Find Me In Your Labyrinth novel Chapter 5

The woman rushed over, and the flowers in her hand hit Estelle directly. She pushed her back violently and pulled Carmella into her arms.

Simone Kaiser anxiously checked Carmella, "Are you hurt? Are you bleeding? Where does it hurt?"

With dewy petals scattered all over the floor, the thorns on the flowers pricked Estelle's neck, causing a slight sting. She looked at the woman's anxious expression and was stunned for a moment.

Bennett quickly came over and asked Estelle, "Are you okay?"

Simone suddenly turned around, staring at Estelle with a fierce look, "What are you trying to do? Kill Carmella?"

Estelle was shocked by the disgust and hatred in the woman's eyes.

Carmella glanced at Estelle and hurriedly grabbed Simone's wrist. "Mom, you misunderstand. I asked my sister to help me trim my hair. She didn't hurt me."

"Oh, I see!" Bennett laughed and scolded Simone, "You're always so impulsive. You get angry without figuring things out. Look at Estelle's clothes, you've messed them up."

Simone, knowing she had wronged Estelle, looked embarrassed and defended herself, "I just saw Estelle holding scissors to Carmella's neck. How was I supposed to know she was cutting hair?"

"Enough!" Bennett shot Simone a look and turned to Carmella, "Take your sister to change her clothes; she looks all dirty now."

"Sister, come with me!"

Carmella tried to hold her hand, but Estelle subtly avoided her, her fingers brushing off the petals on her shoulder.

As they entered the bedroom on the second floor, Carmella apologized guiltily, "I'm so sorry, sis. I didn't expect mom to come home at this time and get you hurt."

"It's not your fault!" Estelle's innocent face showed a faint smile.

Carmella fetched a white T-shirt from the wardrobe and put it on the sofa. "This one is new and I have never worn it before. Try it on, sister; I'll wait for you downstairs."

"Okay."

After Carmella closed the door, Estelle looked at the shirt on the sofa, her expression dulling. What a coincidence—one wanting a haircut and the other just happening to come home!

After putting on the new shirt, Estelle walked down the hallway, and a door that wasn't closed tightly let out Bennett's voice, "How could you hit Estelle with flowers? That was too much!"

Estelle slowed her pace.

Simone was still unconvinced. "How could I have known she was cutting hair? She was holding scissors horizontally to Carmella's neck. I was completely freaked out!"

Bennett sighed, "Don't you think the way you've been treating Estelle is wrong? Don't forget that Estelle is our biological daughter!"

Simone argued, "I know. When she returned home three years ago, I wanted to make up for it, but she insisted on moving out. How could I make up for it?"

"Have you tried to keep her from moving out?" Bennett asked. "I know you love Carmella, but Estelle was taken away at birth and suffered so much outside. Can't you treat her more kindly?"

Simone's voice was helpless, "I want to treat Estelle better, but for twenty years, I've loved and pampered Carmella as my own. It is not something that I can change overnight. Plus, Carmella is so talented---piano, painting, violin---she excels at everything, so sensible and smart. Well, Estelle, she has nothing to show for herself; I just can't bring myself to like her!"

"How could you say that about your own daughter?"

"At least I'm not saying that in front of her, am I?" Simone complained, "You're also to blame for inviting her here. Her presence has ruined a perfectly good birthday party!"

Darkness clouded Estelle's eyes, and she didn't bother to listen further. She took the light gray jewelry box out of her bag and put it on the outdoor flower stand, then walked downstairs.

Carmella was holding a ragdoll cat downstairs. Seeing Estelle, she immediately asked with a smile, "Does the shirt fit, sis?"

"It's perfect, thank you!" Estelle replied politely.