All the guests went still, their eyes turning toward that woman.
Maeve clearly hadn’t expected me to actually push her. She stared at me for a few seconds, looking lost, then her eyes turned wet right away, tears dropping as if on command.
“I-I didn’t try to cause trouble, it’s my birthday today, so I wore red… just hoping for a bit of luck…”
“I really didn’t know today was your mother’s death anniversary, I just… I just came home with Brother Zion because he told me to…”
Her voice got weaker and weaker, and in the end, she leaned straight into Zion’s arms, acting like she’d been hurt badly.
Zion’s face had already darkened completely.
He lowered his head first, checking her carefully, then eased his voice. “Were you scared?”
Maeve shook her head, then nodded, tears falling even faster, but she still held onto him as she whispered, “I’m okay.”
Only then did Zion lift his head and stare at me, his eyes cold and empty.
“Natalie, I assumed you had finally matured and learned to think. I didn’t expect you to still act like this.”
“Your mom has been gone for so long. I only learned today that her death anniversary falls on the same date as Maeve’s birthday.”