Chapter 80:
Holley trembled slightly as she stood up, her protests cut short. Belinda’s expression smoothed into a mask of calm as she faced Baker squarely, her voice clear and deliberate. “Let me be clear one last time—it was Kylee who deliberately dropped the bowl. She was trying to frame me.”
As Baker opened his mouth to respond, Kylee entered the dining room. Baker immediately turned to look at her, his tone anxious. “Kylee, how are you feeling now?”
“I’m much better now, Dad,” Kylee replied. She then glanced at Belinda and added, “Dad, don’t blame Belinda for this.”
“I’m sure it was just an accident. I’m okay now, so let’s just forget this happened, alright?” Kylee said, trying to ease the tension.
Baker stared at Kylee, his frustration evident. “You’re too forgiving! Belinda deliberately spilled soup on you, and you’re just going to let the matter go? Your leniency will only encourage her to continue her behavior!”
Kylee gently shook her head, her voice soft. “We’re sisters, Dad. It’s right for me, the elder one, to be forgiving towards her.”
Baker was momentarily speechless. Although furious, he restrained himself from doing anything to Belinda since Lucas was present. Accepting Kylee’s approach for the moment, he decided to address the issue with Belinda some other day.
With a heavy sigh, he turned to Belinda, his gaze stern. “Well, Belinda? Aren’t you going to apologize to Kylee now? Since she has defended you, we’ll drop the matter for now. But let me be clear, if anything similar happens again, I won’t be so lenient!”
Belinda scoffed at Baker’s words. “Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do?” She then faced Kylee, her expression icy. “Kylee, you know better than anyone that I did not do that on purpose. Is it fun to stoop to such low tactics?”
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Kylee’s expression showed a hint of hurt, her voice wavering. “Belinda, I’m sorry about the incident at the hospital, and I’ve apologized to you already. What more do you want from me? Even if you can’t forgive me, there is no need for you to retaliate and then blame me. It really hurt me.”
At that moment, Holley stepped in, saying, “I’m sorry, Kylee. Belinda didn’t mean to do that. I apologize on her behalf. Please don’t hold it against her.”
“Mom!” Belinda turned sharply toward Holley, disbelief and hurt evident in her gaze. “You don’t believe me either?”
Holley, looking distressed, said to Belinda, “Belinda, please, stop being so stubborn. Just listen to me, okay? Apologize to Kylee.”
Belinda’s silence stretched, her gaze fixed vacantly on Holley. After a long pause, a hollow laugh escaped her, tinged with a sense of desolation.
Lucas, observing Belinda, detected a touch of despair in her laughter. His brow furrowed in concern, a wave of unexplained anger brewing within him. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but before he could speak, Belinda abruptly turned and walked over to the dining table.
She picked up a bowl and began ladling soup into it, her actions drawing puzzled looks from everyone around. Without warning, she then turned and splashed the hot soup onto Kylee’s hand.
