She raised a brow, her mouth curling into a fake, concerned pout. “I never said anything, but… I saw you, Lucille.” Her eyes flicked to Kelvin. “I saw her putting things in Lyra’s food, her milk. She wanted Lyra to get sick so she’d have an excuse to play the grieving mother and got your attention.”
Kelvin’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing at me. “Is that true?”
“Are you serious?” I laughed, but it was forced, shaky. “Kelvin, do you hear yourself?”
Patricia gasped, putting a hand over her heart as if I’d wounded her. “Lucille, I watched you poison your own daughter! And now you’re trying to play innocent?”
I marched over to her, my fists clenched at my sides. “Stop making up stories, Patricia! Or you'll regret it.”
Patricia let out a soft, pitiful whimper, glancing at Kelvin as if she were the victim here. “Kelvin… do you see? Do you see what I mean? She’s unhinged.”
“Unhinged?” I repeated, my voice cracking. “I didn’t know I had a snake for a sister! One who spins lies just to steal her sister’s husband!”
But Kelvin’s expression was ice cold. “Funny,” he said, crossing his arms. “Patricia has no reason to lie. But you? You’ve always been… extreme.”
“Extreme?” I couldn’t believe it.
Patricia leaned forward, sneering just enough so Kelvin couldn’t see. “You always wanted people to feel sorry for you, Lucille. Everyone knows you love to play the victim.”
“You—!” The words tangled in my throat, replaced by a surge of white-hot rage. I raised my hand, and before I knew it, I’d slapped her. Hard.
Patricia’s face snapped to the side, her hand flying to her cheek. She let out a dramatic cry, collapsing into the couch, clutching her face like I’d broken something.
“Kelvin!” she wailed, tears welling in her eyes. “Did you see that? She hit me!”
Kelvin was on me in seconds. He slapped me hard across the face, the force sending me stumbling backward until I hit the floor. My vision blurred as pain exploded across my cheek, my nose starting to bleed. I held my face, staring up at him in shock.
“What is wrong with you?” he snarled, towering over me. “Patricia just got back from the hospital, and you slap her? She’s been nothing but good to you!”
I steadied myself, gripping the floor to keep from falling apart. Kelvin’s glare drilled into me, and Patricia’s smug smile only made it worse. The anger I felt burned through every part of me, but I forced myself to stay calm.