A Slap
While negotiating with the general the other day, I actually did name another term. And that’s for him to
send me back after he recovers and his wife conceives. Alas, he gave me an outright refusal right there
and then.
He told me he could let me stay and I’d want for nothing, but he couldn’t let me leave. Then, he walked
away after uttering those words. Maybe I can try to talk to Lena’s mother instead. However, I’ll need to
think carefully about how to cross paths with her.
Arielle ruffled Lena’s curly hair and said with a smile, “After I cure your father and your mother gives
you a baby brother, she won’t cry anymore.”
“Okay!” Lena nodded happily, then looked at Arielle and added, “I’ll take you to go and meet Mommy.
She’s very gentle and kind, and you’ll definitely like her after meeting her.”
Since Arielle had decided to approach Lena’s mother, the proposal fit right into what the former had in
mind.
“Sure. I’ll go with you to meet your mommy, then.”
Seeing that Arielle agreed, Lena led her back home cheerfully.
“I don’t drink coffee. Who told you to pour me some?” After they heard those words, a loud crash rang
out.
The expression on Lena’s face shifted. Then, she let go of Arielle’s hand and hurried into the living
room. Although Arielle knew it was not really the right time for her to go in, she still decided to do so
after pondering for a while.
She reasoned that under such extreme circumstances, she could not pass up on any opportunity to
glean information.
At that moment, Lena was bristling with anger as she stood protectively before a woman with reddened
eyes. The woman was Abigail, Lena’s mother. Lena’s eyes were wide as she glared at Anna, who was
standing opposite her.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to drink the coffee, but why did you have to throw the cup? Why do you have
to yell at Mommy?” she demanded, shooting daggers at Anna.
I hate her the most! Every time she comes over, she yells at Mommy and makes Mommy cry.
“This is my house, so I can do whatever I want. What does it have to do with you?” Anna retorted,
gazing at Lena gloomily. Still fixing her eyes on the latter, she continued, “Remember this well. From
now on, I’m not your sister, and you’re not allowed to refer to me as such.”
Just the mere sight of these two makes my stomach turn. If not for them, my mother wouldn’t have
died. I’ll never be able to forget how she died with so much hatred.
“Fine. I won’t! Do you think I want to refer to you as my sister? I’m just as unwilling,” Lena shouted
furiously.
Those words instantly made Anna feel uncomfortable. It’s one thing for me to forbid her from referring
to me as her sister, but it’s another if she says she’s unwilling to do so!
Just as Anna was about to reprimand Lena, Abigail stepped forward from behind Lena.
She turned to the younger girl angrily and chided, “How can you talk to Anna like that? Apologize to her
at once.”
“No way. Why should I apologize to her? She’s clearly the one at fault. Mommy, she did something
wrong first. Why am I always the one who has to apologize?” Lena asked, looking at Abigail sadly.
“Because she’s your elder sister!”
“So what if she is? What’s so great about that? Does being an elder sister mean she can do whatever
she wants? I don’t want to apologize. She’s no elder sister. I certainly don’t want her as my sister,”
Lena said stubbornly, gazing at Abigail with red-rimmed eyes.
The moment she said that, a slap landed on her cheek.
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