Chapter 3

Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she'd been crying.

Noah sat down beside her and spoke up on her behalf.

"When I got to the office this morning, Rosamond was already like this."

"She said she hadn't slept all night, that she felt terrible about it, and she wanted to apologize to you in person."

Rosamond hurried to add her piece.

"Mrs. Fox, please don't blame Mr. Fox. I was the one who insisted on coming."

"I said the wrong thing yesterday, so it's only fair that you hit me. As long as it makes you feel better, you can do anything you want to me."

I couldn't be bothered to say another word to her, so I raised my hand and pointed at the door.

"Get out. Disappear from my sight."

Rosamond froze, as if she hadn't expected me to show her no mercy at all.

She sniffled, tears looking ready to spill the next second.

Noah couldn't sit still either, and he shot to his feet.

"I already explained everything to you last night. Rosamond came today in all sincerity to apologize, and she even brought Lisa some snacks."

"Even if she was wrong yesterday, is there really any need to be this overbearing?"

"Emily, it's time you did something about your temperament. It really puts a lot of pressure on people."

Noah was frowning, looking at me the way you'd look at a crazy, unreasonable woman.

Seeing that impatient look in his eyes, my heart felt like it was being clenched in a giant hand, until I could barely breathe.

We'd met freshman year of college, back when I was running for a department head position in the student council.

I'd stood up on that stage, taking the mockery of everyone in the audience.

It was all the usual—that I was too young, that I was a freshman who didn't know the rules.

An ordinary freshman might have been scared to tears by a scene like that, but I only smiled softly.

"Since when is running for a position about age instead of ability?"

"Besides throwing your weight around as upperclassmen to bully people, what else can you actually do?"

Noah told me about it later.

That was the moment he fell in love with me at first sight—my confident spirit had shone in his eyes.

Now, twelve years had passed.

That confident spirit had become overbearing.

Those shining strengths of mine put a lot of pressure on him.

Seeing that the mood had soured, Rosamond turned her attention to my daughter.

She opened the pastries she'd brought, picked out a piece, and held it out to her.

"You must be Lisa? I saw you at the office last time. You're so adorable."

"Auntie bought these pastries just for you. Try one and see if you like it."

My first instinct was to refuse outright.

But seeing the eager look on my daughter's face, I couldn't quite bring myself to stop her.

She was only four. I didn't want the conflicts between adults to touch her.

Seeing that I didn't stop her, my daughter happily took the pastry.

After a big bite, she squeezed her eyes shut in delight.

"Thank you, Auntie. It's delicious."

Once she'd already eaten two pieces, I finally spoke up.

"All right, Lisa, you've already had breakfast. Eating more will just upset your stomach."

"Let's put the pastries—"

But before I could finish, my daughter clutched her neck and collapsed onto the carpet.

I jumped in fright and quickly pulled her into my arms.

I thought at first she'd choked, but a large patch of red spots was spreading across her soft little neck before my very eyes, and her breathing had turned rapid.

My heart lurched. I looked up and roared at Rosamond.

"What did you feed her?!"