Chapter 13: Chapter Twelve

Serena

My heart skipped a beat, and I fought to maintain a neutral expression. Despite my efforts, the faint flicker of panic in my eyes betrayed me, and Mom didn’t miss it.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Maybe Athena used your laptop. She’s always on it, doing… whatever it is she does,” I muttered, waving my hand in a half-hearted attempt to dismiss her suspicion. “Isn’t she your assistant or something?”

Mom leaned in, her voice low and razor-sharp. “Don’t even think about shifting the blame, Serena. I know when you’re lying. You forged an email, didn’t you? To cover something up. Now, what are you trying to hide?”

I hesitated, my mind scrambling for a believable excuse. Telling the truth was too dangerous, but my silence only seemed to stoke Mom's growing frustration.

"Well? Speak up! What have you been up to, Serena?" Mom demanded, her tone sharp and rising.

“Fine! I wasn’t at school today, okay?” I snapped, throwing my hands up in frustration, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I went to the Fort Merritt Civic Center with my friends to see my favorite boy band, A.X.I.O.N. Happy now?”

Mom’s expression shifted to utter disbelief as she stared at me. “You skipped school… to go to a boy band concert?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as though raising it would make my confession even more absurd.

I dropped my gaze, muttering, “It wasn’t just me. A lot of people went. It’s not a big deal.”

Mom drew in a sharp breath, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Not a big deal? Do you have any idea how humiliating it would be if the school found out? Or worse, if this went public? Do you ever think about the consequences of your actions?” Her voice had risen to a near shout by the time she finished.

A frown crept onto my face. “It’s not like anyone noticed I was gone,” I mumbled, the frustration in my voice clear. I needed to steer this conversation away from me and my impulsive choices. Shifting the blame was my only option. “I mean, who knows with Athena? She’s not as perfect as everyone thinks. Maybe she’s sneaking around behind your back.”

Mom’s brows furrowed in suspicion. “Are you saying she left after Alfred dropped her off at school?”

I froze for a split second, then quickly recovered, seizing the opportunity to redirect the heat. Blaming Athena seemed like the safest escape. “Who knows with her?” I said vaguely, my tone taking on a smug edge.

Mom’s eyes narrowed at my choice of words. I could tell she didn’t appreciate my deflection. She wasn’t buying it, but I wasn’t about to elaborate.

“You’d better explain yourself, Serena. What exactly are you trying to say?” she inquired, her tone filled with impatience.

I leaned back on the couch, my confidence returning now that the pressure had eased. If I played this right, Mom would forget about my little stunt entirely. “I’m just saying, maybe she’s not as innocent as she pretends to be. You should ask her what she’s really been up to,” I replied with a small, knowing smile.

Mom opened her mouth to respond, but Alfred cleared his throat, stepping forward with his usual stoic expression, though a flicker of satisfaction passed across his face. I briefly wondered what had made him look so pleased, but I didn’t dwell on it. If his next words shifted Mom’s attention away from me, he could say whatever he pleased.

“Mrs. Sanderson, if I may,” he began, his voice calm but deliberate, “I did drop Miss Athena off at school this morning. However…” He hesitated, as if relishing the moment before delivering his revelation. “…I later saw her leaving campus with someone. A young man in a car.”

The room fell into a tense silence. Mom’s face hardened, her lips pressing into a thin, unforgiving line. My eyes widened in shock, but I quickly masked it with a smug grin, savoring the sudden change in focus. Finally, the spotlight was off me.

“A young man?” Mom asked, her voice sharp and icy. “Who was he?”

Alfred shook his head slightly, his tone measured. “I couldn’t get a clear look at him, ma’am. But it was clear they weren’t heading back to school,” he replied.

I’d always suspected Alfred didn’t like Athena, but I never realized he might go so far as to fabricate a story about her. I stared at him, hoping he’d meet my gaze, but he kept his attention fixed on Mom, who was silently processing his words.

I started to relax, thinking I might be off the hook, but I was dead wrong. Mom turned her suspicious glare back on me, making my heart pound in my chest. Her tone was sharp and accusing. “And you conveniently didn’t see her all day, is that right?”

I raised my hands defensively, doing my best to look innocent. “I told you, I didn’t see her! Maybe she’s off with that guy, whoever he is. She’s the one you should be questioning, not me.”

Mom studied my face intently, her piercing gaze making me squirm. I could see the doubt forming in her mind, the sense that something didn’t quite add up. Just as I braced myself for her to press me further, Alfred spoke again, his tone deliberate.

“If I may, ma’am,” he said carefully, “Miss Athena hasn’t exactly been forthcoming about her activities lately. Perhaps it’s time to speak with the school or her classmates.”

Mom’s expression darkened further, and I felt a small surge of relief. For now, the attention was off me, and I wasn’t about to do anything to bring it back.

Mom’s gaze snapped to Alfred, her lips curling in disdain. “I don’t need you telling me how to handle my daughter and foster daughter, Alfred.” She paused, then muttered under her breath, “Though it’s clear someone in this house isn’t telling the whole truth.”

I was caught off guard by how Alfred had so effortlessly turned the tables on Athena. It made me curious—why did he hate her so much? I could confront him about why he’d lied about seeing her leave school with some mysterious young man, but he wouldn’t tell me. One, we weren’t exactly friends, and two, deep down, I didn’t really care. As long as it got me off the hook, his motives didn’t matter.

Mom’s attention swung back to me, her voice sharp and her gaze unyielding. “You’re grounded until I get to the bottom of this. No concerts, no outings, no phone. And don’t think for a second I won’t double-check everything you say from now on. And if I find out you had anything to do with this, you’ll regret it. Am I clear?”

I had thought I was off the hook, but clearly, I wasn’t. This sucked. No calls, no chatting with friends—my social life was officially over. And it was all Athena’s fault!

“Serena Beatrix Sanderson, I believe I’m talking to you!” Mom snapped, her patience clearly at its limit.

“Yes, Mother,” I muttered, hanging my head in fake shame, even as resentment simmered under the surface.

Mom turned to Alfred, her voice cold and commanding. “Find out who this young man is. I want to know everything—who he is, where he’s from, and why he’s involved with my foster daughter. And when Athena comes home, she and I will have a very long talk.”

“Understood, ma’am,” Alfred replied with a slight nod.

Mom straightened, smoothing the fabric of her tailored jacket, and shot me one last withering look before sweeping out of the room. The sharp click of her heels echoed down the hallway, leaving an oppressive silence in her wake.

I sank back into the couch, my face pale, my earlier confidence drained. When I glanced toward Alfred, I found him still standing there, staring at me with a cold, calculating expression. His gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

“You may have bought yourself some time, Miss Serena,” he said quietly, his voice laced with satisfaction and disdain, “but lies have a way of catching up with people. Especially yours. I suggest you tread carefully.”

My jaw tightened as I glared at him, but I didn’t reply. Alfred’s expression remained impassive as he turned and walked out, leaving me alone with my spiraling thoughts.

Gripping my phone tightly, I felt unease settle in the pit of my stomach. For the first time, I wondered if implicating Athena had been worth it—or if I’d just set myself up for an even bigger fall.