Chapter 3
The sheets beside her didn’t even have one single crease. She knew–once again, Damian hadn’t returned all night.
But she no longer cared.
In the next second, the room door was pushed open.
“This is Daddy’s room.”
Darlene stepped in with Lindsay, neither of them realizing how rude they were.
“Who said you could come in?”
Even speaking caused knifing pain in her throat, and her voice was utterly hoarse.
Lindsay said, “Mrs. Barrette, Mr. Barrette wants me to fetch his clothes for today.”
Though she addressed Claudine politely, the provocation in her tone was undisguised.
Claudine, of course, sensed her hostility.
“They’re in the walk–in closet,” Claudine said, her voice flat.
Lindsay was secretly surprised. The old Claudine would have demanded to know Damian’s whereabouts last night and why he’d asked her to fetch his clothes. And Claudine would never have let her anywhere near his walk–in closet.
What had gotten into Claudine today?
Lindsay shrugged. She was quite pleased with Claudine’s change, actually.
Getting to handle Damian’s clothes–his underwear even–was such an intimate thing, which made her heart flutter.
She stepped into the walk–in closet. Soon, rustling sounds rang out.
Claudine still seemed indifferent, as if she hadn’t heard anything at all.
She got up and headed toward the table, wanting to fetch some water. Throughout the whole time, she didn’t even shoot Darlene a glance.
She had never neglected Darlene before this.
Darlene walked over to her and tugged at her arm.
She was about to take the pills. Her hand tilted, and the hot water splashed onto her arm.
Her fair skin reddened at once.
0.0 %
03:50
Chapter 3
Some of the water spilled on the back of Darlene’s hand, which also turned slightly red.
Darlene burst into tears instantly.
Hearing her cries, Lindsay quickly stepped out.
“What happened?” she exclaimed.
Claudine had already fetched the ointment and was about to apply it to Darlene’s hand.
“Darla, it’s nothing serious. Everything’s gonna be fine. The ointment will do the trick,” Claudine said.
Lindsay, however, grabbed Darlene and held her close protectively while glaring at Claudine.
“Darla’s crying so miserably. How could you say it’s fine?
“I get it now. You scalded her deliberately just to get Mr. Barrette home, right?
“I can’t believe how vicious you are!” Lindsay spat.
288 iVouchers
Claudine’s hand holding the ointment hovered in mid–air. Blisters had formed on her scalded forearm, causing throb- bing pain.
She glanced at Darlene, assuming the girl would at least explain. But to her surprise, Darlene only briefly met her gaze before retreating into Lindsay’s arms.
It’d be lying to say she wasn’t disappointed.
After all, she had raised Darlene for five years.
She averted her gaze and put the ointment back onto the table.
“I’m vicious? Fine. Then take her away.”
After saying this, she turned around.
The physical pain was nothing compared to her heartache.
Lindsay shouted at her retreating figure, “I’m so going to tell Mr. Barrette what happened today!
“He’ll know what kind of person you really are!”
“Whatever,” she responded nonchalantly.
She didn’t even stop or look back.
Seeing this, Darlene, who had been burying herself in Lindsay’s embrace, pouted unhappily.
She was still mad at Claudine for refusing to make cookies with her last night. That was why she didn’t explain.
She glanced at the back of her hand–the redness had faded, and it no longer hurt that much. But she clearly remem- bered seeing blisters on Claudine’s forearm.
41.6 %
03:50
Chapter 3
It must have hurt so much…
Lindsay lowered her head, asking Darlene, “Darla, how about I take you to the office to see Mr. Barrette?”
Kids‘ moods changed quickly.
At the mention of Damian, Darlene beamed at once, totally forgetting about Claudine.
By the time Claudine stepped out of the walk–in closet, Darlene and Lindsay had already left.
The throbbing pain in her forearm was like a reminder, telling her there was nothing left to keep her here.
88.5 %
