“Okay?” Maureen’s voice sliced through me. “You could’ve killed her!”
“What?” I stepped back, my hands still trembling. “She was choking—”
“You probably gave it to her to make her choke—”
I felt something inside me snap. “I didn’t give her the candy! It was Sasha. Maybe if you were watching your child instead of gossiping about dresses—”
Mike slammed his palm on the table. “Are you blaming Sasha now? For giving her candy? Are you that pathetic?”
Nico crossed his arms, sneering. “Always blaming someone else. No wonder no one wants you here.”
Maureen lunged at me, tears streaking her mascara. “You’re useless! I hate you! You’re not even a real mother—”
I didn’t even feel my hand move until the sound cracked in the air. The slap echoed. Maureen’s eyes widened, her cheek red and trembling.
For a heartbeat, the room fell silent. Then chaos.
Mike stormed toward me, his face twisted in rage. “You dare touch my daughter? You worthless piece of trash—”
“She’s my daughter too,” I shot back, my voice low. “But maybe if you all watched your own kid—”