Burn the flowers

★★★★

"Paul, what a pleasant surprise!" Kesha said as she stepped down the stairs, her bright smile masking any trace of fear. No one could guess that this same woman had been involved in a heinous incident with her husband.

Layla exhaled deeply before following her mother down the stairs with a cheerful smile. She wrapped her arms around Paul and hugged him, saying, "I was missing you, and here you are." Then she broke the hug.

"Why don't you all sit while I make something for you?" Kesha said, pressing her palms together with her chin held high in a sophisticated manner.

"No, I'm not in the mood for eating at this hour," Paul said, giving Kesha a serious look that made her pause in her tracks. She had to add, "Is there something wrong, son?"

"I cannot believe Jasmine. She's gone way too far, tarnishing her character without any concern for how it will affect her future," Paul said, his face a mask of frustration, as if Jasmine's actions had shaken him to his core.

"What has my sister