Chapter 12 The Clown
Seeing Ruth''s smug expression. Caroline felt sick.
Her burned hand clenched the bedsheet tightly as she shot a sharp re at Ruth. "Drop the act. Do you even realize how ridiculous you look? Even a pig looks better than you."
Caroline figured that humiliating Ruth with words was a good way to get back at her
Ruth had always been obsessed with her appearance, and her face was her biggest concern. Being called ugly could hurt her. As expected. Ruth''s expression shifted-flushing red before turning pale. "Caroline, how dare you insult me!
Caroline sarcastically smiled. "Why wouldn''t I? Who do you think you are?
"You- Ruth''s face twisted in anger. "I''m older than you, and I''m ina''s best friend! How can you say such awful things?"
Caroline let out a shortugh as if she had just heard something hrious. You act like you''re something more. Just a best friend? If someone didn''t know better, they''d think you were my sister-inw,"
Ruth huffed. “Just wait! When inaes back, she''ll teach you a lesson!"
In Ruth''s mind, a sister-inw held authority like a mother. Once ina returned, she''d make sure Caroline suffered, preferably by having her locked away for days with broken legs.
Caroline sneered. "I''ll be looking forward to it."
Her sister-inw, ina, was 20 years older than her. In her previous life, after her mother passed away, she respected ina like a mother, always obeying her. Yet ina had only ever sided with Helen, excluding her openly and secretly. She would never again foolishly believe that ina would treat her as family.
If ina could coexist peacefully with her, that would be ideal. If not, she wouldn''t hesitate to retaliate.
Seeing Caroline''sposed expression, Ruth grew uneasy.
Just then, the sound of a door opening drew their attention.
Wren stepped inside.
She approached the bedside with a forced smile. "Ms. Caroline, have you eaten yet?"
Caroline''s eyes fell on the overturned thermos on the ground. "Your daughter spilled everything."
At those words, Wren''s smile vanished.
She nced at the mess before turning to Ruth. "What''s wrong with you? How did you manage to spill it? And where''s the ravioli I packed?”
Ruth whispered, "I threw it away on my way here."
Noticing her mother''s displeasure, she quickly added, "Mom, I was just standing up for you! Look at her hand-1 burned her! I already got revenge for you!!
She eagerly awaited her mother''s approval, expecting a pleased expression. Instead, Wren''s face darkened.
Chapter 12 The Clown
Wren hade early, afraid they might catch Ruth mistreating Caroline.
Before leaving work. Miguel had even called, asking her to bring something nice for Caroline.
If he found out she hadn''t eaten, he might hold Wren responsible.
Ruth was puzzled by her mother''s reaction. "Mom, since when did you be so spineless? She''s just an unwanted girl! If you act scared, you''re only making her more arrogant."
"You don''t get it," Wren whispered.
If it was the previous Caroline, there would be nothing to fear.
As long as her brothers didn''t witness anything. Caroline would never speak up. But things were different now. She wasn''t as weak or easy to control as before Oblivious to the change, Ruth continuedining "She''s just an abandoned girl! So what if I burned her? Even if I killed her, her brothers wouldn''t- Before she could finish, Wren spotted Caroline''s brothers through the window. Wren panicked, worried Ruth might blurt out something even worse and be overheard. In her desperation, she pped Ruth hard, silencing her instantly, Ruth froze in shock, eyes widening. "Mom, why did you hit me?”
Wren had neverid a hand on her before. She wondered if her mother had lost her mind today.
Wren shoved Ruth toward the door. "It''s none of your business here. Get out!"
Ruth wanted to argue but caught sight of Miguel and Fabian stepping into the ward. She quickly swallowed herints, forcing a smile at them before striding out.
Miguel watched her leave, then turned to Caroline. "Caroline, was that your friend?"
As far as he knew, Caroline didn''t have any. And that woman had seemed much older than her.
Before Caroline could answer, Wren jumped in. "Mr. Miguel, that was my daughter. She was worried about Ms. Caroline going hungry, so she came early to bring her food. But she slipped and spilled all the congee by ident."
As she spoke, she picked up the thermos from the ground and turned to Caroline.
"I''m sorry, Ms. Caroline, Should I go and make you another bowl?"
Though her words were polite, her expression showed clear reluctance. "Yes, please."
The more unwilling Wren seemed, the more Caroline wanted to make her do it.
home
Just as she finished speaking, Fabian interjected. "It''ste. No need to go through all that trouble. Missing one meal won''t kill
you
Miguel nced out the window. Night had fully fallen.
Though Fabian''s words were blunt, he wasn''t wrong. There was no point in making more congee.
Wren, don''t bother. Just clean up and head home. I''ll order takeout for Caroler," Miguel said.
Chapter 12 The Clown
She found Wren ridiculous-like a clown who actually believed she could harm her..
Miguel asked, "Caroline, what do you want to eat? I''ll order something for you."
Caroline shifted her gaze, her tone distant. "No need. I won''t starve just from skipping a meal"
"Miguel, don''t waste your time on her. She''s just faking it, Fabian said dismissively.
She''d never been seriously ill before-yet now, after just one check-up, she was suddenly sick? Only an idiot would believe
that
Miguel paused, his fingers hovering over his phone, then looked up. "Caroline,
what exactly did your check-up show?"
Caroline answered honestly, "Lumbar disc herniation"
Fabian scoffed. "Oh,e on. At your age? At leaste up with a better
excuse. Do you think we''re that gullible?"
To him, it was absurd. Caroline had always been strong. There was no way she
was suddenly so sick that she needed to be hospitalized.
But Miguel wasn''t sure and insisted on seeing the truth.
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