Maya thought about the bruise on her arm. She held her mother’s warm hand and whimpered about her plight.
She told her mother about how the bad woman bullied her, and how Yoda made things right.
“What bad woman?”
“The bad woman pinched my arm and my butt. She also…”
Maya was unable to eloquently express herself. Nicole could only pick up bits and pieces from her sloppy delivery.
Kyle threw Maya a look, telling her to keep her mouth shut.
It’s already over and the bad woman was taught a lesson. What’s the point of making Mommy worry about this?
His message was received well and clear by Maya, who stopped mid-sentence.
She slapped her hand over her mouth.
“It’s nothing, Mommy. I accidentally fell. We’ll bring our toys and clothes back to our rooms now.”
Despite knowing that they were intentionally keeping the truth from her, Nicole decided not to pursue the matter.
Maya mentioned Yoda. She said he hit the bad woman. I’ll just ask him what happened.
She asked the maid to tell Yoda to go to the study room.
“Do you need something, Ma’am?”
Yoda’s slender body was folded into a bow as he addressed Nicole with utmost respect.
“Yoda, Maya says you hit a bad woman. Tell me exactly what happened.”
Yoda paused. Should I tell her the truth?
As he struggled with finding the right words to say, Nicole’s phone rang.
The call was from Sophia.
Nicole glanced at Yoda before answering the call.
“Something’s happened, Nicole!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Lisa was disfigured. She claims that it was Evan who did it. Your grandfather requested for us to visit her. Are you willing to go?”
Lisa’s disfigured?
Evan was the one who did it?
How can that be?
“How could it have been Evan? She’s probably confused and distressed.”
“I think she’s horrible too. How can she drag a dead man’s name through the mud by accusing him like this? Are you coming? Let’s go together.”
Nicole pondered on the situation. “I’ll go! It’s a pity she was disfigured but that doesn’t give her the right to slander Evan!”
Slander?
Yoda’s expression turned uncomfortable at Nicole’s serious tone.
Who cares if she slanders me?
No one will believe Lisa anyway. They’ll all think she’s spouting nonsense.
Nicole ended the call and went to pack her things. She intended to ask the driver to take her, but Juan insisted on Yoda driving her instead, citing his impressive taekwondo prowess.
The other three children agreed.
Nicole was not concerned with who drove her. She did not want to upset her children and agreed to let Yoda drive her to the hospital.
When Sophia spotted her, she rushed to her and grabbed her hand.
“My child, you look like you’ve lost weight again. Please take care of yourself.”
“I’m fine. Please look after yourself as well.”
Sophia nodded and recounted Lisa’s accident.
The two women talked as they made their way to the hospital room.
Lisa was lying on the bed, beside herself with anxiety over what was to become of her face.
When she noticed the two women, she recalled the ferocious manner in which Evan attacked her. One stab after another on her face; the man did not hold back in the slightest.
If it weren’t for that pretentious woman Sophia, Evan wouldn’t exist.
The monster she birthed did this to me.
Rage boiled within Lisa, and her face tensed into an incomprehensible expression. Her eyes conveyed pure hatred, which she directed straight at the two women.
“Are you okay, Lisa?” Sophia asked, sounding genuinely concerned.
Lisa balled her hands into fists as she cracked a joyless smile. “I’m not dead yet. Can’t you see for yourself?” she said through gritted teeth.
“We came to see how you’re doing, Aunt Lisa…”
“See how I’m doing? I think you came here to cry crocodile tears and put on a show. Both of you good-for-nothings.” Lisa screamed.
Lisa was emotionally unstable as she punched her finger towards Sophia. “Your son… It’s all because of your son. He did this to me! I’ll make him regret it!”
