Chapter 4

The Millers, uncomfortable amidst the Thorne opulence and unspoken tensions, decided to return to Nevada after two days.

"You call us if you need anything, anything at all," Mary said, her eyes moist as she hugged Alex goodbye.

"You're strong, Alex," Joe said, his voice gruff with emotion. "Don't forget where you come from."

Alex promised. Watching their rental car pull away from the grand gates of the Thorne estate left a hollow feeling.

Eleanor tried to fill the void, fussing over Alex, asking about her interests.

"Richard can be... a little formal," Eleanor explained one afternoon, as they sat in a sunroom overlooking a tennis court. "He's under a lot of pressure as CEO of Vance Industries. It's my family's company, but he's run it for years."

"And Ethan?" Alex asked, remembering his dismissive attitude.

Eleanor sighed. "Ethan... he's had a privileged upbringing. Perhaps too privileged. Richard dotes on him, expects him to be the heir apparent, but Ethan isn't very focused on academics or business."

"And Olivia?"

"Olivia is very dedicated to her equestrian pursuits. She's a champion rider. It's something Richard approves of, something that fits the family image." Eleanor's voice was tinged with a sadness Alex couldn't quite place.

Alex didn't press about the gift card incident. She was observing, gathering data. Richard's actions spoke louder than any apology he hadn't offered.

He treated her with a detached politeness, like a distant relative visiting, not a long-lost daughter. His focus was clearly on Ethan, the "heir," and Olivia, the "showpiece."

The "welcome gifts" had been a clear signal of her perceived status.

Richard, when he did speak to Alex, often steered the conversation towards her scholarship.

"MIT, very impressive for someone with your... background," he'd said once, the pause before "background" laden with unspoken meaning. "Engineering is a practical field. Sensible."

It wasn't a compliment. It was a classification.

Ethan remained openly disdainful. He'd make snide remarks about Alex's clothes (practical, not designer) or her lack of knowledge about their elite social circle.

"So, you actually fix cars?" he'd sneered one evening at dinner. "How... quaint."

Alex had just looked at him. "Yeah. It's called a skill. You should try acquiring one sometime."

Richard had shot her a sharp look, but Olivia had hidden a small smile behind her napkin.

Eleanor seemed to be walking on eggshells around her husband and children, trying to broker a peace that Alex sensed was fragile at best.

The grand "welcome gala" was announced a few days later.

"It's a charity event we host annually," Eleanor explained. "But this year, Richard thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce you to our friends and the wider family."

Alex doubted Richard's motives were that altruistic. More likely, it was about controlling the narrative.