Chapter 7
7
From Lury. Castle tensile too long
Howard had anorexia. He only a food made by his father, Selveris, sewing is work angelang presents als Cars the vast stenth, with Sites
anyone else unless he was absolutely starring
As for the warsons tilt indig.ume
Caitlin pieced it together the two cookkyrop for tenceret ceteros Setiawatient’s nousus dilden Tug freegaerntly bullied Words oh the tab gear Hands in
naga and his refusal to tattle only embedderet frm farter
had
The more Caitlin learned, the deeper the ache in her bear you, w
After cleaning Worward and stopping his nosebleed, Callie wiged the water of all body
fully for the best
He had star Sannscared sengensen read
“Howard.”
After dressing him in first corbes Cali prilled her was aber er er heiting hightly be could feel the sonality say that is life, the gold the rally h
This was her basis id isgh to the work
This hand was cd the add to
Finding Howard male Castle fent as if her de food tally besorer whole
*Howard, Morsey will summer lease you again . 1 never let anyone buurt you. 13 take care of you and make up for everything
Before Caution could savor the man, & Commation aged cuade
emand rushed upstairs, her face pale with passe. “Mas Lewiać Wills and Xylia are here, and they’ve brought others with
“What’s going on?” Lucy asked, hurrying downstairs to investiga
Outside the Vanderbilt estate, Willa and her daughter–in–law Xylia arrised with their two sons, storming in with an air of
“Lewis wound Get out here”
Lacy quickly ran back upstairs to Callin. “Miss Lewis, did you hir Willa’s two young masters today? ”
“Are you talking about those two chubby boys? Yes, I hit them. So what?” Caitlin replied calmly,
“Willa and Xyla are here to confront you. What should we dor Lucy was visibly anxious, it was dear that Willa was
15:45 Mon, 14 Apr M
7
someone the staff feared greatly.
“Then let’s go see what they want.”
Caitlin instructed Howard to stay in the room before heading downstairs alone.
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Standing at the entrance of the villa, Caitlin’s tone was casual as she asked, “What’s all this racket? For a moment, I thought it was a pack of stray dogs barking outside. So noisy.”
Willa and Xylia’s faces twisted with rage as they saw Caitlin step out.
“Who are you? Where’s Jasmine?” Willa demanded.
“I am Jasmine,” Caitlin replied nonchalantly.
“No, you’re not!” Xylia pointed at her accusingly. “She’s not Jasmine. I know Jasmine–this woman is an imposter!”
The gathered crowd exchanged stunned looks.
So, the woman sent by The Lewis Family was a fraud?
“If you’re not Jasmine, then you’re just a fake!” Willa shouted, her voice shrill with fury. “And how dare you, an imposter, bully my grandsons!”
Xylia added fuel to the fire. “And you even called us stray dogs just now? You’ve got some nerve!”
The pair glared daggers at Caitlin, their eyes practically spitting fire.
“When did I ever bully your grandsons?” Caitlin crossed her arms, utterly unbothered.
Willa yanked her two grandsons forward. “Kyle, Quinton, tell me–who hit you? Speak up! Grandma will make sure you get justice.”
“It was her!” The two boys pointed at Caitlin, their voices full of indignation.
“Did you hear that?” Willa seethed. “Look at their faces! They’re swollen with clear handprints. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Are you sure their faces aren’t just swollen because they’re naturally fat?” Caitlin asked coldly.
Xylia’s face turned red with anger. “How could you be so vile? Just because you don’t have children of your own, does that mean you can hit other people’s kids? And now you’re denying it?”
Caitlin let out a sharp laugh. “You keep accusing me of hitting them, but have you bothered to ask why I did it?”
Both women glared at her, saying nothing. Caitlin continued, “Your precious grandsons bullied Howard. I stepped in to teach them a small lesson, to show them what’s right and wrong. Is that so unreasonable?”
“Oh, I’ve never met a woman as shamelessly argumentative as you,” Xylia shot back. “An adult hitting children and then blaming them? Kyle and Quinton have always played nicely with Howard. They’re practically brothers. Stop twisting the truth to cover your misdeeds!”
“Brothers?” Caitlin turned to the boys. “Let me ask you–did you hit Howard? Did you stuff dirt and leaves to his mouth? Did you call him a mute and a bastard?”
The two boys, emboldened by their grandmother and mother’s presence, denied everything.
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“No! We didn’t do anything to Howard!”
“Mommy, Grandma, we were playing with him, and this woman came and hit us ! ”
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Willa’s face darkened with rage. “Did you hear that? My grandsons are innocent. You’re the one distorting the facts with your evil schemes ! ”
“Evil schemes? Twisting the facts?” Caitlin’s voice turned icy. “Just because Howard is small and can’t speak doesn’t mean you can bully him. Let me make this clear: now that I’m here, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on him again.”
Standing behind her, Howard quietly watched. Listening to her words, he felt an unfamiliar warmth in his chest.
So this is what it felt like to be protected by Mommy.
“You think you’re someone important?” Xylia sneered. “You’re just a fraud sent here to fool us. Don’t think you’re anything special!”
She lunged at Caitlin, but Caitlin moved faster.
Grabbing Xylia’s hair, Caitlin yanked her back and slapped her hard across the face.
*SMACK! SMACK!*
Then, with a swift kick, Caitlin sent Xylia sprawling to the ground.
“Ahhh!” Xylia screamed in shock and pain.
Everyone froze in disbelief. Even Lucy and the other servants gasped, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
*Oh no, Caitlin’s really in trouble now!*
Messing with Willa’s family could easily escalate to Beatrice herself. Who knew how this would end?
Willa, trembling with rage, ordered her people, “Pick her up! Teach her a lesson she’ll never forget!”
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