Jasmine is concerned

****

Payne's brows furrowed deeply as her gaze fixated on the faint but unmistakable finger marks on her mother's arm. Concern etched across her features, she approached her mother with cautious steps.

"Mom," she began, her voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and determination, "I can't ignore this. What happened? Did someone hurt you?"

Her mother's eyes met hers, flickering with a fleeting moment of hesitation before she offered a faint smile, attempting to downplay the situation. "Oh, sweetie, it's nothing to fret over. Just a minor accident at work, that's all."

"An accident?" Payne repeated, her tone incredulous as she reached out to gently trace the marks on her mother's arm. "These look more than just accidental. Please, Mom, tell me the truth."

"That must have been Ceece, shuttling me around for the audition! So it's fine, Payne," Jasmine said as she made her way to the kitchen, where Nadia was diligently preparing dinner.

Nadia was in the midst of cooking noodles for Pay