do it when we have the evidence?" Justin asked when he noticed that it seems Rose was not lying although he was not sure if he trusted her or if he has ever trusted any of his adopted kids.
"I don't know to proof it," Rose replied despite the idea that that popped up on her mind when she thought of who took the video of what happened. "I really am grateful for all you gave me. You gave me all the material things I feel I don't really deserve them. You are a very nice family. If only I did not lose mine, I would have not being forced to experience this. You want me to leave? Then I will leave," Rose said.
Anna pulled her hand out but stopped immediately. She wanted to see where this was going. She did not believe Rose will leave for real.
Rose ran to the closet and picked the necklace Liam gifted her and returned to the room where the others were waiting for her. She glanced down at the pair of fitted black jeans she wore on a baggy floralprint vintage shirt she was wearing above. Seeing that what she wore for breakfast which was what she was still wearing was good enough for her to leave in, she finally looked at the people in the room.
"All that is with me are mine. I will send these clothes back and I will send the money for the phone back to you. Since I am no longer a member of this family, I will like it to be official and legally agreed. I will not bear the name of a family who does not care for me," Rose said.
She tried not to be too dramatic as she walked out of the room but with a glance back at the door of the room, she saw her foster family dumbfounded but knowing it might be too late to leave so smoothly if she dares to stall, she left without looking back again.
As she walked out of the mansion without getting stopped, she knew that was it. She knew that she was finally not a member of this family anymore. It was actually much easier than she thought it will be.
Walking to the huge black gate, she realized that she has never had to trek so much except on the treadmill. She ignored the guards at gate and walked out. She looked down the road that lead to the town and groaned.
This was definitely going to take up all her strength. The house was built far from the city and trees were planted on either sides of the road. She actually felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. The place was too secluded for her to walk alone.
She really did not feel good about it knowing she was made a lot more weaker due to her liver transplant. If she is faced with any problem she was not sure she will be able to escape at all.
She glanced at her phone and called Liam he was the only person she could think of at that moment who will do everything to ensure her safety. He was not reachable after a lot trials.
She finally gave up and decided to call her best friend. Eric picked her call almost immediately.
"Eric, I am sorry but could you come over to my house?" she asked hoping he won't begin asking her questions because she did not want to answer any such question over the phone.
"What us wrong? You don't sound well. Are you okay?" he asked just like she guessed he would his voice sounded very worried.
"I am fine. You are free to come over?" she asked.
"No, I heard my mother is sick. My dad and I are going to visit her in Star city. You should call Wayne or Debby if something is wrong," he advised her.
"Sure, I will. Thanks," she appreciated. "Send my greetings to your mum. I hope she gets better soon. I will visit her as soon as I get to Star city," she promised him before hanging up.
Now she was all alone with no one else to call and no hope of finding a way to get to city except on foot. This will be the longest trek of her entire life.
She began the trek praying her body cooperates since she was not as strong as she used to before she got stabbed.
***
The now family of three glanced at each other but remained quiet. Rose was not known to be impulsive in her behavior.
From what they knew about Rose from the four years she spent living with them, they all knew all Rose actions are well calculated. That made them know that she was very serious about making it official.. She no longer wanted to be their child in every way.