"Why''s it so noisy in here?" A deep, cool voice suddenly paused as Haynes noticed Rachel had been scalded.


    Haynes strode forward, instinctively pushing Ste aside.


    "Rachel, are you okay?"


    Ste swayed on her feet, her body running on empty after a sleepless night and untouched meals. When Haynes shoved her, her knees buckled - she barely caught herself against the edge of the table, the impact jolting through her bruised ribs.


    Rachel''s hand was a mess of blisters from the scalding.


    This time, she didn''t have to pretend; the pain brought real tears to her eyes.


    "Haynie, I don''t know what I did to upset Ms. Cameron, but she just dumped the oatmeal all over me..."


    Only then did Haynes notice Ste, who was pale and shaken from the collision.


    After a sleepless night, Ste looked worn and haggard.


    Haynes was taken aback for just a second before his face turned cold.


    "Ste, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?"


    The pain in Ste''s waist was dizzying, leaving her at a loss for words.


    Rachel was crying like a storm. "Maybe Ms. Cameron still holds a grudge from yesterday... I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. I almost got Keen in trouble...I''d have thought Ms. Cameron would avoid Keen''s allergens like the gue. Guess I was wrong."


    As she spoke, Rachel stood up and attempted to kneel in front of Ste. "Ms. Cameron, hit me if you must. I''m ready to take any punishment."


    Haynes stopped Rachel, his voice sharp and icy. "Rachel, what are you doing?!"


    Keen chimed in, "Rachel, it''s not your fault. We didn''t know the cake had nuts in it."


    Keen was quick to add, "We picked from the same menu as Mom. It''s not like Rachel picked it on purpose! If Mom hadn''t chosen the nut cake, I wouldn''t have had an allergic reaction!"


    Just as the pain from the collision began to fade, Ste heard Keen''s words.


    Her heart, already cold as ice, cracked open just a little bit more.


    Ste gazed nkly at her child, the one she''d worried over and stayed up all night for.


    Keen was staring at Rachel, his eyes full of concern for her.


    She then looked at Haynes.


    Haynes was focused on Rachel, his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression stern.


    Not one of them asked if she was hurt or cared about her well-being. No one cared to ask her anything at all.


    Ste gave a hollow chuckle, her vision blurring with unshed tears.


    Pathetic.


    The word echoed in her mind, sharp and mocking.


    She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them again with a new


    rity. Tears clung to hershes, but her gaze was now clear.


    Without a nce back, she walked towards the door, her face a mask.


    Her wrist was caught, Haynes'' voiceing from behind her.


    "Ste, where are you going? Rachel didn''t mean it yesterday. Do you really have to target her like this?"


    "Let go." Ste''s voice was colder than ice.


    Haynes said, "You can''tpletely me Rachel for what happened yesterday. She didn''t know what was at your table."


    Keen jumped in to defend Rachel, "If anyone''s to me, Mom, it''s you for


    ordering the nut cake when you know I''m allergic!"


    Ste stopped in her tracks and turned to Keen.


    "So, your allergic reaction yesterday was my fault?"


    Keen''s eyes darted around, his wordsing out hesitantly.


    "Well... it''s not Rachel''s fault, anyway."


    Ste turned to Haynes, "Is that what you think too?"