Whenever ra was around, she was automatically in the wrong. Just then, Simon walked in, sensing the charged atmosphere in the room. He quickly stepped forward to scoop Quinn into his arms.


    "ra, what''s going on?" he asked, concerned. He''d been worried ra was losing interest in him, but now she''s confronting Quinn and almost went after their kid. It''s clear she was blinded by jealousy. Oddly enough, Simon felt a bit relieved.


    "No matter how upset you are, you can''t take it out on our child," he added.


    ra just stood there, looking at the family and feeling like she was speaking a differentnguage. She hadn''t even said a word, and already they made her out to be the viin.


    As she turned to leave, Naomi shouted, "Where are the guards?! Grab her. Ryan''s right; she might be having a breakdown. Better lock her up!"


    Ryan was caught off guard and quickly tried to backpedal. "Mom, I was just kidding." The more he talked, the quieter he got, until he ended up staring at his shoes.


    ra was taken by a few guards to the punishment room—a special ce the Bradfords had set up for dealing with troublesome staff.


    The room was bare, just a low bench too short to reach the window, and a door. ra sat on the bench, surprisingly calm. Night fell, and she heard footsteps outside.


    She called out hesitantly, "Ryan?"


    Ryan felt uneasy, knowing ra ended up here because of something he said. Everyone else was out for dinner. He faked being sick to stay behind and ended up at ra''s door.


    ra had hit him a few times before and even sided with a stranger, which left him feeling hurt. Now, he heard her call his name and just stayed quiet on purpose.


    ra leaned against the door and knew her brother wasn''t as heartless as the rest of the Bradfords. He was just spoiled and unable to tell right from wrong.


    "Even if you don''t answer, I can tell it''s you. You''re the nicest to me in this house," she said.


    Ryan couldn''t help but smile, but he didn''t want to seem too easy to win over. He huffed, crossing his arms "ra, you know I''m the nicest to you, and yet you pped me. You made me look bad in front of my friends."


    ra had pped him in front of


    bon giving him odd looks. A


    and ever since that dayet


    they''d


    guy''s pride is everything!


    "I pped you because I didn''t want you to go down the wrong path. It was


    because I care," ra exined.


    Ryan frowned, thinking it over before asking, "Really?"


    ra rubbed her temples. The rest of the Bradfords were sharp, so how could


    Ryan be so clueless, even more so than Simon?


    "Of course, it''s true. Do you have a key? Let me out."


    "ra, you''re just trying to butter me up to get out of here!"


    "Ryan, I''m your sister. I''ve cooked so many meals for you. What has Quinn ever done for you? It''s not


    about what people say but what


    they do. Anyone can say nice things; real advice is hard to take, got it?"


    Ryan was taken aback. "The key isn''t with me. It''s with Mom."


    "Isn''t there a spare key? Go look for it."


    "Why should I do what you say?"


    "Because I''ve cooked for you so many times. What have you ever done for me?"


    Ryan fell silent, feeling a bit guilty.