She winked at Emma, and the two of them seemed to share some private understanding.
Emma had always been proud, never one to apologize easily—least of all now, when she hated me so deeply.
But to my surprise, she nodded at Chloe, then pursed her lips and said crisply,
“Mommy, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me, okay?”
Her eyes still burned with resentment, but she no longer bared her teeth at me.
I found it bitterly ironic—my own child, filled with hate toward me, could be tamed into obedience with just a few words from another woman.
