Chapter 2
My simple request made Charles's face turn pale instantly.
He stared at the cake in my hand, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"W-What are you talking about?" he stammered.
His voice trembled, and he avoided my gaze.
"It's just a regular cake. Why are you so scared?" I said, offering it to him.
I handed the cake toward him.
"Or are you hiding something?" I asked.
My words struck him like lightning.
Charles took a sudden step back and bumped into the chair behind him.
"I-I already ate one..." he stammered.
"You only bit the wrapper earlier. The cake never even touched your lips," I said.
I let out a cold laugh as I corrected him.
"What's wrong? Are you scared now?" I asked.
Linda noticed the tension and quickly stepped in to break the awkwardness.
"Come on, that's enough. Are you really going to ruin Thanksgiving over this?" Linda said.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Charles, as if he grabbed a lifeline, immediately turned and rushed to the door.
The door swung open.
At the entrance stood a pretty young woman in a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, pure and charming, holding a fruit basket.
It was Lucy, Charles's young, beautiful, and attentive assistant.
Lucy said in a timid voice, "Mr. Evans.
"I happened to be in the neighborhood and remembered your folks love southern fruits, so I thought I'd drop by and say hi to your family."
Her gaze slid past Charles's shoulder and lingered on me for a moment.
In those seemingly innocent eyes, I glimpsed a fleeting spark of challenge and pride.
As soon as Linda saw her, her face lit up with a smile so bright it looked like a blooming flower.
The woman who was just acting like a fighting rooster, ready to peck me to death, shoved Charles aside and enthusiastically grabbed Lucy's hand.
Linda said, "Oh, Lucy. Come in, come in. You didn't have to bring anything. Just seeing you is enough.
"Look at this girl. She's so much more thoughtful and considerate than some people."
Linda gave me a meaningful glare, making her point crystal clear.
Lucy was ushered into the house by Linda, but as soon as she spotted the mess of broken cake on the floor, she froze in place.
She looked startled, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
Her eyes welled up with tears, turning red around the rims.
"Mrs. Evans, Mr. Evans, what... what happened?" Lucy asked, her voice quivering, on the verge of tears.
Her eyes flicked between Charles and me, finally landing on the mess of cake on the floor.
Lucy asked, her voice trembling, "Did I cause you two to fight because of the cake I brought?
"Ms. Evans, I'm so sorry. I really had no idea it would make you so upset...
"If I'd known it would turn out like this, I never would've brought them..."
Even Tracy couldn't take it anymore. She gave my arm a firm tug and muttered under her breath, "Come on, it's the holiday. Don't stir things up; you've got that girl crying."
Charles finally found a reason to lose his temper. He stepped forward, putting himself protectively in front of Lucy.
Charles said, "Are you done yet, Jane?
"Lucy was just trying to be nice; why are you freaking out at her?"
Nice, the hero swooped in to save the damsel.
I stared at Lucy, looking all pitiful with tears streaming down her face.
I said coldly, "Stop with your fake innocent routine.
"Honestly, aren't you tired of pretending? Because I sure am just watching you."
I walked toward her, and she slipped out from behind Charles, clinging to Linda for protection.
"You carefully prepared this cake; are you seriously saying you don't know what's inside?" I asked.
My words blew Lucy's cover right then and there.
Her tears dried up instantly, eyes wide as she stared at me, panic flickering in her gaze.
"Mrs. Evans, what are you talking about? I really don't get it," Lucy stammered, her voice shaky.
Charles's face turned bright red as he jabbed his finger at me and yelled, "Jane, what's your deal? I always thought you were just so extra, but I can't believe you're throwing a tantrum over a box of cake.
"Lucy is my most capable assistant; she's always reliable and hardworking. What exactly are you accusing her of?"
Linda stormed over, shouting at the top of her lungs, "I bet you're just jealous of Lucy; she's young, pretty, and knows how to get things done.
"And you? Look at yourself. You've been married for years and still can't have a baby.
"You are a worthless woman."
A worthless woman. Those words cut deep into my heart.
Suddenly, I just lost all urge to argue or cause a fuss.
I stared at the vicious Linda in front of me, then at Charles standing behind her, protecting Lucy, and finally at that innocent-looking, manipulative Lucy playing the victim.
A tall figure suddenly burst out from behind me, stepping protectively in front of me.
It was my dad, Leo.
He shot Linda a furious glare.
Leo said, "Linda, who are you calling a worthless woman? My daughter didn't join the Evans family just to be treated like this."
But then, another voice boomed right next to my ear.
A stinging slap crashed against my left cheek.
Tracy, my mom, was the one who slapped me.
She was trembling with rage, jabbing her finger at me and saying, "Jane, are you crazy? Do you think you've done right by anyone? Haven't you embarrassed us enough already?"
My cheek was stinging, and my ears were buzzing.
That slap cut deeper than all of Linda's cruel words.
I pressed my hand to my cheek, fighting back tears that threatened to spill.
I slowly turned my head, staring straight at Charles.
On his face, I saw a smug, cold smirk; he didn't even bother to hide how pleased he was.
He thought he won.