I lifted my head to find Mr. Xaviers scrutinizing me with such a serious look as if he was going to kill me with his stares any moment. I turned my head sideways hoping to find a small corner in the big hall room where no eyes would be staring at me. No use.

On my right, there was Brian, watching me with a look full of despise. On my left, Uncle Nick remained with an expression full of mixed emotions- partially feeling defeated at the news of the property going away out of his hands which should have been theoretically his now and partially relieved by the fact that his name was not there on the paper. Uncle Josh was sitting right beside him. He was shocked, to say the least.

The room seemed to spin and fall apart. My whole world had fallen apart actually. I wished so badly that I could just sink into the floor and disappear, just to be spared from everyone's hatred in the room.

"What is that supposed to mean Miss Valdez?" Mr. Xaviers questioned, interrupting the dreadful silence at last.

Only to fill it with something more dreadful.

"I don-" my voice was shaking, "I really don......don't know."

"Well, think about it then," he said solemnly.

"You do not think that I killed my own father!" I yelped. "I didn't even know about such a will until a while back."

I gasped for air. My breaths were coming out short and fast. My lungs could implode in my chest at any moment.

"Well, who knows."

Mr. Detective's eyes flicked through the room once more.

"You all believe that I didn't do it, right?" my voice broke at the end. I frantically turned my head in all directions, my ears yearning to hear at least one voice in my support.

"Brian?"

He turned his head away.

"Aunt Kylie?"

She looked down, not making any eye contact with me.

I expected the same from my uncles, if not worse, so I did not even turn towards them. I could not take in any more of the hatred written over my own family's faces for me.

A lone tear fell from my eyes, and I dropped the file on the floor. I wanted to cry badly. Cry my heart out. Not being able to control myself, I jerked towards the gigantic glorious gateway of the hall room and darted out towards the hallway while covering my face with my hands in the attempt of hiding my tears.

I shut the door with a loud thud when I reached my room. I stood with my back slammed against the door as my lungs worked harder to inhale more oxygen. I howled in agony while kneeling down slowly, my arms clung tightly to my knees as if attempting to hug my own self. Now that I had no one left to give me a hug.

I kept weeping until I lost the energy to do it anymore, my heart becoming weary of pumping blood to my body at that much of a fast rate.

Soft delicate fur rubbed against my hands, and I lifted my head to see Bruno springing by my side and barking restlessly. Was he barking all this time? Why didn't I notice it? Was I losing my senses?

Right then, someone started banging ceaselessly at my door. I rose up and wiped my tears before opening the door. Almost instantly, Hannah and Hazel hopped towards me and hugged me tightly.

"Sissy, why are you crying? Don't cry please," they said in unison.

I loved the twins.

Aunt Nora arrived at their heels as the twins separated.

"Don't cry Amy," she consoled, caressing my face.

"I heard what happened in the hall room," -she took a short pause- "I know it's not your fault."

At least someone trusted me.

"Here, have some food dear. You didn't eat anything the whole day."

She took me to my bed and fed me some fish tofu. I loved Aunt Nora the most, she reminded me a lot of my mom.

I missed my mom.

She chatted with me the entire time while feeding me but didn't make any reference to the incident in the morning, and I was grateful to her for that. She always knew how to make me feel better.

"Your Aunt Kylie went to her parent's house with Brian for some days," she mentioned while giving me the last bite of the tofu.

"Great."

Well, I did not wish to face them any time soon after what had happened.

"Get some sleep Amy, you'll feel better," Aunt Nora advised with a little smile before turning away to leave.

I smiled back weakly.

Hannah and Hazel placed a small kiss on both my cheeks before wishing me goodnight.

I wasn't sleepy though. I needed a walk. I knew where to go.

After feeding Bruno his treats, I carried the living fur ball in my arms and trotted towards the colossal corridor. There it was, right at the center. The Valdez Family Tree.

It was printed in a luxurious gold plated strip of metal, in beautiful cursive handwriting. My grandpa had got this done with a lot of enthusiasm. He died when I was little.

I touched his name on the tree, Thomas Valdez. Beside him was grandma, Eleanor Valdez.

"Wow, now that's something worth it," someone exclaimed from the back.

I turned around to find the over-curious Jonas guy beaming at the family tree with his shining eyes. I pretended that I didn't see him and turned back to my observation.

"That's your name right?" he inquired, pointing towards my name on the tree.

I did not answer. I assumed that would be enough to let him know that I was not interested to talk to him.

"C'mon, you don't have a personal enmity with me, do you?" he remarked, feeling annoyed.

"I don't talk to detectives," I replied.

"I keep my personal and professional lives different you know."

He straightened his collar to create a cool impression.

Does he even have a professional life? I muttered to myself, thinking about how the only thing he did during the whole investigation was handing the file to his boss.

"Did you say something?"

"Did I?"

I wondered if he heard me. Who cares though.

"So, can I give you two company in your observation?" he asked chirpily while letting out his hand forward to caress Bruno.

"What's his name?"

"Bruno," I answered.

Well, for a fact, someone who likes my dog couldn't be that bad of a company. I considered for a moment and then gave him a nod.

I continued tracing down the line that joined Thomas Valdez and Eleanor Valdez and branched into four.

The first branch, David Valdez and Kylie Valdez.

"Uncle Dave," I pronounced.

Both of their names connected to a single spot, Brian Valdez.

"The guy who called me a sidekick," Jonas stated with such an irritated expression that would have surely made me laugh if I was in a normal mood.

The second branch, Arnold Valdez and-

The place where there should have been Sophia Valdez was scratched. They didn't want to remember her. My heart ached as I skimmed my hand across their names, or more like, where their names should have been.

"Pappa-" my voice was broken.

Jonas opened his mouth to ask something, probably about my mom, but let it close seeing my tear-filled eyes.

"That's you, I was right hehe," he said with a little grin, pointing towards Amyra Valdez.

Like it's obvious that he knew my name, why did he need to say it every time like he achieved something great?

Nevertheless, he was just trying to lighten my mood maybe.

Third Branch, Nicholas Valdez and Nora Valdez.

"Uncle Nick and Aunt Nora."

Stretching from their names were two conjoined leaves with Hannah Valdez and Hazel Valdez inscribed upon them.

"Twin leaves for twin sisters," he commented merrily.

I tried to reply with a meek smile.

Fourth branch, Joseph Valdez and Lucy Valdez.

"Uncle Josh, the one who appointed you two."

"Recognized that."

Their names joined to a leaf with the name Sierra Valdez.

"Didn't see her around yet," Jonas recalled.

Just then, a voice called from the back.

"Jonas!"

We both turned around simultaneously to find Mr. Detective. And there he had to show his face again to ruin my mood.

"Bye then, will see you around!" Jonas bid me goodbye in a way as if I was his long lost friend he encountered after ages.

I just replied with a nod as I watched Jonas leaving, and Mr. Detective eyeing me suspiciously for one last time before departing as well.

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