The Forgotten Twin, The One They Beg in Tears Chapter 07

The Forgotten Twin, The One They Beg in Tears Chapter 07

Whiplashed by the day’s humiliation, Elowen crumpled against Kael and sobbed.

“Mom, Freya must have done this on purpose!”

Grandma frowned and turned toward Mom.

“Let’s not argue about whether she meant it or not.”

“Freya excelling is still a blessing for this family.”

Her tone sharpened.

“Have you ever even gone to her parent–teacher conferences?”

“How could you not know what grade your own daughter is in?”

Mom fell silent.

It hit them then. Every time I’d come to them with school troubles, they’d looked utterly annoyed.

After a while, I stopped telling them anything.

When teachers called for parent conferences, I’d say my parents were busy.

When homework required a parent signature, I forged Mom and Dad’s handwriting myself.

My teachers never suspected a thing. After all, my grades had always been excellent.

“But Freya’s grades were never as good as Elowen’s,” Mom murmured, then dialed my number.

No answer.

She called again.

Still nothing.

A neighbor by the door couldn’t help shouting. “Where does the girl work? Go bring her home!”

The whole family fell quiet once more.

They had no idea.

The reporter sighed.

“This is the first time we’ve encountered something like this. Parents who don’t even know their daughter took the Werewolf SAT.”

Mom and Dad’s faces burned red with shame.

Someone piped up. “I saw Freya before, out at the new housing development nearby.”

“She’s working with the landscaping crew.”

“What are we waiting for? Take us there!”

The reporters shouldered their cameras without hesitation.

The entire group piled into cars and headed for the residential site.

New houses had just been finished there.

Large lawns out front weren’t fully laid yet.

Several workers hauled mulch, pushed wheelbarrows, laid sod under the blazing sun, while others carried landscape stones to the flower beds.

A reporter stepped forward.

“Excuse me? Is there a girl named Freya Hawthorne working here?”

“Freya?” He wiped sweat from his brow. “You mean that slim blonde girl?”

“Yes.” The reporter nodded quickly.

“We’re journalists from the Northvale Pack.”

“She earned the highest score on this year’s Werewolf SAT, and we want to interview her.”

The man let out a laugh. “Hold on, I’ll get the foreman.”

It was still morning, yet the sun was already so bright Elowen could barely keep her eyes open.

She grabbed Mom’s hand. “Mom, it’s burning hot. Let’s go home.”

For the first time, Mom pulled her hand away.

“Just a few minutes, and you complain about the sun.”

“What about Freya?”

“She’s been out here every single day… without a single break.”

Mom glanced around the site, her eyes glistening with tears.

Lucian smiled to comfort Elowen.

“It might just be someone with the same name. Freya’s always had poor health. How could she do heavy labor like this?”

Kael glanced at them, then lowered his head without a word.

Soon, a middle–aged man with sun–reddened skin walked over.

“Who’s looking for Freya?”

The reporter quickly explained their purpose.

The foreman froze for a few seconds, then laughed.

“I never knew that kid was such a genius. I thought she was just some rich kid getting summer work

experience.”

“Guess she wasn’t just playing at a summer job, huh?”

Mom’s face paled even more.

The foreman went on.

“She picked up her paycheck and left yesterday. Said she was going off to college.”

“That girl is tough. One day when she was moving pavers, a stone slipped and crushed her finger…”

He wiped a tear from his eye.

“She got hurt? She never told us a thing.” Mom’s brows drew tight.

“On that day, I asked if she wanted to call her family. She said her parents wouldn’t believe her. They’d only think she was seeking attention, trying to compete for affection.”

Mom’s breath hitched. She pressed her lips together, but tears spilled over anyway.

“So Freya’s already left for college?”

“We don’t know. Her phone won’t connect.”

“What if something bad happened to her?”

Elara panicked before Mom and Dad even could.

“Let’s head back and check if her things are still there.”

“If her passport and luggage are still here but she’s gone, we need to contact the Pack patrol right

away.”

The group returned to Hawthorne House.

Mom walked toward my storage room door.

She stood there for a long time, unable to bring herself to turn the knob.

Grandma stepped forward and shot her a glare. “What are you standing there for? Open the door!”

Grandma brushed past her and shoved the door open.

A collective gasp rose from the hallway.