Chapter 50
Yolanda realized it wasn’t cool to talk to kids like that and quickly backpedaled, “Hey, I was just messing with you; don’t take it to heart.”
Joseph gave her an eye roll, sporting an “as if I’m as gullible as you” smug look.
At the sight of them bickering, Lizetta’s lips curled slightly, her spirits lifted a bit.
At the hospital, Yolanda got a call to head back to set, leaving Lizetta waiting alone outside the ER. The doc checked things out and soon had Joseph moved to a room for observation.
Hanna rushed in and immediately lit into Lizetta, “I told you to handle things; how the heck did you let Joseph end up fainting and hospitalized? Can you do anything right?”
Seeing Lizetta catch heat, Joseph hopped off the bed in a jiffy, “I’m fine, Mom; lay off Liz. It’s my bad; come at me.”
Hanna, freaked out, hurried to the bedside, clutching Joseph, panicked, “What are you standing up for? Lie down this instant. Tell me, where does it hurt? How did you just pass out? Nosebleed? Fever?”
Lizetta turned and slipped quietly out of the room, saving herself the hassle of Hanna’s wrath later.
–
She closed the door behind her, and as she turned around a slap came flying. Her ear was ringing before she realized what happened.
Her eyes went cold as she stared at the person in front of her. It was Elara, with Kevin hurrying over too, holding back a fuming Elara who looked ready to slap Lizetta again.
“What’s this about? Let’s talk it out.” Then, he looked at Lizetta, “Liz, you okay? Your mom, I mean, Elara’s just freaked out because of Eve’s injury. Don’t hold it against her.”
Lizetta’s cheek stung, her hands clenching at her sides.
Chapter 50
“So, I get slapped for no reason and I’m not supposed to care? How’s that fair?”
“You talking back now! Are you saying you didn’t put Joseph up to smashing Eve’s hand? Last time, it was you who slapped Eve, leaving her all bruised. Why are you so vicious?”
Elara was seething, as if she couldn’t wait to land a couple more on Lizetta.
Kevin frowned too, “Liz, you used to be such a kind and generous kid, not like this. This isn’t how Elara and I raised you.”
He looked disappointed and confused.
Lizetta felt like she’d been stripped bare and thrown into a blizzard, then blamed by the very people who once gave her warmth, as if she should be grateful.
A frosty sarcasm sealed in her eyes, “Sure, you raised me till I was six, but you raised your daughter, not me. By your logic, should I charge you with abandonment?
After I turned six, you didn’t hesitate to dump me, knowing full well what Hans was like, and still, you shipped me off to the Gardenia family. When you chose your own daughter over me, any debt of upbringing was severed. You can’t have it both ways!”
“You ungrateful brat!” Elara’s face burned as she raised her hand again.
Lizetta grabbed her arm firmly, “Enough! If you want to play the elder card, go lecture your own kid. We’re not related; I don’t owe you my attention! I’ll let this slide, but if there’s a next time, I’ll hit back twice as hard!”
She brushed off Elara with a look that was just shy of cursing them out, thinking they should have the sense not to overstep, not to play the age card. Elara trembled with rage; Kevin’s expression complex, he pulled at Elara, who was not ready to give up squabbling, “Let it go. Let’s check on Eve.” He led Elara away.
Down the hall in Evelina’s room, her hand had been treated. It looked bad, but
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it was just tendon and flesh wounds, no broken bones. Yet Evelina winced in pain, sobbing against the headboard.
“I’m not one to hold grudges, but I’ve only seen my sister four times since I got back, and been hit three of those. Why can’t she stand me? Just because I came back to the Hawthorne family, she got sent away. But I’ve suffered six years in her place; I wanted to be with our parents too.”
Evelina’s tears fell faster, leaning into Remington’s arms. After such injustice, she hoped Remington would hold her, comfort her, dry her tears, or even just pat her head.
