Seeing that Tanya Sinclair seemed to mean business, Aunt Tawny instinctively wanted to intervene.
"Aunt Tawny, you may take a rest now." Tanya interrupted, her tone gentle, her calm gaze fixed on Joy sitting across from her. The rightful source is Nove1Fire.net
There were no excessive expressions on Tanya’s face, nor any yelling, but this calmness was undoubtedly even more oppressive.
Aunt Tawny couldn’t say much more and went to tidy up the garden.
Tanya remained composed and began eating her breakfast, demonstrating to Joy through her actions that she had plenty of time and patience to wait her out.
Of course, Tanya’s current workload was quite urgent, but she wouldn’t let Joy see that.
She knew that Joy was quite sensitive and observant, so if she showed any signs of weakness, the little girl would feel like she could control her.
Joy sat haughtily on her chair, swinging her little feet without moving, and even pushed away the napkin that Tanya had placed in front of her for wiping up the milk.
In her view, Tanya was just putting on an act to scare her.
If she had to stay home from school because of this small matter, dad would surely be angry and scold her!
Caden had already finished breakfast. He put down his empty milk glass and looked at the time; the driver would arrive in three minutes.
"Joy, let your brother help you clean up, it’ll be quick." He thought of a compromise.
"No, no!" Joy shook her head like a rattle drum and huffed, "Only lower-class people squat on the floor to clean..."
’Bang——’ Tanya’s chopsticks slammed onto the table.
Her face showed displeasure, and she sternly demanded, "Who taught you that?"
If refusing to clean up the spilled milk was merely spoiled behavior, then this statement indicated a completely skewed worldview!
She’s just five years old, yet she already knows how to stratify people. If this continues, when she grows up, she might not even regard ordinary people as human!
Joy was also startled by Tanya’s sudden anger. She shrank back a little, swallowing nervously and instinctively replied, "Grandma and Auntie both say that..."
"..." Tanya felt a chill in her heart, both angry and fearful.
This was indeed something Mother Hawthorne Wendy Chester and Yvonne Hawthorne could say.
Even if they hadn’t intentionally taught Joy these things, children are great imitators, and if exposed to this long enough, Joy would eventually become arrogant and self-centered!
Tanya suppressed the shiver in her heart and resolved, no matter the cost, she must obtain custody of both children!
At this moment, the car to pick up Caden and Joy had already stopped outside.
Tanya stood up and went to the kitchen, coming back with a delicate silver lunchbox, which she placed into Caden’s backpack.
It contained the fruit snacks and nutritional supplements Caden needed for his morning break, all planned by a nutritionist.
Joy, of course, had one too, a pink lunchbox, but Tanya didn’t take hers.
"Caden, let’s go," Tanya said warmly, "Don’t keep the driver waiting too long."
Caden glanced at his sister, then hopped down from his chair and walked over to Tanya, putting on his small backpack.
Although he adored his sister, he also understood that Joy had been too spoiled by the family.
"I’ll take Joy’s lunchbox too," Caden offered, "We eat together at school anyway."
They weren’t in the same building, but they weren’t far apart either, and Joy would always hop over to the gifted class during breaks to find him.
Tanya had no objection, "Okay."
Caden packed Joy’s lunchbox into his backpack and carried everything out the door.
Watching her brother really leave, Joy became genuinely anxious once the door closed.
She saw through the window that the driver didn’t wait for her but drove off, and in a panic, Joy jumped down from her chair.
"You bad woman, I’m going to tell dad you didn’t let me go to school! He’ll be very angry and scold you, and even divorce you!"
Tanya was indifferent.
It wasn’t that Vincent Hawthorne wanted to divorce her; it was that she didn’t plan to stay with him.
Joy used her smartwatch to call Vincent to complain, but Vincent was probably in a meeting with his phone set to silent and didn’t answer.
Watching Joy’s big, bright doe eyes well up with tears, looking extremely aggrieved and pitiful, Tanya ultimately couldn’t bear it.
She approached Joy, crouched down to meet her eyes.
"Joy, I’ll give you one last chance," Tanya gave her a choice, "Either mommy will help you clean up the spilled milk, or we can continue waiting, and when the teacher calls to ask why you didn’t attend class, I’ll tell her the truth."
"..." Joy, with reddened eyes, stood stubbornly against Tanya for a while. After all, she was just a five-year-old child and eventually gave in.
She rubbed her eyes harshly, turned her head, and picked up a napkin to wipe the milk she had spilled on the floor.
Tanya wanted to help her, but Joy pushed her away forcefully.
"Go away, I don’t need your help!" she huffed angrily.
Her strength wasn’t strong, but that push hurt Tanya more than a hard slap.
Tanya closed her eyes briefly and told herself that she had not done wrong.
Even if she indulged Joy unconditionally, with Cindy Lynn around, Joy wouldn’t accept her as a biological mother but instead would become even more spoiled, thinking the whole world revolved around her.
Rather than that, she should be stricter; at least this way, Joy would understand that some things are wrong, and that doing wrong would result in consequences.
Joy disdainfully tossed the large soggy napkin into the trash can and ran into the kitchen to wash her hands.
When she returned, Tanya already had her backpack in hand, waiting at the doorway.
Joy pouted, reluctantly walking over.
The driver uncle had already taken her brother, and her dad wasn’t home, so to avoid being late today, Tanya had to take her to school herself.
The car ride was quiet; Joy sat in the backseat while Tanya drove in the front.
Midway, Joy received a call back from Vincent.
"What’s wrong, Joy? Daddy was busy just now."
Hearing her father’s voice, Joy felt aggrieved, but she glanced at Tanya, who was driving, and mumbled, "...Dad, I miss you. Will you pick me up tonight?"
Vincent chuckled indulgently.
"Daddy will check the schedule."
After a few seconds, Vincent confirmed, "Joy, how about dad and mom pick you up together tonight?"
The car was so quiet that Tanya clearly heard Vincent’s voice, and she was slightly dazed. Then she heard Joy ask eagerly, "Dad, will you come with mom Cindy?"
"..." Vincent paused, then replied in a low voice, "Not Aunt Cindy, I mean your real mom, Tanya Sinclair."
Tanya Sinclair, who was driving: "..."