Chapter 5: As Bad as Each Other
Fury welled up in Samuel’s heart. “Casimir, your behavior today was peculiar. You constantly defended Raylee in front of Waverly. If anyone is lacking, it’s you, her supposed fiancé!” He then turned to Raylee with disdain. “You’re remarkably clever, aren’t you? On your first day out of prison, you captured Casimir’s attention. Your difficulty walking…were you feigning hardship to gain his sympathy? He even booked a room for you? Did anything untoward happen while you were alone?”
Annoyed, Raylee retorted, “Mr. Goodridge, your mind is corrupted; don’t project your filth onto others! You all asked me to clean myself before seeing Grandma—did anyone pay me? Without Casimir’s money, how could I afford a room? Yes, I have trouble walking—wasn’t my leg injury in the medical report? I was just released from prison, and you violently pulled me from the car, injuring me further. Have you forgotten the harm you caused? You’ve found your biological sister; why concern yourself with an outsider like me?” Raylee vented her simmering resentment. Her release from prison didn't justify further torment.
“Raylee, I apologize on Samuel’s behalf,” Waverly choked out, bowing deeply. “Please don’t be angry. He didn’t mean it. Blame me if you must. I shouldn’t have returned.” Her gentle obedience almost softened Samuel. He patted her back, comforting her. “Waverly, it’s not about you. She’s stirring up trouble. Don’t take it to heart. I forgot to warn you—Raylee is quite the actress. She exaggerates and inflames situations. Take her past with a grain of salt. I lived with her for eighteen years; I know her better than anyone!”
Harriet stopped crying and comforted Waverly. “Listen to your brother. This doesn’t concern you; don’t blame yourself.” She accepted Samuel’s account, dismissing Raylee’s as partially truthful.
Raylee watched their familial warmth, then laughed incredulously. I’m quite the actress and have a knack for exaggerating my words? These so-called family members disregarded my struggles for four years. They refuse to let me defend myself, always assuming the worst with malice. Lingering felt like betraying her hard-won freedom.
“I’m returning to the hotel to rest. I’ll see Grandma when she wakes,” Raylee said calmly, bowing and leaving the ward. She slowly exited, her disabled legs uneven, her body swaying with each difficult step. Harriet gasped, sobbing. Samuel stopped her from chasing after Raylee. “Mom, let me go.”
Raylee was resting when there was a knock. “Ms. Goodridge, it’s Casimir.” Hesitantly, she opened the door. Casimir carried two large bags, intending to enter. Raylee stopped him, her tone flat. “Mr. Sutherland, this isn’t convenient.” The Goodridge family would suspect impropriety. She could ignore gossip, but not allow those who harmed her leverage to inflict further pain.
Casimir was startled. Seeing Raylee’s expressionless face, he felt inexplicable irritation. She’d called him “Mr. Sutherland” all day. The once-constant chatter, the fondness, the girl who called him “Caz”—all seemed vanished. This Raylee was unfamiliar, as if she’d exchanged her soul.
“I brought medicine and food.” Casimir offered the bags when Samuel arrived, surprised to see him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Dropping things off for your sister; then I’ll leave.”
“She’s my sister; you needn’t worry.” Samuel’s contemptuous gaze implied insincerity. He turned to Raylee, reprimanding, “I told you Casimir is Waverly’s fiancé. Why are you overstepping boundaries? Did four years in prison breed resentment, making you cozy up to Casimir to upset Waverly? You’re a scheming bitch!”
Raylee’s face flushed. She glared at Samuel, wishing to incinerate him with her stare. “Mr. Goodridge, are you afraid people won’t see you’re a jerk?”
Samuel raged. “How dare you?”
Casimir intervened. “Enough, Samuel! Ms. Goodridge didn’t intentionally cozy up to me. Stop attacking her!”
Raylee turned on Casimir. “Shut up, I don’t need your hypocritical defense! You’re both as bad as each other. Neither of you is worth a dime!”
Samuel was dumbfounded. Raylee hadn’t played the victim; she’d confronted him. “Get out! All of you, get out!” She slammed the door. Both men stood outside, stunned. Samuel’s repeated knocks went unanswered, fueling his frustration. Casimir sighed. “Let’s go. I’d be angry too. If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing.”
Samuel glared. “Casimir, how did you meet Raylee at the hotel and pay for her room? This ‘chance encounter’ is flawed! I saw your car on the way back from prison. You planned to pick her up, didn’t you?”
Casimir didn't deny it. Samuel, agitated, demanded, “Do you have feelings for her?”
Casimir was silent. Enraged, Samuel grabbed his collar. “You’re looking for a replacement, aren’t you? You scoundrel! How could you do this to Waverly?”
“Raylee is your sister, but you’re biased! If you don’t care for her, does that mean no one else can?”
“What good does caring do? Did she even look at you? Accept your gifts?” Samuel’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Four years ago, you mistreated her. Did you think she’d forgive you so easily? Don’t be naive!”
“She’ll never forgive me, let alone you. We all wronged her, but you were the worst!” Casimir growled. “She endured four years of hardship, and you ignored her, declaring her no longer part of the Goodridge family! Much of her suffering was because of you!”