Chapter 172

Chapter 172:

“When the landlord asks for damages, the money’s coming out of your pocket p>

Leila blinked at me. “What damages? It’s just a bit of trash p>

Neal was blunter. “You’re seriously going to make us pay? You’ve got all that money and p>

“I’ll clean it.” Priya stepped out from behind her mother timidly. She barely looked me in the eye. “I’ll fix everything. We’ll be gone once the compensation comes through. I swear p>

Leila shoved her back with one hand. “Don’t be stupid. We’re staying. This is our home now p>

“Staying?” I crossed my arms. “Fine. Stay. But rent’s on you from now on p>

Neal’s smile dropped like a curtain. “You brought us here, Mirabelle. You said you’d look after everything—food, rent, clothes. And Priya, she’s your key witness. Without her, you wouldn’t have won shit. My daughter handed you that verdict. This is how you repay her p>

I dug my nails into my palm to keep from throwing something.

“I already wired you money before you came to Skyline. A lump sum. Enough for food, bills, taxis, all of it. The case is long over, and you’re still squatting in my flat. I’ve done more than enough. But I’m not your damn sponsor p>

Rohan mumbled something under his breath. “We helped you. You should help us. It’s only right p>

I spun to face him. “Priya wasn’t just a witness. She was part of the case. She testified for her own sake as much as mine. You think one courtroom appearance earns your whole family a free ride for life p>

Silence. Even the guy who’d been chewing loudly stopped mid-crunch. Priya swallowed hard and looked at her feet. “We’re not trying to freeload. We won’t stay. Mum, Dad, stop saying that stuff p>

Leila turned and slapped her on the shoulder. “Shut your mouth! You don’t speak for us.” Priya flinched.

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I grabbed Priya and yanked her away from Leila. Her wrist felt thin and damp in my hand. “Are you insane? You don’t hit your daughter p>

“Exactly, she’s my daughter.” Leila snorted. “And I didn’t hit her. It was just a tap. Didn’t even hurt p>

“She’s got a busted leg, and you still make her do everything—cooking, laundry, scrubbing floors. While the rest of you sit around. That’s how you treat your daughter p>

“She’s a girl. That’s what girls do. I’m just training her for when she gets married p>

My jaw clenched so hard my temples started to throb. I turned to Priya. “The money I sent you. You didn’t keep any of it, did you p>

She didn’t speak. She just stared at the floor. Tears dropped straight down onto the front of her sweatshirt. That was my answer.

I already knew her backstory—grew up poor, got into Skyline on a scholarship, parents took a payout from the Brookes and ran. I’d sent her money so she could buy herself a decent meal every now and then. Clearly, none of it stayed in her account.