Meanwhile, ra and Scarlette made their way back to their apartment. Scarlette, feeling quite satisfied with how the evening had turned out, casually tossed her hair back and extended a friendly hand to ra. "I dig your vibe. How about we hit the shops together sometime?"


    Since waking up, ra hadn''t really connected with anyone other than Megan, so she eagerly epted the offer. "Sounds great."


    Scarlette waved her off with a cheerful, "I''ll head home now."


    They both retreated to their own spaces. ra,pletely wiped out, took a quick shower and flopped into bed, falling asleep almost instantly.


    The next day at work, ra was deep in her tasks when someone mentioned she had visitors waiting downstairs. She was curious and headed down to find Naomi and Ryan there.


    Ryan looked a bit uneasy, leaning against a column with his arms crossed, refusing to meet ra''s eyes. Naomi, on the other hand, wasted no time andunched into an usatory rant. "Why''d you block everyone''s numbers and note homest night? We''ve been searching everywhere for you. Quinn got kidnapped yesterday, and now she''s so scared. That recording is all anyone can talk about. ra, just admit you faked it."


    ra calmly sat down on a lobby sofa, taking in Naomi''s words. "Is that why you''re here?"


    Naomi plopped down across from her, her tone unwavering. "That is the most pressing issue right now."


    "Naomi, why''re you asking me to own up to this? Deep down, you must suspect that the voice on the recording is actually Quinn''s, right? There was no faking it. She was trying to set me up and got caught. You don''t want her facing public bacsh, so you''vee to me because I''m the expendable eldest daughter. Who cares if I take the fall?"


    Naomi''s eyes flickered with guilt. After a pause, she replied, "You''ve been under fire for so long already. What will one more thing do?"


    Without hesitation, ra grabbed a half-finished iced tea from the coffee table and sshed it over Naomi.


    Naomi, dripping wet, looked up in shock.


    "Naomi, maybe now you''ll think twice. I''ve told you before, don''t speak to me condescendingly. I have no obligation to cover for anyone, especially not Quinn. If you don''t want her to suffer, put it on Ryan instead. Or is he too precious?"


    Naomi trembled, her lips quivering. "ra, what happened to you?"


    This wasn''t the submissive daughter she remembered. ra tucked her hair behind her ear. "Don''t bother me with this again. It''s a waste of my time."


    Ryan, silent until now, finally spoke. "Mom, is the recording really not fake? Is it actually Quinn?"


    Naomi was overwhelmed and watched ra''s indifferent retreat. She took a few steps to follow but stopped, muttering to herself. "Where did it all go wrong..."


    Ryan pressed on. "Mom, answer me. Is ra right? Did you know the recording was real? Why did youe to ra? You''re so biased!"


    Before he could continue, Naomi pped him hard across the face. "Shut up!"


    Ryan was stunned and held his cheek. No one, other than ra, had ever pped him.


    Naomi was also shocked by her own action. She felt a deep pang in her chest. She sat down, holding her head. "Do you think I wanted this? Ryan, you don''t know what kind of life Quinn had with her adoptive parents. Everything she endured was because of ra. How can I not be biased against ra?"


    She rubbed her temples, the smell of tea still lingering. "Quinn''s adoptive family was terrible. She was abused, worked from the age of twelve to support them, and had to care for a mentally challenged brother. When I found her, she was bruised and wouldn''t even look at me."


    Ryan fell silent, his heart heavy. "But still..."


    "But what? She was kidnapped because ra didn''t report it. Quinn saved her sister and was trapped for years. Now that she''s back, shouldn''t ra be more understanding? Instead, she bullies Quinn without remorse. I''ve seen it all; how can my heart not be partial? I hate how unaffected ra is. Ryan, Quinn''s been secretly seeing a therapist. She needs our love."


    Ryan felt frozen, urgency coloring his voice. "Why didn''t I know about the therapist? When did she start?"


    "Since joining the Bradford family. She''s strong-willed and told no one. Not even your father."


    Such a tragic story would touch anyone.


    Ryan was young and impressionable and was quickly influenced. "Mom, what do we do now?"


    "Getting ra to confess would be best. Otherwise, Quinn''s engagement might copse. You could help by talking to ra. She doesn''t hate you as much as the rest of us."


    Ryan hesitated, finally lowering his gaze. "I understand."