Chapter 963 Violet's Jealousy
Shirley let out a piercing scream as a cup of boiling water splashed over her, making her jump up in agony, tears streaming down her face. "It's so hot! It hurts!"
Everyone sprang into action.
Charles, who was standing right next to her, was the first to check on her.
The skin on the back of Shirley's neck was bright red from the burn. Even though it was 68 degrees inside, steam was still rising, showing just how hot that water had been.
Charles quickly scooped her up and rushed to the bathroom, pressing her head under the sink and running cold water over the burn.
Carter and Lassie followed closely behind. When they saw the large red mark on her neck, their eyes filled with worry.
Carter turned to Lassie and Charles, "Keep the cold water running. I'll go get some burn ointment. If we don't treat it, it'll scar."
Lassie nodded urgently. "Hurry! There's a pharmacy right at the entrance of the neighborhood."
Carter replied, "I know! I'll be right back."
Charles stayed silent, focused on running cold water over Shirley's neck.
Even though Shirley was only five, she was pretty tough. She cried a bit at first, but once the cold water hit the burn, the pain eased, and she stopped crying.
But she was still just a kid. Even though she tried to be brave, her shoulders shook with sobs.
Violet stood at the door, crying even harder than Shirley. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I tripped, and the water just spilled out of my hand and onto Shirley's neck. I'm really sorry!"
Seeing Shirley's red neck, Lassie was heartbroken and her tone got harsher, "You're an adult. How could you be so careless? Shirley is only five, and her skin is so delicate. How could she handle such hot water?"
Violet lowered her head, hiding a cold glint in her eyes.
Her voice, however, was full of guilt and sorrow, "I'm sorry. I don't know how it happened."
She said this and then rushed out.
Lassie immediately sensed something was off and followed her.
Sure enough, as soon as she reached the kitchen, she saw Violet picking up the kettle, about to pour the hot water on her own hand.
Lassie was so scared she almost stopped breathing. She rushed over and snatched the kettle from Violet's hand.
"What are you doing?" Lassie shouted.
Violet pretended to grab the kettle back from Lassie.
"I burned Shirley, so I was wrong. I want to make up for it. This is what I deserve. Mom, give me the kettle. I need to make it right for Shirley," Violet said.
Lassie had long noticed Violet's obsessive tendencies, but she didn't expect her to go this far.
Lassie had just spoken a bit harshly, but Violet was already trying to hurt herself.
Lassie angrily placed the kettle on the table, gritting her teeth. "Enough! You didn't do it on purpose, so you don't need to make it right for Shirley like this. She's still young and doesn't understand. When she grows up and finds out you did this, how will she feel? She'll live with guilt forever! Do you want that for her?"
Violet cried even harder, "I just want to make it right for Shirley. I feel so bad for her. Why am I so clumsy? Why couldn't that water have spilled on me instead? I feel so sorry for Shirley. If she gets a scar, I'll never forgive myself."
Lassie was furious.
Especially when she saw Violet trying to hurt herself with the kettle, her anger hit its peak.
But seeing Violet so remorseful, Lassie's anger melted away.
She hugged Violet and gently patted her back, trying to comfort her. "It'll be okay. Charles has already treated it, and it shouldn't leave a scar. Even if it does, with today's medical technology, there's always a way to fix it. Don't beat yourself up."
A quick flash of pride crossed Violet's eyes.
But her voice and expression were the opposite, filled with sobs and sadness. "Mom, I'm so stupid. I can't do anything right, and I always drag you down. After all this treatment, there's no improvement. I'm really useless. Why did I get sick? Why can't I remember anything?"
Violet said this on purpose to deepen Lassie's guilt.
Sure enough, hearing Violet's words, Lassie couldn't bear to blame her. Instead, she blamed herself. "It's not your fault. We didn't protect you well back then, which led to your kidnapping. You became like this because of me and your father."
Seeing that she had successfully made Lassie feel guilty, Violet's lips curled up in pride, but she still pretended to say, "It's not your fault. I've never blamed you and Dad. Don't blame yourselves anymore!"
Lassie said, "Violet, I'm sorry. For the past seven years, you've suffered so much. It's our incompetence. We didn't protect you well. I'm sorry."
The two hugged each other, crying.
When Charles came out of the bathroom holding Shirley's hand, he saw them hugging and crying.
Charles's eyes flickered, and his brows furrowed slightly.
He didn't know why, but he felt something was off.
As for what was off, he couldn't say for sure.
Shirley, being kind-hearted, didn't blame Violet at all. She walked over and hugged them both, saying, "Violet, I don't blame you. I know you didn't do it on purpose! I'm fine. It doesn't hurt at all after running cold water over it. Even if it leaves a scar, it's okay. I can cover it with my hair. As long as our family can always be together, that's all that matters."
Lassie let go of Violet and affectionately rubbed Shirley's head. "Shirley is so sensible! Come on, let Mommy see your injury."
Afraid that Lassie would feel distressed, Shirley covered the back of her neck and kept retreating. "It's really fine! It will completely heal in a couple of days."
The more she acted like this, the more worried Lassie became, chasing after her to check.
Shirley was just a child after all, and was soon caught by Lassie. When Lassie saw the back of her neck, she cried again, "The whole back is red. It must hurt a lot."
Shirley continued to comfort her, "It really doesn't hurt! Not at all, Mommy. Don't worry!"
Lassie wiped her tears.
How could it not hurt?
Burns and scalds were the most painful.
Lassie knew Shirley was trying to comfort her so she wouldn't worry. The more Shirley did this, the more Lassie felt heartbroken.
Shirley had just arrived and was already hurt!
It was Lassie's failure as a mother for not taking good care of Shirley.
Violet stood at the kitchen door, watching as all of Lassie's attention was on Shirley, her eyes red with jealousy.
Violet thought, 'No one could take what's hers, not Hannah, not Shirley.'
Charles' gaze unintentionally swept across Violet's face, and he frowned.
Violet's expression changed too quickly for him to see clearly.
He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that Violet's expression just now gave him a creepy feeling, very terrifying, like a demon.
He was quickly shocked by his own thought.
Charles thought, 'How could that be? I must have seen it wrong. Carter's daughter can't be a demon.'
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