The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2588

“I had told her to wait for me by the auditorium doors before the rehearsal. I need to check in with the teacher first to see whether she could come with me to the backstage.”

But when I came out, she was gone. The teacher and everyone were inside waiting, and I couldn’t just bail on the others, leaving the teacher hanging like that!”

Mara sobbed as she explained, “Victoria, I didn’t just wander off. It was blazing hot outside the auditorium, so I was just looking for a spot in the shade. I didn’t see you come out, and if I had known I could’ve gone in, why would I have run around? I know better than to go off by myself in unfamiliar places. Dad, I really didn’t mean to! Please don’t scold Victoria, It’s all my fault. I won’t ever go to her school again.”

Victoria bit her lip and remained silent, while Elton, seeing his younger daughter so upset, lost his cool.

“You’re always so full of yourself, thinking you can handle everything. But what now?

You’ve let your little sister get lost in a strange place, and now that she’s finally back, you didn’t apologize but expect her to beg me not to be mad at you? Victoria, I’m so disappointed in you!”

hard, and with tears in her eyes,

Mara back safe and

talking back! Do you think you’ve done

and stoic stance spoke volumes of her hurt.

slapped Victoria across the face, “Fine, stand there then, and skip dinner tonight to reflect on

he had ever reprimanded her like this. Even when she made minor mistakes in the past, Elton would always downplay them. She had never been hit by

had never laid a hand on her throughout all the years he raised her. Seeing the shocked and hurt look

“I…”

cooking when you’re not home, making time to help her with her homework, and teaching her how to study. Don’t I get tired?

you hadn’t insisted on following me, how could you have been left at school?

away her tears and