Holley’s eyes brimmed with desperation as she knelt on the floor, her hands clasped tightly. “Baker, please! I’m begging you!”
Jessica’s jaw tightened, frustration flashing in her eyes. “Mom, get up!” she said, her voice sharp with both concern and irritation.
Holley turned to Jessica, her tear-streaked face pleading. “Jessica, please, just apologize to your father. Tell him you were wrong. Please, for me.”
Jessica’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a hard line. Her composure threatened to crack, but she held firm.
Ethan, who had remained a silent observer until now, frowned deeply. His gaze shifted to Holley, and a flicker of disdain crossed his features. Her quickness to demand an apology from Jessica—without questioning the truth—only deepened his disapproval.
Taking a steadying breath, Jessica stepped forward and reached down to help Holley up. “Mom, stand up,” she said, her voice calmer but no less firm.
Holley shook her head stubbornly, clutching the edge of her dress. “No, I won’t stand! Jessica, you need to—”
“Stand up now!” Jessica’s voice rang out sharply, cutting off Holley mid-sentence. She grabbed her mother’s arm and pulled her to her feet with unexpected strength.
Holley trembled slightly as she rose, her protests silenced.
Jessica turned her gaze to Baker, her expression smoothing into a mask of calm. Her voice was steady and deliberate. “Let me make this clear one last time: Kylee dropped the bowl herself. She was trying to frame me.”
Before Baker could respond, Kylee reentered the room, her hand now bandaged.
Baker’s attention immediately shifted, his tone anxious. “Kylee, how are you feeling now?”
Kylee offered a weak smile. “I’m much better now, Dad,” she said softly.
Her eyes flicked toward Jessica, her expression a carefully crafted mixture of hurt and concern. “Dad, don’t blame Jessica for this. I’m sure it was just an accident. I’m fine now, so let’s just forget it happened, alright?”
Baker’s frustration deepened. “You’re too forgiving, Kylee! Jessica deliberately spilled the soup on you, and you’re just going to let it go? If you let her off this time, she’ll only keep behaving like this!”
Kylee shook her head gently, her voice soft but firm. “We’re sisters, Dad. It’s my duty, as the elder one, to forgive her.”
Baker hesitated, clearly torn between anger and Kylee’s seemingly gracious attitude. Finally, he sighed heavily and turned to Jessica, his gaze stern.
“Well, Jessica? Aren’t you going to apologize to Kylee? Since she’s spoken up for you, we’ll drop the matter this time. But let me be clear: if anything like this happens again, I won’t be so lenient.”
Jessica scoffed lightly, the sound barely audible but sharp enough to cut through the tense air.
“Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?” she asked, her tone cold.
She turned her attention to Kylee, her eyes narrowing. “Kylee, you know better than anyone that I didn’t spill that soup on purpose. Is it fun to stoop to such low tactics?”
Kylee’s lips quivered, and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Her voice wavered as she replied, “Jessica, I’ve already apologized for the incident at the hospital. I don’t know what more you want from me. Even if you can’t forgive me, there’s no reason to retaliate against me like this.” She sniffed softly. “It really hurt me.”
Holley stepped forward, her tone trembling. “I’m sorry, Kylee. Jessica didn’t mean to do that. I’ll apologize on her behalf. Please don’t hold it against her.”
Jessica’s head snapped toward her mother, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Mom!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with hurt. “You don’t believe me either?”
Holley’s expression was pained. “Jessica, please,” she said softly. “Stop being so stubborn. Just listen to me and apologize to Kylee.”
The room fell into a strained silence.
Jessica’s gaze lingered on her mother, her eyes hollow and distant. After what felt like an eternity, she let out a bitter, hollow laugh, a sound filled with despair.
Ethan, watching her closely, felt a knot tighten in his chest. There was something in that laugh—something raw and broken—that unsettled him deeply.
His brow furrowed, and a flicker of anger stirred within him. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Jessica turned abruptly.
She walked to the dining table with deliberate steps, picked up a bowl, and began ladling soup into it. Her movements were calm, almost methodical, as if she were going through the motions of something routine.
The sound of the ladle clinking against the bowl echoed in the tense silence.
Everyone watched her, their expressions a mix of confusion and unease.
Then, without warning, Jessica turned, bowl in hand, and splashed the hot soup directly onto Kylee’s bandaged hand.
________________________________________
The Room Explodes
“Ah!” Kylee screamed in agony, her bandaged hand trembling as the fresh burn reignited her pain.
The room erupted in chaos. Baker shot to his feet, his face contorted in rage. Holley gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Even Ethan, usually composed, looked startled by Jessica’s sudden action.
Jessica’s expression, however, remained eerily calm. She stared at Kylee without a hint of remorse.
“Now,” she said coldly, her voice like ice, “you have a real reason to accuse me of burning you.”