Chapter 98
As soon as Stella stepped into the living room, she unexpectedly saw Keen.
Keen caught her staring and turned his head away with a loud, dramatic huff, his cute little face frozen in a cold glare. His silent message was obvious: “I’m not talking to you. You come apologize first.”
Stella simply shifted her gaze away, unfazed.
“Bang!” Deanna slammed her hand on the table, causing the silverware and coffee mugs to clatter loudly.
Her face was stern and angry as she spoke, “Stella, do you realize what you’ve done wrong?!”
Stella furrowed her brow but remained silent.
In the past, she had viewed the O’Brien family through rose-colored glasses and had often been belittled by Deanna. Over time, she had even started to believe she wasn’t worthy of the O’Brien family, seeing Deanna as someone high and mighty, almost untouchable.
Now, with the illusion shattered, Deanna seemed much less intimidating.
Haynes glanced at Stella, his voice steady as he asked, “Mom, what’s going on?”
“You should be asking your dear wife!” Deanna fumed, pulling back Keen’s shirt sleeve to reveal a bruise. “Your wife has been encouraging other kids to bully her own child. What kind of mother does that?! Haynes, let me be clear-if Stella doesn’t win Keen’s forgiveness, she won’t be stepping foot in our home again!”
With Deanna backing him up, Keen’s little face was raised high with an air of arrogance. His mom always listened to Grandma, and she was scared of Grandma too. When Mom came over to apologize, he wouldn’t forgive her easily. And, he thought, she should also apologize to Rachel.
Haynes looked at the bruises on Keen’s arm, his expression turning serious.
“What exactly happened?”
Callie, standing nearby, spoke up softly, “Brother, Keen says there’s a kid named Marvin at preschool who bullies him every day. These marks on his arm are all because of that kid. And…”
Callie glanced at Stella, her voice barely audible, “Keen says Stella doesn’t come home anymore and doesn’t care about him. Instead, she’s off looking after someone else’s kids for money.”
Deanna’s voice rose in anger, “Are we not providing enough for you? You abandon your own child to earn money? It’s disgraceful!”
Stella usually let Deanna’s accusations slide, but this time she snapped back, “What’s shameful about earning my own money? When I stay home, you call me a leech. When I work, you say I’m humiliating the family. So tell me—am I supposed to work or rot here?”
Deanna was momentarily taken aback, her first instinct was to respond, “How dare you talk back to me?!”
Stella replied calmly, “Deanna, not everything you disagree with is talking back.”
Deanna’s anger flared, “Stella, how dare you argue?!”
Seeing where this was heading, Stella decided to hold her tongue. She was here to help Abby, not to argue.
Haynes turned to Keen and asked, “Keen, is what you’re saying true?”
Keen nodded vigorously, feeling wronged, and handed over his phone. “These photos are proof.”
After reviewing the pictures, Haynes looked at Stella. “What do you have to say?”
Stella stood there, expressionless and silent.
Deanna, infuriated, snapped, “Stella, have you gone mute?!”
Stella said, “If speaking is just considered talking back and arguing, then I might as well be mute.”
Deanna was trembling with rage, “You…”