Xo Novel
Chapter 2755
"Who are you accusing of spreading rumors? It's not a rumor when the evidence is there. And you can't stop me from talking about it! A lot of other people are talking about it too!
"Besides, you brought this upon yourself. It's not my place to say all this if your mother is alive, but she died young, and it's now my mother's responsibility to find a suitable match for you. You probably won't understand if you haven't experienced a mother's care before. I pity you, really," Sadie retorted proudly. She knew that she was superior to Rita in that aspect.
Rita's demeanor suddenly shifted in the next moment, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She typically remained emotionally composed, but her falling tears accentuated her delicate features and made her look even more fragile.
Sadie frowned and wondered what Rita was planning when a voice echoed from upstairs.
"Is that how you're supposed to speak to your sister?" Vince's stern voice pierced through the tension.
Sadie trembled and turned around to see Vince standing there. That was when she realized what Rita was playing at.
"Dad, you're home early," Sadie greeted with a forced smile.
Karen stood beside Vince with a similarly sour expression and tried to hold Vince's arm as they went down, only to be met with Vince's rebuff.
"If I hadn't returned early, I wouldn't have known that this is how the two of you treat my daughter all the time!" Vince's tone was heavy with disappointment.
Rita lowered her head and wiped away her tears. "Dad... Don't blame Sadie. She's still young," she interjected softly.
"Yes, Vince," Karen hurriedly
intervened, "Sadie's still immature, so she sometimes speaks without thinking. We're all family here, and promise she doesn't mean any harm. Sadie, apologize to your sister and promise not to speak like this again."
Rita's conciliatory attitude was all the more heart-wrenching for Vince. "If I hadn't returned early today, I wouldn't have known that you've been calling my daughter a motherless child behind my back! Is this how you've raised your daughter, Karen? I married. you and brought your daughter along even though people judge me for that, and I did it so my daughter could have a maternal figure in her life. I'm starting to think that was a mistake."
Though Vince's remarks were somewhat tactful, each question struck at Karen's conscience. She took a few steps forward and grabbed Sadie's arm forcefully. "Don't just stand there! Apologize to your sister right now!
"Please believe me, Vince. Sadie can be impulsive, but she means no harm. She's been in this household for so long! I'm sure you understand her character."NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
"I can't say I fully understand my own daughter, let alone someone else's," Vince replied, and his remark left Karen thoroughly crestfallen.
"What do you mean by that, Vince?" Karen shifted to a pleading tone. "I've put in so much effort in this household, treating your daughter as my own and fulfilling my duties as a mother. None of that was good enough for you, was it?
"Rita probably won't be able to warm
up to me at her age, but am I to
blame when I'm the stepmother? You said you accepted us as your family despite other people's judgment, but do you know that I face the same pressure too? Do you know how many times people refer to me as Rita's stepmother when I'm in public?"