Chapter 5


    The woman rushed over, and the flowers in her hand hit Estelle directly. She pushed her back violently


    and pulled Carme into her arms.


    Simone Kaiser anxiously checked Carme, ‘Are you hurt? Are you bleeding? Where does it hurt?”


    With dewy petals scattered all over the floor, the thorns on the flowers pricked Estelle’s neck, causing a


    slight sting She looked at the woman’s anxious expression and was stunned for a moment.


    Bet quickly came over and asked Estelle, “Are you okay?”


    Simone suddenly turned around, staring at Estelle with a fierce look, “What are you trying to do? Kill


    Carme?” Estelle was shocked by the disgust and hatred in the woman’s eyes.


    Carme nced at Estelle and hurriedly grabbed Simone’s wrist. “Mom, you misunderstand. I asked


    my sister to help me trim my hair. She didn’t hurt me.”


    “Oh, I see!” Betughed and scolded Simone, “You’re always so impulsive. You get angry without


    figuring things out. Look at Estelle’s clothes, you’ve messed them up.”


    Simone, knowing she had wronged Estelle, looked embarrassed and defended herself, “I just saw


    Estelle holding scissors to Carme’s neck. How was I supposed to know she was cutting hair?”


    “Enough!” Bet shot Simone a look and turned to Carme, “Take your sister to change her clothes;


    she looks all dirty now.”


    “Sister,e with me!”


    Carme tried to hold her hand, but Estelle subtly avoided her, her fingers brushing off the petals on


    her shoulder.


    As they entered the bedroom on the second floor, Carme apologized guiltily, “I’m so sorry, sis. I didn’t


    expect mom toe home at this time and get you hurt.”


    “It’s not your fault!” Estelle’s innocent face showed a faint smile.


    Carme fetched a white T-shirt from the wardrobe and put it on the sofa. “This one is new and I have


    never worn it before. Try it on, sister, I’ll wait for you downstairs.


    “Okay.”


    After Carme closed the door, Estelle looked at the shirt on the sofa, her expression dulling. What a


    coincidence-one wanting a haircut and the other just happening toe home!


    After putting on the new shirt, Estelle walked down the hallway, and a door that wasn’t closed tightly let


    out Bet’s voice, “How could you hit Estelle with flowers? That was too much!”


    Estelle slowed her pace.


    Simone was still unconvinced. “How could I have known she was cutting hair? She was holding


    scissors horizontally to Carme’s neck. I waspletely freaked out!”


    Bet sighed, “Don’t you think the way you’ve been treating Estelle is wrong? Don’t forget that Estelle


    is our biological daughter!”


    Simone argued, “I know. When she returned home three years ago, I wanted to make up for it, but she


    insisted on moving out. How could I make up for it?”


    “Have you tried to keep her from moving out?” Bet asked. “I know you love Carme, but Estelle


    was taken. away at birth and suffered so much outside. Can’t you treat her more kindly?”


    Simone’s voice was helpless, “I want to treat Estelle better, but for twenty years, I’ve loved and


    pampered


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    14:42


    Carme as my own. It is not something that I can change overnight. Plus, Carme is so talented-


    no, painting, violin-she excels at everything, so sensible and smart. Well, Estelle, she has nothing to


    show for herself; I just can’t bring myself to like herr


    “How could you say that about your own daughter?”


    “At least I’m not saying that in front of her, am 17′ Simoneined, “You’re also to me for inviting


    her here. Her presence has ruined a perfectly good birthday party!”


    Darkness clouded Estelle’s eyes, and she didn’t bother to listen further. She took the light gray jewelry


    box out of her bag and put it on the outdoor flower stand, then walked downstairs.


    Carme was holding a ragdoll cat downstairs. Seeing Estelle, she immediately asked with a smile,


    “Does the shirt fit, sis?”


    “It’s perfect, thank you!” Estelle replied politely.


    “Why are you being so polite? We’re sisters!” Carme smiled innocently.


    Estelle smiled faintly, “I just got a call, there’s something that I need to take care of back at school. So I


    have to go, please tell Dad for me.”


    “You’re leaving so soon? We haven’t even had cake yet!” Carme showed a disappointment


    expression.


    “Please apologize to Mom for me, I didn’t mean to ruin her birthday,” Estelle said and headed for the


    door. Rain was falling outside, lightly pattering, making the groundpletely wet.


    Carme turned to Addy. “Where’s Calvin? Ask him to drive my sister.”


    Addy run over, quickly nced at the rain and sighed, “Oh dear, what a pity! Mr. Calvin just left to pick


    up the birthday cake, and he hasn’t returned yet.”


    “It’s fine. Can you please get me an umbre, Addy?” Estelle asked.


    “Okay, sure!” Addy turned and quickly returned with an umbre, handing it to Estelle, and not


    forgetting to remind her, “This umbre costs thousands, please take good care of it, miss.”


    With a hint of mockery in her eyes, Estelle maintained herposure, opened the umbre, and


    ventured into the drizzle.


    As soon as Estelle left the house, Carme saw Calvin holding an umbre, walking towards the yard.


    Addy looked embarrassed. “Oh, Mr. Calvin returned half an hour ago; letting our youngdy walk alone


    in this rain is so thoughtless of me.”


    Carme hugged the cat, her smile gentle and harmless. “Maybe you’ve been working too hardtely


    I’ll find a chance to talk to my mom about giving you a raise.”


    Addy instantly beamed, looking grateful. “Thank you, Miss, I’ll do whatever you say from now on.”


    Carme turned and went upstairs, instantly saw the jewelry box on the flower stand, and picked it up.


    Before she could open it, Bet and Simone came out.


    Knowing Estelle had left, Simone felt relieved.


    Bet didn’t want to argue with Simone on her birthday, so he changed the subject, looking at the


    jewelry box. in Carme’s hand andughing. “Is that for your mom?”


    Simone took the gift with a smile, opened it and was momentarily stunned, then her face lit up with


    surprise. “The new release from GK Jewelry studio! It’s still in the promotion phase, I heard there’s only


    one set of each design, and they’re pretty hard to get your hands on. Carme, did you buy this as a


    birthday present for mom?” A hint of astonishment shed in Carme’s eyes, but she simply smiled


    and didn’t deny it. “As long as mom likes it!”


    2/3


    14:42


    “My sweet little girl!” Simone was moved to hug Carme, and any guilt she had for hitting Estelle


    instantly vanished


    Meanwhile, Estelle had left the Macin family and was walking back along the road. This was a vi


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    area with no buses, and even cabs were rare


    The rain hit the umbre, the sound was clear and chaotic


    Estelle walked at a steady pace, stepping in the puddles. The chilly spring rain mirrored her current


    mood


    As cars passed by on the road, in one of them, a Bentley, was a girl in the passenger seat who


    suddenly looked out of the window and said to the man in the backseat, ‘Uncle, I see a ssmate of


    mine. There are no buses here, can we give her a lift?”


    Jonathan looked at the documents in his hand, his handsome face indifferent, and gave a slight nod


    Norah Lamont instructed the driver to reverse, rolled down the window, and called out to Estelle,


    “Estelle, get in!”


    Estelle was taken aback, “Norah?”


    The two were in the same department but they weren’t exactly close.


    Norah gave a charming smile, “Come on, get in and we’ll talk.”


    “Thank you!” Estelle expressed her gratitude, opened the car door, closed her umbre, and got in. Out


    of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sitting next to her, turned her head to have a look, and was


    instantly caught off guard.