Chapter 15
“Yeah!” Rowena added sharply, her tone full of righteous anger. “Because of your pajamas, Phoebe almost died!”
‘Even if Mom is sick, that is her own fault for not taking care of herself. But Phoebe has done nothing wrong. She’s gotten hurt because of her!‘ Rowena thought.
Estela lowered her eyes, dabbing her hand with an alcohol swab as she spoke quietly, “Because of you two. You said you liked the way I smelled. So every piece of clothing I wore, I scented with mugwort.”
She paused, then slowly looked up–her gaze landing on Vance. “You noticed it too, didn’t you? The scent? Or have other perfumes left a deeper impression?”
‘The children might’ve been too young to remember. But him- he is my husband. Their father. And even he has forgotten something so small. yet so constant. How ironic. Bitterly so.’ she thought.
Vance’s face was dark with anger. After a long silence, he finally spoke in a low, controlled voice.
“Regardless of the details, Phoebe got sick because of you. As an apology, you’ll give her the painting your grandfather left you. The one from the old house. Once you apologize, this matter will be over,” he said.
“Vance, and who exactly gave you that right?” Estela’s voice was cold as ice, her fingers curled into a tight fist.
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Chapter 15
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Keven had been a master of classical arts, and that landscape painting–A Thousand Mountains–had taken him ten full years to complete. It was meant as her wedding gift.
She’d left it behind only because the frame was too large to move when she left the Leon family.
Phoebe had casually mentioned it before, saying she was planning to film a show and wanted to borrow the painting for the set.
Estela had refused, even if it meant swallowing her pride. That painting was sacred to her. ‘And now Vance has the audacity to offer it up–just to smooth things over?‘ she wondered.
Phoebe’s heart soared, but her face remained calm and considerate. “If Estela really values the painting, then think of it as a loan. I’ll return it once filming is done.”
But Vance brushed it off. “It’s just a painting. I’ll have
someone deliver it to the production crew tomorrow. Grandpa won’t mind–I’ll explain it to him.”
Estela’s voice shook with anger. “Vance, that painting belongs to me. Who are you to hand it over like some goodwill token?”
He gave her a long, heavy stare. His voice dropped. “Estela, don’t be unreasonable.”
“Mom,” Josh chimed in, voice serious. “Phoebe says when you make a mistake, you have to take responsibility. Even if it was your clothes, it’s still your fault.”
Estela laughed in disbelief. “So if I put out poison for rats, and a stray dog eats it and dies–that’s my fault too?”
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Chapter 15
Josh went silent.
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He and Rowena had been the ones begging Estela to scent her clothes with that mugwort. ‘Does that mean. we’re the rats?‘ he thought.
Before he could respond, Rowena snapped like a cornered animal. She shoved Estela with all her strength. “You’re horrible! Stay away from Phoebe! Don’t come near us ever again!”
Estela, already weak from illness, staggered backward from the force of the shove.
Just as she was about to fall, a small, warm hand caught her arm and steadied her.
Callie poked her little head out from behind Estela and gasped in shock. “Estela. are you the mistress?”
“My daddy says only mistresses get hated by the kids. Real kids always love their real mommy and protect her! If a daddy has a mistress, then he belongs in the trash with all the toxic waste!” she continued.
The words dropped like a bomb. Across from them, everyone
froze.
Estela let out a humorless chuckle. “I’m the wife.”
Callie’s eyes widened in disbelief. She pointed at the twins. “Then, they’re bastards?”
“Shut up! You’re the bastard!” Rowena exploded, red with rage. She lunged at Callie, ready to push her.
But this time, Estela was ready. She grabbed Rowena’s arm
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Chapter 15
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and stopped her mid–motion. “Rowena, who taught you to speak like that? Where are your manners?”
Rowena immediately burst into tears. “Mom, you’re taking her side! You’re not helping me at all! You don’t love me anymore!”
Callie blinked, tilting her head. “But just now, weren’t you helping that other lady instead of your mom? So. you don’t love her either.”
Rowena was caught completely off guard. She stammered, then snapped, “Mind your own business! She’s my mom!”
Josh chimed in as well, trying to reason through it. “Phoebe got sick because of Mom’s clothes. That part’s true. We’re standing by what’s right, not just by family.”
“Oh,” Callie said, dragging out the sound like she’d just made a discovery. She made a dramatic slicing motion across her neck. “So Estela threatened her and said, ‘Wear this or I’ll kill you!‘ Right?”
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