Chapter 3 - THE GLASS THAT SHATTEREDThe glass slipped from both our hands.
It fell onto the marble floor.
Crystal shattered.
Orange juice spread beneath the wheelchair.
Vanessa jumped backward.
The empty packet fell from her fingers.
For one second, neither of us moved.
Then anger transformed her face.
“You did that deliberately.”
“Yes.”
She looked at the liquid covering the floor.
Her gaze went directly to the packet.
She bent toward it.
I moved my wheelchair over the paper.
One wheel pinned it against the marble.
“Move.”
“No.”
“You’re ruining the floor.”
“The floor will survive.”
She grabbed the wheelchair handle.
I locked the brake.
“Release it.”
Vanessa pulled harder.
Pain moved through my spine.
I gasped.
That sound brought Noah into the room.
“Stop!”
Vanessa turned.
He stood beside the door holding his phone.
“What are you doing here?”
“I saw you.”
“You saw Grandma throw a glass.”
“I saw the powder.”
Vanessa’s anger changed into alarm.
“What powder?”
“The white packet.”
“There was no packet.”
“It’s under the chair.”
She looked down.
The edge of the paper remained visible beneath my wheel.
“Noah, give me your phone.”
He held it against his chest.
“No.”
“I’m your mother.”
“And she’s my grandma.”
Vanessa walked toward him.
He stepped backward.
I released the wheelchair brake and moved between them as far as my weak arms allowed.
“Leave him alone.”
“This does not concern a child.”
“It concerned him when you frightened him.”
“I was giving you medicine.”
“You refused to identify it.”
“Because you become suspicious.”
Noah’s voice trembled.
“You hid the packet.”
Vanessa pointed at him.
“Go to your room.”
“No.”
“You will do as I say.”
He looked at me.
I saw fear.
And something stronger.
He had spent his whole life obeying his mother.
Standing against her was not natural for him.
It cost him.
I touched his arm.
“Go to the hall and call your father.”
Vanessa moved quickly.
She took the phone from Noah’s hand.
He tried to hold it.
She pulled it free.
“Enough.”
She glanced at the screen.
The camera application was open.
A photograph appeared.
Vanessa beside the crystal glass.
The packet tilted above it.
White powder falling into the orange juice.
Her face went pale.
She looked at Noah.
“Did you send this to anyone?”
He did not answer.
Her fingers moved across the screen.
She tried to delete it.
Noah lunged for the phone.
Vanessa pushed him aside.
He struck the wall with his shoulder.
I shouted her name.
She turned toward me.
May you like
The fear in her expression became fury.
Then she raised her hand.
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