âSure,â Nathan replied without hesitation.
He stood and walked around the table to take hold of the old manâs wheelchair.
Once they were gone, Florrie continued with her goading.
âYouâre so lucky, Lucinda.
Youâre a divorcee, yet Nathan is still willing to marry you.
You should be grateful that you were born into a rich family, otherwise- Ah!â
She wasnât able to finish her words as Lucinda grabbed a glass half -filled with juice and flung its contents across the table, smack dab into Florrieâs face.
The juice splashed all over her shoulders and hair.
âHow dare you?!â Florrie screeched, her eyes wide with outrage.
Lucinda raised an eyebrow and countered, âWhy shouldnât I dare? This is Nathanâs first time sitting down for dinner with the Simmons.
I merely tolerated you earlier for his sake, but you just pushed your luck and went too far.
â
âThis is the family residence, and I am still your stepmother!â
Lucinda scoffed.
âLet me ask you, apart from my father, who else in this family has ever accepted you? Donât tell me youâve never realized these things before.
Why are you always so quick to stick your nose into someone elseâs business? Are you that desperate to be acknowledged? Oh, is it because youâre aware just how utterly worthless your life is?â
âYou!â
Florrie was turning red with rage.
She whirled around to glare at the young couple.
Graham had his usual cold expression, while his wife struggled with holding back her laughter.
They were acting as if this matter was none of their business.
Noticing the direction of Florrieâs gaze, Lucinda sneered and snapped at her.
âWhat are you looking at? Were you expecting them to back you up? That is my brother, and my sister-in-law! The only reason theyâre not handing me a knife to cut you with is the respect they hold toward our father! And Iâll have you know that this is the most that they could do.
â
The moment Atticus left, Florrie had lost her only ally, the only person who could stomach
Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
her presence.
She promptly teared up and made a pitiful face.
Unfazed by the older womanâs display, Lucinda grabbed her steak knife, leaned across the table, and pressed the blade against Florrieâs throat.
Florrieâs morose expression was instantly replaced with one of fear.
âLucinda! Hurt me, and I guarantee that your father will have your head!â
Conscious of the servants outside the dining room, Violeta tried to intercede.
âLucindaâ¦â
The rest of her words drifted into silence when Graham took her hand, signaling her to leave the two women be.
Violeta settled back in her seat, and the couple watched the show in silence.
Florrie was getting more and more agitated.
She could already feel a stinging pain in her neck.
She didnât dare to make a single move.