Katelyn had always been a softie, especially when it came to her grandkids, and it often led her to overthink and worry. She even found herself considering ways to send Pattie away, just to keep her grandchildren safe and sound. Wendy, noticing Katelyn''s concern, added fuel to the fire. "You know, it''s like inviting trouble into your own home, Katelyn. Better keep an eye out."
Others quickly agreed, "She''s right. Kids can getpetitive, and in families like ours, sibling rivalry can get pretty intense."
"Yeah, it reminds me of that news story," someone cut in. "A four-year-old tricked her little sister to the balcony and pushed her off. Everyone thought it was an ident until the footage showed otherwise." "Kids today are sharp, sometimes too sharp for their own good."
"Katelyn, you should think about sending that girl away. She''s not your blood, and she''s mute. What''s the point?"
Just then, a cold voice cut through the gossip. "The Salstrom family affairs are not your concern. I''m Herman Salstrom, and no one will send my daughter away."
Everyone turned to see Herman, his icy stare silencing the room instantly. Katelyn, noticing her son''s stern expression, felt a pang of guilt. "Herman, dear, we were just chatting. We didn''t mean to actually send Pattie away." Herman strode in with a determined air, eyes locking onto Wendy. Wendy, unable to hold his gaze, looked down, feeling guilty.
Herman instructed his bodyguards, "Please escort Wendy out."
"Yes, Mr. Salstrom," they replied, moving to guide Wendy out.
Wendy was taken aback. "What''s happening? Why am I being kicked out?"
Katelyn jumped in, "Herman, Wendy came to celebrate the kids'' birthdays. We can''t just throw out a guest."
Afraid of the social repercussions of being ousted by the Salstroms, Wendy''s anxiety was palpable. The thought of her inws ming her was unbearable. She forced a smile, "Mr. Salstrom, I misspoke. I only reacted because I saw Pattie spill water on your daughter. I was just worried."
Herman''s re intensified, "So you''re saying Pattie spilled the water on Emmie?"
"Yes, I saw it myself," Wendy insisted, clinging to her story.
Herman scoffed, "Let''s check the surveince. It''ll show us who really spilled it."
Herman wasn''t nning to make a scene but couldn''t let the gossip slide. "No one nders or wrongs my daughter without consequences," he dered.
The tension in the room spiked as Wendy''s husband, Hunter, rushed in, rmed by what he''d heard.
The atmosphere was thick with unease as Hunter tried to piece together the situation through silent exchanges with his wife.
When the surveince footage yed, showing Wendy knocking over the cup and Pattie trying, but failing, to catch it, the room was filled with shock and realization. Wendy had known the truth but let the me fall on a child who couldn''t defend herself. In that moment, everyone saw Pattie''s innocence, her inability to speak making her an easy target.