Agatha sneered, not bothering to play the sweet, obedient act. “Linnea, you’re the one who murdered Soren’s sister, so why have you stayed by his side for five years? The place by his side belongs only to me! I advise you to leave immediately, or else next time it won’t be as simple as taking Aunt Isabel out for coffee.”
She raised her cup and pretended to pour it over Isabel. Linnea grabbed her hand, rage stripping her of reason, and slapped Agatha across the face.
“Soren, help!”
Hurried footsteps followed, and Soren appeared, his expression dark. He kicked Linnea in the chest, sending her sprawling. Scalding coffee splashed over her, the unhealed burns cracking open again as she grit her teeth in pain.
Before she could react, Agatha buried herself in Soren’s arms, sobbing. “Soren, you burned Aunt Isabel’s piano for me yesterday. I felt so bad, so I came to apologize to her… I didn’t expect Miss Carrington to scold me the moment she saw me. I just said a few words back, and she hit me! Soren, did I do something wrong… why does Miss Carrington hate me so much?”