The soup was boiling in the pot when I ladled it out and set it on the table. My hand ached from holding the heavy dish.
She wrinkled her nose immediately. “That’s it? This is the best you can do? It looks disgusting. Do you even know how to cook?”
I clenched my teeth, and whatever was left of my patience snapped. “Then don’t eat it,” I muttered.
Her eyes glinted with something cruel, and before I realized what was happening, she grabbed my wrist and shoved my hand straight into the scalding soup.
The pain shot up my arm like fire eating through my veins. I screamed and tried to pull away, but she pressed harder, pinning my hand down while the bowl rattled and spilled. The ceramic shattered against the floor and hot soup splashed everywhere.
I finally yanked free, clutching my wrist, but the skin was already swelling and blistering. My hand didn’t even feel like it belonged to me anymore.
I heard Wilbert’s footsteps rushing in when the bowl crashed. My hand was burning and throbbing, and before I could even catch my breath, Nivianne lifted her hand with fake tears in her eyes. “Wilbert, she threw soup on me. She got mad and did it on purpose. My hand hurts so much.”
He didn’t even think. His face turned dark, and he grabbed my wrist hard. “Anika! What’s wrong with you? Say sorry to Nivianne right now!”
The pain shot up my arm, and I bit down hard on my lip just to stop myself from screaming. I yanked my hand free and shoved it up in front of his face. My palm was swollen, raw, and blistered. “You want me to apologize? Look at this. Tell me who got burned and who did what.”
For a moment he froze. His eyes flicked between my hand and her pale face. He looked confused, maybe even doubting her. But before I could say more, she clutched her stomach and let out a dramatic wail. “Wilbert, my stomach… it hurts so much. There was peanut in that soup. I told you I’m allergic to peanut!” She gasped louder. “I only asked her one question and she lost her temper.”
“If you don’t believe me, check the cameras. I never lie, Wilbert!”
“Ah, my stomach, it hurts!”
I couldn’t believe her nerve. “I didn’t put peanut in it. Whoever is lying, the cameras will show it.”
Wilbert’s face twisted in anger again. His suspicion vanished like it was never there, and his eyes turned cold. “I told you she’s allergic. How could you?”