Maxwell nodded. "Got it."After Camila left, Cassidy continued thinking about making her mom slip. Maxwell noticed her distraction and asked, "What's on your mind?""What? No… nothing." Cassidy quickly replied. "I was just thinking, will you… hit me?"Maxwell sighed. "Do you realize you made a mistake?"Cassidy suddenly felt guilty. She glanced at Maxwell, wondering if she had gone too far at dinner and if that made her parents dislike her even more. She whispered, "I know I was wrong. Daddy, I'm sorry."Maxwell patted her head in relief. "Now, why don't you apologize to Cal, too? The things you said must have hurt him. It's okay for kids to be moody sometimes. But if it keeps happening, people start to lose heart. Then, in time, no one will care for you."Cassidy nodded. "Then… I'll apologize to Cal."Maxwell held her hand and walked her to Caleb's room. Caleb was still upset about Cassidy's behavior."Cal, don't be mad anymore," Cassidy tugged his hand and apologized.Caleb
But Cassidy refused to leave. Her reluctance revealed the truth.The teacher sighed, disappointed. "Mrs. Lance, I understand that not doing homework is mainly an academic issue and could simply mean a lack of interest in learning. We can work on that. But what's more concerning is that she's lying at such a young age."Jennifer felt like she wanted to crawl into a hole. Why was there such a big difference between her two children? Caleb had skipped grades and excelled in every subject, while Cassidy seemed to be under some sort of curse. Not only was she struggling academically but she was also lying about her homework.Jennifer sternly asked Cassidy, "Why didn't you do your homework?"Cassidy kept her head down. It wasn't that she didn't want to do it. She was just so preoccupied with debating whether or not to make her mom slip that she couldn't focus at all.Out of respect for Maxwell, the teacher refrained from criticism and said instead, "Mrs. Lance, I think lying is a much m
As Cassidy thought about the fact that after her punishment, she would likely have to stay up all night catching up on homework, she felt her life was growing bleak. Standing at her room door, she felt humiliated each time a maid passed by and saw her.By noon, she rubbed her aching legs, hoping time would speed up. Just then, Camila came with a bag of snacks."My sweet granddaughter, I pity you!" Camila pulled out the snacks. "Hurry, eat up. Your mom may not care about you, but I do!"Cassidy was moved to tears. "Thank you, Grandma. But… but Mommy didn't say I could eat. She'll be angrier if Martha tells her."Camila chuckled. "No need to worry. Your mom just went out. Don't worry, I'm here. I'd like to see who dares to trouble you!"With that, Camila led Cassidy to her room, giving her snacks and drinks. Camila feigned pity. "You poor thing. In a few months, life will only get harder for you when the baby arrives."Cassidy's heart sank. Suddenly, her favorite cookies and chocol
Maxwell was likely in the study, and Jennifer should be in the bedroom. Cassidy nervously wondered if she should really do as Camila suggested and make her mother fall. Would her parents treat her as their precious princess again, instead of being so strict with her if the baby were gone?With that thought, Cassidy began to walk toward the master bedroom. She peeked inside. No one seemed to be there. She slipped into the bathroom and stared at the bottle of body wash. Her hand trembled as she reached for it, planning to pour it onto the floor.But as soon as she touched the bottle, her heart tightened and she dropped the bottle as if it were burning in her hands.No, she couldn't do it! She didn't want her mother to fall. It would hurt her.Just then, Jennifer's voice came from behind her. "Cass, why are you here? Did you finish your homework?"Cassidy quickly turned around, staring at Jennifer in shock. Her heart was pounding against her chest.Jennifer gazed at her daughter in conf
Caleb was shocked by this and looked at Cassidy in disbelief. "Say that again. Who told you to do something like that?"Cassidy said dejectedly. "It was Grandma. She said it was our little secret, and I couldn't tell anyone else.""That's going too far!" Caleb stood up, seething. "That's evil! Do you understand? If Mommy really fell, it wouldn't just hurt a bit. You would practically be killing your own sibling!"Cassidy trembled with fear and sobbed, "It's not like that. Grandma said it would just be a little fall and wouldn't hurt much. I… I'm so glad I didn't do it."Unable to hold back his anger, Caleb stormed out and headed straight to Camila's room.Camila was in the bathroom, running water to prepare for a warm soak. She was savoring the thought that the foolish Cassidy would soon make her move. If Jennifer and Hugo wanted her and Maxwell to tear each other apart, then she would make sure Jennifer and her daughter were at odds with each other instead.She wondered if Jenni
Maxwell hurried over to help Camila up. He yelled, "What happened here?"Caleb was also shaken. He hadn't intended to hurt Camila. Cassidy cried, "It's my fault!"But the maid, who had witnessed the whole thing, nervously spoke up, "I… I saw Mr. Caleb push Madam Camila."Maxwell glared at Caleb and shouted at the maid, "Call an ambulance, now!"…At the hospital, Camila had five stitches on her forehead.Maxwell and Jennifer sat silently, lost in thought. Jennifer knew Camila was still Maxwell's mother despite everything, and blood ran thicker than water. However, she didn't understand why Caleb and Cassidy would do such a thing.Maxwell asked Camila directly after her stitches were done. "Mom, why did Cal push you?"Camila put on a sad look. "How would I know? He came in and started asking what I had taught Cassidy. I'm baffled myself. I don't understand why those two hate me!"Maxwell had a dark look as he helped Camila up. "Let's go home and get to the bottom of this."
With that, Camila stood up and headed for the door. But after a few steps, she appeared to faint, collapsing to the ground and clutching her injured forehead.Maxwell quickly stepped over to help her. "I'll get to the bottom of this. I'll make sure justice is served if it's not your fault. Please stop making a scene. Let me help you back to your room."Jennifer immediately understood. In the end, Maxwell had chosen to believe Camila's story. Love couldn't win over blood ties.When Maxwell returned from Camila's room, he said to Jennifer grimly, "Cal and Cass need to be punished. I must have spoiled them and given them the impression that they could get away with anything. They even hurt their grandmother."Jennifer looked at him in disbelief. "What do you mean by that? So, you believe your mother? Do you think I put our children up to this to drive her away?"Maxwell neither confirmed nor denied it. He continued, "I'll take Cass to see a psychologist tomorrow. I've read that famil
Cassidy mumbled, "I didn't want Cal to tell you because I was afraid you would like me even less. But Cal said we're a family, and that wouldn't change even if we have a new sibling. Mommy, I'm sorry…""Silly girl. Why didn't you come to me with all your worries." Jennifer pulled Cassidy into a hug and gently stroked her hair. "But I forgive you. Just promise you'll come to me whenever you're feeling sad. Don't make me worry, okay?"Caleb huffed. "It's that witch's fault! If she hadn't scared Cass by telling her we would abandon her, Cass wouldn't have been tricked."Jennifer reassured Caleb. "I will handle this. But be on your best behavior for the next couple of days, okay? Daddy's in a bad mood, so try not to upset him, alright?"Both children nodded, though uneasiness lingered over them.That night, Jennifer slept with Cassidy, while Maxwell lay awake in the master bedroom. Despite all the harm Camila had caused, she was still his mother, and he didn't want to see her hurt. O