She’s Back, and Hell’s Coming with Her novel Chapter 9

Aside from the master suite belonging to Sommer and Desmond, his private study, and Celine’s room, Sabrina saw every corner of the house with Martha as her guide.

There was no denying it—the Sutton family’s mansion was truly something else.

Martha, ever cautious, ventured, “Sabrina, would you like me to move your things to your room?”

Her belongings were still in the guest room.

“No need, I’ll do it myself,” Sabrina replied coolly.

She didn’t have much, just a small bag she could easily carry.

Everything in the Sutton household seemed perfectly calm and routine.

Sabrina slept straight through the afternoon, only waking around nine in the evening.

She’d specifically told Martha not to bother calling her for dinner. She needed to catch up on sleep.

Desmond and his wife didn’t give it much thought; they simply assumed their daughter was still adjusting to being home.

So that evening, the three of them sat down to dinner, chatting happily, not once recalling that another daughter was asleep upstairs.

It wasn’t until they’d finished eating that Sabrina came downstairs.

Martha had kept Sabrina’s meal warm the whole time. The moment she saw Sabrina up and about, she hurried to the kitchen and brought out the hot food.

Watching Sabrina quietly, Martha’s heart ached.

Sabrina was painfully thin, looking almost malnourished.

But at least she was home now.

*

The next morning, the Suttons were laughing and talking over breakfast in the dining room.

When Sabrina walked in, the smiles on all three faces froze. They still weren’t used to having another person in the house. No one had thought to call her down for breakfast.

Martha, thinking Sabrina would want to sleep in, hadn’t gone upstairs to fetch her either.

Ignoring their startled glances, Sabrina walked over to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

“Sabrina, sweetheart, how did you sleep last night? Is everything alright? Are you settling in?”

Sabrina only glanced up at her mother after the food was placed before her. “Not well. Really not well.”

Under bridges? She actually said that out loud?

Sommer took a deep breath, forcing herself to accept whatever sordid past Sabrina had lived through.

“Well, Martha can show you some other rooms later. See if there’s one you like better. Now that you’re home, let’s try to put the past behind us.”

Celine chimed in right on cue, her voice sweet and cheerful. “Mom, Dad, why don’t I show Sabrina around? I’m free anyway.”

Sommer’s tense frown softened at her daughter’s offer. She looked at Celine—so bright, so talented—and couldn’t help but smile with pride.

“Oh, you,” she teased fondly, “you never sit still. Don’t you have piano practice? Don’t get carried away.”

“I like spending time with Sabrina,” Celine said, turning on her charm. “I’ll just practice a little later tonight.”

Sommer smiled even wider. “Alright, sweetheart. If you insist, go ahead.”

But when she turned to Sabrina, all the warmth vanished, replaced by a frosty tone. “If you need anything for your room, you can let me know.”

Desmond watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction and gave Celine an approving nod.

He addressed Sabrina in a formal voice, “Celine will show you around later. If you have any questions, just ask your sister.”