The marriage was already over;this wasn’t my home anymore.I didn’t have the energy to argue.“Suit yourself,”I said.
Xavier didn’t expect me to let it go so easily.Seeing the calm on my face,he frowned and was about to say more when Vanessa spoke up.
“Mia,I just got off a late shift and haven’t had dinner yet.Could you help me with it?”Vanessa smiled,but there was a look of provocation in her eyes.“Xavier says your cooking is great;I’ve never tried it.”
“Call a servant,”I replied.
She turned to leave,but Vanessa let out a petulant hum.Xavier reached out to stop her.“Mia!”
He didn’t say anything further,but the meaning was clear.
The divorce agreement would soon take effect;I didn’t want to start a scene now.I forced a smile and trudged toward the kitchen.
The soup boiled in the pot;I mechanically ladled it into bowls and set them on the table.
“Is this all we’re eating?It looks horrible,”Vanessa said,covering her nose as she stood by the table.
I had no patience left.“You don’t have to eat it,”I shot back.
At that,I saw a calculating glint cross Vanessa’s eyes.In the next instant she grabbed my wrist and shoved it into the scalding soup.
“Ah—”
A searing burn shot from my palm through my whole body and I jerked my hand back reflexively,but Vanessa held it down.In the struggle,a ceramic bowl toppled and shattered on the floor,hot soup splattering everywhere.
I yanked my hand free,but blisters were already rising and my skin reddening.
“What’s going on?”Xavier shouted as he rushed in.
Vanessa,eyes rimmed red,lifted her hand to show soup stains on her forearm.“Xavier,Mia wouldn’t make me food and,in a fit,poured the soup on me.My hand hurts….”
Xavier’s face went pale.He grabbed my wrist.
“Mia!Are you serious?Apologize to Vanessa right now!”
White with pain,I bit my lip and tore my hand from his grip,holding up the burned,blistered palm.“You want me to apologize?Look closely—who deliberately threw the soup,who put their hand on whom?”
He froze.
He turned and gave Vanessa a suspicious look.
Vanessa went pale.
Suddenly she clutched her stomach and wailed,“Ah,my stomach—it hurts so much,Xavier.There’s chicken in the food;I’m allergic to beef!”
“I just asked a question and Mia got angry and dumped the soup on me.If you don’t believe me,check the security footage—I never lie.”
“Ah,my stomach,it hurts…”she sobbed.
Suspicion in Xavier’s eyes was replaced by anger.He looked at me coldly.