âWhy do you have to be so rude? Canât get pearls from a swine,â Madeline said, arms crossed, looking down on Regina as if marrying into the Harris family had elevated her to a different social plane altogether.
Regina let out a light chuckle, âThat kind of narrow-mindedness is typical of a country bumpkin like you.â
Madelineâs face flushed red with anger. She loathed being called a country bumpkin, especially by someone like Regina.
âWho are you calling a bumpkin?â
âIâm just telling it like it is. Arenât you a little bit of a hick? All rustic and unsophisticated.â
âYou? You!â Madeline was beside herself with fury. âFor your information, I am the trendsetter at school.
Even the Redwood family heiress asks for my advice when she goes shopping.
Youâre the real country bumpkin here. Look at yourself, all dressed up with nowhere to go, thinking youâre fashion-forward. And you have the nerve to call me unsophisticated?â
Madeline was sputtering with rage, but the more she lost her cool, the more composed Regina appeared.
âWell, that just proves the Redwood girl doesnât know chic from shabby if sheâs coming to you for fashion tips.â
Regina, standing a good deal taller, made even the simplest outfit look chic. The sur backlighting her at the doorway accentuated her slender figure, which only added Madelineâs envy.
âOne more word, and I swear Iâll get Dad to settle this! Youâve been nothing but trouble since you got back, turning this house upside down. Heâs bound to give you an earful.â
Madeline seemed to revel in the thought of Regina getting a dressing-down from Francis, her face lighting up with a victorâs smile.
Regina was baffled. She couldnât fathom what she had done to make them think she feared her father.
So what if he scolds her? It goes in one ear and out the other. After all, she was Francisâ flesh and blood, not like Madeline, who was as good as an adopted daughter.
Regina didnât take her fatherâs scolding to heart, but Madeline was different. She always trod carefully in this household, never daring to show her dislike for Regina in front of Francis.
Unlike Regina, who seemed to act with impunity, knowing that, until now, she was still Francisâ only daughter.
Regina was sure her father wouldnât go out of his way to protect the adopted daughter at the expense of his own.
Even though Regina hadnât fully realized it, this was indeed part of her confidence.
âEnough. I canât be bothered to argue with you. Your mom has been calling for lunch; sheâll start to wilt from hunger soon. And if sheâs hungry, the little one inside her will be too. Consider your next move carefully.â
Regina turned on her heel and strode down the stairs with her long legs, leaving Madeline to stew in her jealousy.
âOh, look, both the girls have come down nowâ cooed Imogen, âI knew it. Regina mustâve just been a bit quiet earlier. Our Madeline is always so eager when it comes to the meal.â
Francis nodded in approval, âAlright, since both the kids are here, you start eating, love. Didnât you say you were craving pot roast? Let me serve you some.â
Imogen smiled..âThe two of them are close in age. When weâre older, theyâll have to look after each other. A little squabble here and there doesnât matter, as long as they can live together in harmony.â