Punishment for being safe

"Love, your mom wants to talk with you," Jeremy spoke gently, knocking on the door.

No answer from inside the room.

"Catherine, love, your mother is waiting to talk with you," he called again.

They waited nervously. Would Ryn open the door? She would not ignore her own mother, would she?

It felt like hours before finally the door moved. Unconsciously, everyone, even the butler and the maids were holding their breath as they watched without blink at the sight of the door slowly opening. They watched as Ryn, with her face wet with tears and her eyes reddened and swollen from hours of crying, revealed herself.

"Mom?" her hoarse voice crooked. She cried so much she almost lose her voice. Her eyes searched for the face of the long straight-haired elderly woman wearing hippy clothes. 

But there was no sign of her mother.

Did Jeremy lie to her? Her heart hurt so much for the betrayal.