Chapter 3

"What the hell are you doing, Queenie?" Madeline snatched the painting from Queenie. The oil painting had originally been an exquisite masterpiece, but black scrawls now ruined it.

Madeline's blood boiled, and her hands trembled with rage. This was the only thing her mother had left for her! She'd taken solace in it for countless days and nights, yet it had now been destroyed!

She glared at Queenie. Before she could say anything, the latter burst into tears. "You're so fierce, Ms. Snow! Hurry up and save me, Mommy! Ms. Snow wants to hit me! I'm scared!"

Rachel immediately ran over and pulled Queenie into her arms. "What's wrong, my darling?"

She soothed Queenie before turning to Madeline, seemingly having just noticed her standing there.

Then, she said almost sarcastically, "Queenie is just a child, Dr. Snow. I'll take responsibility and compensate you if she's done something wrong or broken something. You shouldn't harbor a grudge against a child."

She'd been born and raised in Marvonia, so she dressed and acted like the locals. Her blond hair fell past her shoulders in curls, and she dressed sexily. The provocation in her eyes was clear—she had no intention of apologizing.

Madeline's temples throbbed. She held up the painting and snarled, "Who allowed you to come into my room and destroy my things? You said you'll compensate me for this? How are you going to do that?"

Queenie hid behind Rachel and yapped away like a dog that knew its owner would stand up for it. "It's just a dumb painting, isn't it? I'll ask Isaac to pay you back for it, you petty woman! You're nasty!"

Madeline saw red and reached out to teach her a lesson. When Rachel saw this, she got an idea and ruthlessly shoved Queenie away, making her knock her head on the bedside table.

"Ouch! Mommy, it hurts! I'm bleeding!" Queenie screamed. She sat on the floor and wailed at the top of her lungs. Blood trickled from the wound on her forehead, and the situation looked dire.

Rachel immediately helped her up and pulled her into her arms. Her gaze was filled with heartache as she cried, "How could you have done something like that to a child, Dr. Snow? No matter how mad you are at her, you shouldn't have taken things so far! I'll apologize to you if that's what you want!"

Madeline had seen everything Rachel had done, so she frowned at her words. She didn't understand what the latter was up to. She got her answer in the next second, though.

"Queenie!" Isaac ran into the room and crouched before Queenie to check on her. Then, he turned to glare at Madeline. "Queenie is just a child, Madeline. How could you bear to hurt her?"

Madeline's heart froze over when she heard him conclude that she was at fault without even understanding the situation.

She stood there while clutching the painting, feeling like her energy had been zapped out of her. Her mouth felt dry, and her explanation was lodged in her throat.

Rachel tearfully spoke up on her behalf. "Dr. Snow isn't to blame for this, Isaac. Queenie and I got the wrong room—we thought Dr. Snow's bedroom was the guest room.

"We've always lived in the basement in Marvonia, so we couldn't help picking this room when we saw how well-lit it is. Also, Dr. Snow is only angry because Queenie touched her painting without her permission."

She sounded so pitiful that Isaac's heart immediately went out to her. He turned to Madeline again, even angrier than before. "It's just a dumb painting! Did you have to get physical over it? You've truly got a hell of a temper, Madeline! Apologize to Rachel and Queenie right now!"

A dumb painting? It was the only thing her mother had left for her!

Rachel wasn't aware of that, but could Isaac claim the same?

Madeline looked him in the eye and clutched the painting tightly. "I won't apologize. I didn't touch a hair on Queenie's head."

This pissed Isaac off even more. He snarled, "Even now, you refuse to admit your mistakes!"

Rachel tugged on his sleeve and put on an understanding act. "Forget it, Isaac. It's okay if Dr. Snow doesn't apologize. Queenie and I are the ones who have disrupted her life. It's only natural for her to be angry."

The more she said, the more Isaac found Madeline's expressionless face to be annoying.

He growled, "She doesn't deserve to get angry over every small thing! This is my apartment, and it's not up to an outsider to call the shots here! You and Queenie will stay in the master bedroom from now on, Rachel. She can take the guest bedroom!"