The ride back was horrendous. I sat in his car, rigid as though I sat on needles. I didn't say anything, I just pointed the way to him.

I couldn't be any more glad when we finally pulled up to my street. My gaze swept past the row of weather-worn apartment block, one of which mine was.

" There it-" I pointed at the bin in the side of the lane, but then my world froze when I saw two kids rummaging through the bins.

My heart stopped, and I rushed out of the car.

“Lina? Maro?” I called, furious. The prior timidness in my voice nowhere to be found.

The kids turned, surprised. The younger girl’s freckled face lit up at the sight of me.

“Sis! Whoa--is that your car? Are we rich now?!” she began jumping excitedly.

I ran towards my cute ginger little sister whose purple blouse had holes. “No, and stop going through trash! What are you doing?!” I grabbed her and pulled her away, shooting a glance at Maro who stood by with some scraps in his embrace.

His brown hair was scuffled, his puffy face full of dirt. All.he did was shrug.

I gave him a sidelong glance, I expected him to do better as the elder one out of the two.

“Looking for toys for my birthday,” Lina said, holding up a half-broken doll with a smile.

I was mortified. " No, you don't do that! Its wrong Lina. Put that back in the trash!" I cried, grabbing the doll and hugging. " Why didn't you just tell me you wanted a doll?"

" But Maro said he overheard you saying you were tight on money. I didn't want to be a burden to you, Natalie." The little girl muttered in a sob.

"No..." I bit my lips in silence uttering in a sigh. I casted a long glance at Maro who hid his gaze with a frown as I consoled little Lina. Why do they know what the word 'burden' means?

At this point, the man whose wallet I'd stolen had stepped out of the car, approaching with brows furrowed. I realized if I didn't explain myself, there might be even bigger trouble.

I turned to him, hurriedly saying. “They’re my siblings. I-I take good care of them. Please, don’t call the CPS. They’re all I’ve got.” I begged.

He blinked, caught off guard. His expression then shifted along with his gaze, “I’m not interested in your family drama.”

But, I could tell that wasn’t entirely true, though. His clenched fists gave him away. " Thank you!" I sighed in relief.

"Who's that?" Lina tugged from behind me and asked, but I didn't answer.

“Which bin?” he asked, directing my attention back to his matter.

I pointed at the bin which Lina and Maro had just been rummaging through. "That one. I-"

I was cut off when he suddenly rolled up his sleeves and moved to dig into the bin without a word.

I blinked surprised, not knowing what to say.

He doesn't mind dirt?

I watched in a daze as he dug through the bin like he was used to it, the stench proof of his actions. Wrappers, cartons, sticky bags, he dug out everything. But there was no wallet.

He turned back after a long while, shaking his wrists as he said. “Nothing.” His gaze was full of nothing but rage.

I bit my lips again, looking away.

' I know...' I cried internally, knowing damn well how often bums and other people would rummage through this trash.

How could the wallet still be in there?

I only brought him because he dragged me and made me.

Just as I wondered what he'd do with me now that the wallet couldn't be found, Lina piped up. “Wallet?” she corked her head, asking.

The brown-haired boss looked, but he only sighed and shook his head furiously. 

Maro who had been standing silently to the side all along stepped forward slowly, staring at him.

“Now I know why you look so familiar! You're the guy on the ID.” He reached into his hoodie and pulled out a thick brown leather wallet that seemed wear-proof.

THE THICK BROWN LEATHER WALLET!

It's the same one I'd stolen and thrown in the bin.

I saw the boss freeze, before hurrying to snatch it from Maro.

I had never felt so relieved. Despite hating that the little rascals had rummaged through the bin, I was glad they had.

I watched as he flipped the worn leather wallet open, fingers tense with anticipation. His thumb brushed past the loose notes and old cards until it found the hidden inner lining, stitched just under the crease. With a soft tug, it gave way-- revealing a slim, metallic flash drive tucked discreetly inside.

He exhaled, wiping his forehead like he'd just been saved from trouble.

He then tucked it deep into his coat pocket this time, silently swearing never to be that careless again.

He looked up, jaw clenched. His frown highlighted his cold gaze that swept at me. “I’ll let you off this time,” he said, voice like a blade sheathed in patience. “For their sake.”

I nodded, almost unable to catch my breath. I clasped my hands together, thanking heavens I wouldn't end up in jail, leaving Lina and Maro behind.

