?<strong>Chapter 1102:</strong>


    Kallie’s heart ached as she looked at Elma. She was indeed angry—angry that Elma had been so careless and reckless. But Elma was just a child. If Elma hadn’t been sick, she would have been running around and ying like any other child her age.


    But Elma couldn’t even go to school. She had to take awful-tasting medicine every day, and she couldn’t run, jump, or do any of the things other kids her age did. She had just been trying to have some fun, and she hadn’t seen the identing.


    Kallie suddenly felt a pang of unease. She shouldn’t be angry with Elma at all. She decided to talk to Elma about itter, when Elma was feeling better.


    At Kallie’s silence, Elma’s eyes filled with tears, and her eyshes fluttered as tears streamed down her cheeks.


    “Mommy,” she whimpered, tugging at Kallie’s sleeve.


    “You can yell at me or even spank me, but please don’t be mad at me or ignore me. I won’t do it again, I promise.”


    Kallie’s heart melted. She pulled Elma into a tight hug, gently patting her back to soothe her.


    “It’s okay, honey. I’m not mad at you,” she whispered.


    “It wasn’t your fault. It was an ident. But next time, please tell me and your daddy before you do something like that. We were just worried about you. We would never ignore you, sweetheart. Don’t be scared, and don’t cry.”


    After a while, Elma finally calmed down, a smile returning to her face. She clung to Kallie, not wanting to let go.


    Just then, Lacey entered the room, carrying a bowl of dark, murky medicine. It was time for Elma’s medicine.


    Elma’s face immediately scrunched up in disgust, and she burrowed deeper into Kallie’s embrace. She clearly didn’t want to take it. Kallie, unsure of how to handle the situation, tried to coax Elma gently.


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    “I know it tastes yucky, honey. But medicine always tastes bad. If you want to get better quickly, you have to take your medicine. I will feed you. And we can have some candy afterward.”


    “Miss Payne,” Kallie said politely.


    “Could you put the medicine down for now? I’ll feed Elma.”


    For some reason, this simple request seemed to irritate Lacey.


    “This is exactly why I have so much trouble getting Elma to take her medicine!” Lacey snapped.


    “Spoil her! I know you want to look like a good mother in front of Jake, but you’re going to ruin Elma! Stop indulging her, Kallie! It’s not good for her!”


    Kallie stared at Lacey in disbelief. She couldn’t understand why Lacey was overreacting to such a simple request. And Lacey’s words were incredibly rude.


    Kallie red at Lacey.


    “I am gentle with my children because they are well-behaved and intelligent. I wanted to be good to my child and couldn’t see how it was any of your business.”


    Lacey’s face twisted into a scowl, her eyes narrowing with resentment. To Lacey, Kallie’s affectionate gestures toward Elma felt like a deliberate provocation, a way of unting her bond with Jake and their child. Lacey seethed with jealousy and anger.


    Kallie added, her voice turning cold, “I haven’t done anything to provoke you. And Elma is my child. I have every right to love and care for her.”


    Lacey mmed the medicine bowl on the table, her arms crossed tightly.


    “Is that so?” she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    “You don’t need to prove yourself to me. I’m just saying don’t exploit the child for your own benefit.”


    Despite her young age, Elma sensed the animosity in Lacey’s tone and couldn’t remain silent.


    “Mommy, make her go away! I don’t want her here,” Elma piped up, her face scrunched in disgust.


    Elma’s aversion to Lacey was clear as day.


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