Vivianne was taken aback when Sharlene suddenly rushed into the private room, her face visibly filled with confusion. Sharlene kept glancing back and forth between her and Tashia, her eyes flickering with something unspoken. Vivianne couldn't quite figure out what was wrong.
"Sis, are you okay?" Tashia asked worriedly, watching her closely.
Without a word, Sharlene suddenly pulled them both into a hug.
"Nothing will change. It's still me."
Vivianne furrowed her brow. Her sister's words were vague and heavy. They exchanged glances, just as Sharlene broke down in tears. It was the first time they had seen her cry. All her life, Sharlene had been brave—she never showed weakness in front of anyone. But now, they simply let her cry. For the moment, they just focused on calming her down, knowing they would eventually have to talk about everything—especially now that she knew the truth about who she really was and where she came from.
"I… I don't know what to do anymore," Sharlene whispered through her tears. "I don't know who to believe anymore."
"Sister, are you really… Carmela's missing child?" Tashia asked hesitantly.
Sharlene nodded, her face soaked in tears. "That's me," she admitted, her voice soft and filled with sorrow.
"I knew you'd eventually find out. Don't you remember what your grandmother did to you?" Vivianne asked gently.
Confused, Sharlene looked at her.
Vivianne reached for her hand, and together, she brought her back into a memory—one she had long buried.
She saw seven-year-old Sharlene, three years after Linda had taken her in, with two-year-old Tashia by her side. The child version of Sharlene was still wearing her bracelet.
"Sis, don't you really remember who gave that to you?" Five-year-old Vivianne asked her then.
Sharlene only shook her head. Sometimes, Vivianne would see bruises—marks that came from their grandmother.
"Even if I don't remember, I feel like it's really important to me," young Sharlene said.
Vivianne never asked further. She simply nodded.
Years passed. Her sister was now in high school, while Vivianne had just started school in their town—carrying the burden of knowing the truth about Leah, a truth only she knew.
Sometimes Sharlene wouldn't wear the bracelet, fearing it would get lost, especially since she still had no memory of her early childhood.
Then came the day Felicia called her in for a talk. Their grandmother hadn't moved into the mansion yet, but she had already started sending them to school.
Vivianne, staying at home, overheard their conversation. Curious and uneasy, she moved closer to listen.
"Where is your bracelet?" Felicia asked sternly, glaring at Sharlene.
"W–Why, Grandma?" the young girl asked innocently.
"Give it to me," Felicia demanded, holding out her hand.
"Grandma, it's important to me," Sharlene replied, shaking her head and clutching her uniform pocket protectively.
Felicia grew annoyed and slapped her across the face. "Don't test me, Sharlene! You should remember who fed you, who sent you to school! Do you want me to stop helping Vivianne?" she threatened.
Frightened, Sharlene handed the bracelet over. Felicia smirked.
"You're easy to deal with," she said coldly, hiding the bracelet away.
Vivianne, silently watching, could see the fear in Sharlene's eyes. Felicia handed her a glass of water.
"Drink this," she ordered.
"Grandma, I'm not thirsty," Sharlene replied, voice trembling.
"Do I have to make you drink it myself?" Felicia snapped.
Even from where she hid, Vivianne was terrified of that voice.
Sharlene drank it. Moments later, she began to feel dizzy and collapsed. Vivianne gasped and quickly hid again.
She saw Felicia drag the unconscious Sharlene into her room, lay her down, and exit with a pleased smile—as though nothing had happened.
Once the coast was clear, Vivianne crept into the room. Sharlene, still in uniform, was writhing in pain, clutching her bandaged forehead.
"Vivianne…" she mumbled weakly.
"Are you okay?" Vivianne asked, rushing to her side.
"My head hurts… I think I have a fever," Sharlene whispered.
Vivianne hesitated. "D-Don't you remember why you're here?"
Sharlene frowned, confused. "Grandma just called me because no one else was home. That's all we talked about."
Vivianne's heart sank. "Look at your right hand. Do you remember what used to be there?"
"Huh?" Sharlene looked. "N—Nothing… why, Vivianne?"
Vivianne said nothing more and fled, terrified of being caught by Felicia.
Later, she heard that Sharlene had fallen sick and couldn't attend school. After her fever passed, Sharlene had no memory of her most cherished bracelet.
"Did Grandma erase my memory?" Sharlene asked now, her tears returning.
"For goddamn sake… they erased my memory again!" she shouted, devastated.
Suddenly, Ashley appeared, smiling.
She walked up to Sharlene and Tashia and took their hands.
"Mom," she said sweetly.
Sharlene's tears flowed anew. "A—Ashley… my child?"
Vivianne looked around and saw Leah, dressed in a white-stained gown, watching them.
"Please don't cry anymore," Ashley said gently, wiping Sharlene's tears.
"My child…" Sharlene whispered, pulling her into a hug.
"Don't be sad anymore. Aunt Leah didn't abandon me. She's taking care of me. She's finding a way to help me get out," Ashley explained.
Though Sharlene was confused, she nodded.
"Mommy, you always told me to be strong, right? You have to be strong too. I love you all," Ashley smiled, then vanished like a bubble.
The three women remained in the private room, quiet and shaken.
Sharlene looked at her sleeping daughter.
"Thank you, child," she whispered with gratitude, wiping her tears.
Tashia patted her on the back, letting her know they were with her—no matter what.
Now, more than ever, they had to rebuild themselves.
Because the truth… was still unfolding—and it would hurt before it healed.