The Smiths’ Mansion
Ada was already in cold sweat.
Helen hugged Bob and sat on the opposite side. There was another woman beside her, her cousin, Vivian Hunks.
Vivian was beautiful and well-groomed. She wore her hair in a bun and was in an expensive brocade dress, with a hollowed-out embroidery cloak over her shoulders. She crossed her long and slender legs, looking graceful yet arrogant.
“I think Mrs. Smith should know why I’m here today.” She picked up the teacup with her tender and delicate fingers and took a sip.
Ada said humbly, “Claire came from the country and was ill-bred. She has always been rebellious and unruly. I have already scolded her badly, and she knows that she is wrong.”
Vivian covered her mouth and sneered. “Mrs. Smith, it’s not enough to educate children by scolding.”
Ada choked. “Then… what do you mean…”
Vivian pushed the hair behind her ear and said leisurely, “Kids should be punished once they do something wrong. I’ve heard that your daughter is unruly. Make her apologize first. If she doesn’t, lock her up without giving her anything to eat. And if she still refuses to apologize, you can only give her a good beating. Either belt or shoe sole will do, and there is also a kind of cane, which is thin and long with small thorns. This kind of cane will easily tear people’s skin and flesh. I bet she can’t stand it after only a few strokes.”
Listening to her, Ada turned pale.
Vivian glanced at her. “Mrs. Smith, you don’t want to do that? In fact, I don’t want to become enemies with the Smiths, but my nephew can’t be wronged in vain. If you don’t do as I request, I’m afraid I’ll have to do something about it.”
Helen echoed. “Yes, my cousin is good-tempered, so she is still sitting here and talking peacefully with you. If it were someone else, you may have been doomed!”
They were clearly threatening and intimidating Ada.
Ada didn’t mind doing those things to Claire, but from what happened this morning, she didn’t think she could treat her like that.
Just when she was hesitating, Claire walked in from outside.
Ada’s eyes lit up. She immediately got up, stepped forward, and grabbed Claire for fear that she would leave again.
“Claire, come on, apologize to Aunt Helen!”
Then she lowered her voice and whispered to Claire. “Do you see the one next to her? It’s her cousin. Her husband is the current Deputy Minister of Military and Political Affairs. He can crush our family more easily than killing an ant.”
Claire shook Ada’s hand away, took off her school bag, and threw it on the sofa casually.
“Are you Claire?” Vivian looked at Claire from head to toe, showing a contemptuous look.
Although beautiful, she was just a little girl. She didn’t know why her cousin was so afraid of this girl.
Claire put her hands into her pockets, speaking concisely. “What do you want? Don’t beat around the bush.”
The girl’s calm posture surprised Vivian for a moment. “It’s nothing serious, but you hit someone. Shouldn’t you apologize?”
“Not again.” Claire picked her ear with her little finger, looking impatient. “Noisy.”
Vivian frowned, and her voice turned harsh. “Don’t you, a teenage girl, feel ashamed to bully an eight-year-old child?”
“Yeah…” Claire smiled at her. “Don’t you, an old woman, feel ashamed to bully a little girl like me?”
What?
Old woman?!
Vivian’s face was distorted, and she could no longer maintain her elegance.
Ada was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. “Claire, shut up!”