Pattie''s eyes were red and puffy, her little hands nervously twisting the hem of her shirt. She felt small and misunderstood after being yelled at.


    She used to call Katelyn "Grandma," just like her previous grandma, who was always loving and gentle, never harsh. What had changed?


    Even at her young age, Pattie could sense the shift in Katelyn''s feelings towards her. Kids pick up on these things.


    This scene was all too familiar to Pattie; it brought back memories of being scolded by Penny West. Penny had been kind until her own little brother arrived, and then it was all shouting and harsh words.


    Pattie, already hurt by past abuse and istion, felt her heart break a little more. She just wanted to y with her siblings, but Katelyn''s words pushed her over the edge. Her fists clenched tight, and she bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, her face flushed with anger. Katelyn continued, "Pattie, are you listening to me? You can''t touch the babies'' heads. Their skulls are still soft, just a thinyer protecting them. If something happens..."


    "Ah!!!" Pattie couldn''t hold it in any longer and let out a piercing scream.


    Unable to express her feelings with words, she screamed instead.


    Her loud, piercing screams made her siblings, Emmie and Noah, start crying. The mix of their cries and Pattie''s screams left Katelyn frazzled.


    Katelyn picked up Noah, trying to calm him while scolding Pattie, "Why can''t you be more sensible, Pattie? Stop it, you''re scaring your brother and sister."


    "Ah!!!" Pattie screamed even louder, her face twisted with anger.


    Hearing the ruckus, Salma rushed upstairs, "What''s going on, Pattie, what''s wrong?"


    The nanny and Liana, Pattie''s tutor, also hurried over. Katelyn quickly told the nanny tofort Emmie, "Ana, please, take care of Pattie. She just started screaming and scared Emmie and Noah."


    Pattie''s furious demeanor was frightening, something Salma hadn''t seen before.


    "Pattie, Pattie," Salma tried to hold her and lead her away.


    Liana followed, her role centered on caring for Pattie.


    Pattie was inconsble, her emotions a wild storm. Salma couldn''t calm her down.


    "Auntie, let me try," Liana said, taking Pattie from Salma''s arms.


    Suddenly, Pattie bit Liana''s shoulder. Liana grimaced in pain but said nothing, carrying Pattie back to her room, hoping the quiet would help her settle.


    Meanwhile, the nursery was in chaos, with Emmie and Noah sobbing, pushing Katelyn to her limits.


    The louder the babies cried, the more Katelyn med Pattie for not understanding.


    The house was far from peaceful. Salma didn''t need to ask to know Pattie had likely been scolded for interacting with her siblings.


    Pattie was always sensitive and fragile, and Salma had been careful with her. But how much could a child bear?


    Pattie was only seven years old.


    In her room, Liana held Pattie close, stroking her hair and speaking softly, "Pattie, Ms. Liana is here. Don''t worry, calm down, and tell me what happened, okay?"


    Liana was gentle and genuinely cared for Pattie, aware of her troubled past and deeply sympathetic.


    Gradually, Pattie''s emotions settled, and shey quietly in Liana''s arms, keeping her grievances to herself. It took some time, but Liana gently coaxed the story out of her.


    As a tutor, Liana felt it wasn''t her ce to meddle in family matters. Unequal treatment among children wasmon, especially whenparing biological children to an adopted one like Pattie. Before Emmie and Noah, there was noparison, so bias wasn''t as obvious. Now, subtle changes in treatment were inevitable, sometimes even unnoticed by the adults.