As the sound of scolding echoed through the air, Anastasia hurried into the room. Emmie was in tears, and Pattie stood there with clenched fists, clearly upset. Noticing the tension, Liana, who was nearby, feared Pattie might lose her temper as she had before, and quickly


    wrapped her in aforting hug.


    "What happened, Mom?" Anastasia asked.


    Herman entered the room too.


    Katelyn, visibly irritated, exined, "Pattie spilled water on Emmie, and her little hands have turned red from the heat. Luckily, it wasn''t too hot, or we could have had a serious burn."


    Emmie''s hands were indeed slightly red.


    Herman frowned, "Mom, let''s not make a fuss. We''ll handle the kids."


    With several notable high-society guests around, Herman chose not to say more and took the children to a quieter space.


    Anastasia felt uneasy hearing Katelyn reprimand Pattie. Even if Pattie had spilled the water, she believed it was her role to correct her child, not someone else''s.


    It''s amon feeling among parents: they can discipline their own child, but it''s different when others try to.


    Herman led them to a lounge, and Anastasia asked with concern, "Pattie, are you okay?"


    Pattie shook her head, her eyes drifting to her sister with a guilt-ridden expression.


    Herman asked Liana, "Ms. Liana, what exactly happened?"


    Liana rified, "It wasn''t Pattie''s fault. The water was ced on the table by Aunt Katelyn, and Wendy knocked over as she walked by. Pattie saw the cup tipping towards Emmie and tried to catch it but missed, so the water ended up in the stroller." It turned out Pattie had been wrongly med.


    Hearing Liana''s ount, Anastasia felt awful for Pattie, realizing she had been unjustly used.


    Pattie''s guilt came from feeling she hadn''t protected her sister well enough.


    Despite Emmie''s hands being slightly scalded and her clothes wet, Anastasia hugged Pattie, saying, "Sweetheart, you did great."


    Herman also praised Pattie, "You''re a wonderful sister. We''re proud of you."


    Pattie felt reassured, gesturing confidently, "Mom, Dad, I''ll protect my siblings."


    ...


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was still annoyed, thinking about Pattie''s behavior.


    A guest asked, "Katelyn, was that child from your daughter-inw''s previous rtionship?"


    That question made Katelyn ufortable; she hadn''t minded before, but now these inquiries grated on her nerves.


    Katelyn forced a smile, "Yes."


    "The child is quite charming, and I noticed her dress is from AL''s haute couture collection, costing a fortune. Your family must really cherish her."


    Wendy, who had knocked over the cup earlier, added, "Cherish or not, she''s not a true Fu by blood. Katelyn, I think that kid has a mean streak. She looked really angry earlier. She was the only child before, and now with younger siblings, she might get jealous and act out. She almost scalded someone with boiling water today; who knows what she might do next?"


    Wendy, knowing it was her fault, shifted the me to Pattie, exaggerating that the water was boiling.


    Katelyn, reflecting on the incident, worried if the water had indeed been boiling, her granddaughter could have been seriously hurt.


    Could Pattie really be feeling jealous and resentful towards the younger children, potentially wanting to harm them?