Henry cried his heart out, and Sallie''s voice grew soft with worry. "Hey, sweetheart, don''t cry. Auntie''sing over right now to stand up for you!"


    Between hupped sobs, Henry recounted everything that had happened that day. Sallie patiently soothed him, her words finally calming him down enough to head back to his room in the vi.


    The call had been on speaker, so Mabel heard every word Sallie said. Frowning, she went to knock on the master bedroom door.


    "Ma''am, it''s me," she called quietly.


    Jessica opened the door.


    Mabel stepped inside and lowered her voice. "Young Master just called Miss Sallie. She said she''sing over to stand up for him. Ma''am, Miss Sallie''s temper isn''t exactly gentle-maybe you''d like to avoid her for now?"


    Jessica waved it off, signaling there was no need.


    If Sallie wanted toe and throw her out, so much the better.


    Jessica picked up her phone and typed: "Mabel, thank you for letting me know. And thank you again for helping mest time."


    "Ma''am, you''ve always been so good to us. This is nothing." Mabel hesitated, then added, "But... well, I don''t think Mr. Lawson ispletely indifferent to you. It''s that She woman-she''s shameless, always hanging around him. Ma''am, now even Henry''s learning to misbehave. Do you really want to let this family fall apart like this?"


    This wasn''t what Mabel had hoped for. Once upon a time, Mr. Lawson might have been a bit distant, but at least the family had been peaceful.


    Jessica gave a weary smile. It takes two to tango; She could only get close to Timothy if he allowed it. If he shut the door, she''d never get near.


    And these past seven years-maybe they looked harmonious to outsiders, but only she knew what it really felt like.


    Mabel realized there was nothing more she could say, so she quietly slipped out to get back to her chores.


    Not even half an hourter, Sallie swept into The Gilded Whisper Estates like a storm.


    "Jessica! Get out here, now!"


    Her voice echoed through the house. Henry heard her and rushed from his room, flinging himself into her arms.


    "Auntie, look at my face."


    Sallie''s eyes shed with anger when she saw the red mark. "Who did this to you? How hard did they hit you?"


    She was furious. Jessica was out of her mind. She was already trying to steal her son right from under her nose, and instead of fixing things with Henry, she''d actuallyid & hand on him. Henry was the Dawson family''s precious little


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    prince-nobody in the family would dare even scold him, let alone raise a hand. Jessica was way out of line.


    Henry whimpered and started to cry again. Sallie hugged him close,. murmuringfort. "Go watch our


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    got


    cartoons, sweetheart. Auntie''s some business to take care of."


    She beckoned Mabel to take Henry back to his room.


    Without even bothering to knock, Sallie stormed into the master bedroom.


    Jessica sat at her desk, as calm and collected as ever, working on herptop. Sallie marched over and snapped theptop shut, ring with barely contained rage.


    "What''s this? Get invited to judge some fancy children''s artspetition, and now you think you''re too important to be a mother?"


    Her tone was icy and mocking.


    Ever since Jessica had started talking divorce, she''d been cold toward Sallie, brushing her off at every turn.


    But today, Jessica finally reacted. She picked up her phone and typed: "Is that a problem?"


    Sallie let out a sharpugh. "You really think the only reason you got asked to be a head judge at thatpetition was your own talent? If Timothy hadn''t announced at the Zimmerman family''s g that you''re his wife, do you think Lorenzo would''ve rmended you for the job? Use your head, Jessica. You''re only there because of our family''s influence. And now you''ve got the nerve to act high and mighty and hit Henry? Do you even realize your own ce in this family?"