He then turned to the two kids and gave them the faintest nod of acknowledgment. “Thanks for helping me find something... important. But, you two shouldn't digging through the trash. It's not healthy. You don’t want to end up like your sister--she’s ... evil.”  His gaze wandered back on me towards the end of his admonition.

The words cut so deep, so much that I couldn't help but lower my head in shame. The way he said it, I'd never felt so worthless.

I'd never been so mad. I was mad at him for saying what he'd said.

I know I was wrong taking his wallet-- his money and throwing the wallet out. But I preferred that he hand me to the authorities than say these things about me to my siblings. It hurts!

But then I was more mad at myself. Because he was right. I'm evil.

Not because of what I'd done, but actually, what could have happened to Lina and Maro.

What if I'd ended up in Jail?

What if he'd called the CPS?

I dropped my head, clenching my fist hard beside me. That single word, 'evil', hung heavier than any insult. Thr contempt in his tone made me feel inhumane. Like I was nothing but a disgusting piece of trash.

Just then, I felt Lina's tiny hand wrap around mine. I jolted out of my daze, realizing I shouldn't be acting this way in front of them. But before I could say anything, the little girl stomped forward.

“She’s not evil! She buys us food. She skips meals just so we can eat! I hate you, leave us alone!" she screamed, crying.

Maro echoed her, stepping to my side defensively. His little chest puffed with defiance. “She works hard for us! Don’t talk about our sister like that!”

My head rang at their words, emotions surging within me. But then I knew they were only kids. They could only see so much from their perspective.

" I'm really sorry Mister. I-I... Thank you" I muttered before dragging Maro and Lina away. I was too overwhelmed, and the only thing that came to mind was to leave the scene.

I didn't want the matter with the boss to escalate further than it already had.

Since he'd found what he was looking for, there was no need to linger around anymore.

About the 400 dollars, well, he'd already said he was going to let me off. And as I walked towards my house, I could only hope he wouldn't bring it up.

...

Nicholas blinked when the thief suddenly muttered a thanks and walked away with the kids. He was still stunned from how her siblings had risen to defend her. He hadn’t expected that.

He stood there for a beat, watching the door of the weather-worn house they walked into slam behind them. The noise echoing louder than her silence.

Guilt, unfamiliar and unwelcome, nudged its way into his chest.

Maybe... just maybe, he’d been too harsh.

He shouldn't have said the last part out loud. Not to the kids.

With nothing left to do, Nicholas turned back to his car. He reclined in the seat as he closed the door with a soft thud.

Pulling the flash drive from his pocket, he stared at it for a long while.

So small, so... dangerous.

It held everything; the truths his father had confessed to on his deathbed, the damning evidence of corruption, fraud, and manipulation that built the Vellari Conglomerate firms empire.

The empire that was now under his control. A house of cards disguised as a monument.

' I need to check if it still works for now.' Nicholas rubbed his brow and shoved the flash drive back into the glove compartment.

He couldn’t destroy it. Not yet. Not when he knew there were bound to be powerful people who would be reaching out to him soon. He needed the leverage, or he'd only be left in ruin.

Nicholas' gaze flared with determination. He ignited the car to leave immediately. But just as he placed his hands on the wheel and looked to reverse, his gaze fell on the weather-worn bungalow to the side again, where the wallet thief had gone into with the kids.

That look in her eyes and the way the kids defended her earlier. It flashed in his head again, the guilt eating at him.

It was as though the door of the house stood to remind him of what he'd done.

Nicholas thought about the kids' words again. He could tell that they were clear signs of someone carrying a world far too heavy for one person.

He wondered if perhaps the thief wasn't just a thief. He wondered if things weren't as white and black as they seemed.

After finding out his family's secrets, his righteous nature had wavered and taken a completely different view in judging people.

The rotten ones could be the best of people sometimes.

' Besides, why is she looking for a job? Could she perhaps be seeking for a change?' He pondered.

Nicholas looked towards the door again, the thought of the little girl having to rummage through bins to find dolls she could gift herself for her birthday, and the way they'd defended her struck him.

His hand reached for his phone, dialing a number.

“ Christie, contact HR,” he said to his PA once the line picked up. “Get me the full file on the girl named Natalie Daugherty.” He ended the call and looked at the house once more.

Then he drove off.