I refused to drop the matter and vowed to seek justice for my daughter. I desperately lurched forward to scratch his face.
Around this point, the door of the ward slowly opened and Rosette stepped out. Her face was pale like a ghost.
Leo immediately pulled over from me and rushed over to put his arms around Rosette. It hurt him just to see her in such a state.
He claimed that Rosette was his saint and that he was sick and tired of the drama of the world. According to him, she was the one who brought a glimmer of light into his dull and gray world.
He stated that he would not divorce me out of respect for my daughter, but I should not expect any more affection from him either. Rosette was the only one who deserved his love and attention.
He mollycoddled Rosette. “Why did you get up? I told you I would take care of everything for you. Are you feeling alright?”
Rosette regarded me with a silent look, then she started to plead as if she was a victim, “Clarice, it was all my fault. If you are upset, please take it out on me, and hit me if you want! Please just leave Leo alone, alright? He has been taking care of me and is exhausted.
“It’s my fault because my body is so weak to the point of needing a kidney transplant. When Leo found out about it, he tried to look for a donor for a long time before settling on Dianne. I know it’s hard for you to accept this because you’re a mother, but Dianne is a kind child. She is truly wonderful.”
Using this veiled apology, she was indirectly insulting me for lacking kindness and compassion. Leo was the only one too blinded by lust to not recognize that.
My eyes grew bloodshot as I bellowed, “You took my daughter! I’m going to skin you alive and crush your bones into powder!”
As soon as I raised my hand in the air, Rosette started to sob and cry out, “Leo, don’t stop her or blame her! Let her hit me all she wants. I can live with it as long as she gets to vent her anger. But, Clarice, I just wanted to say that you shouldn’t disrespect Dianne’s name.”
With that, she cocked her head back and closed her eyes as if to submit to her fate.
Rosette’s sincere pleas appealed to Leo’s feelings. He held her tighter in his arms and glared viciously at me.
“Clarice, this is why you will never compare to Rosette! Not only are you aggressive, but you are completely unreasonable as well! You’re a madwoman! Also, don’t you dare disrespect Dianne’s name with your filth! I won’t let you get away with it!”
Then, he turned around and went back to console Rosette, “You’re right. You never asked for any of this. It’s so unfair that you have a weak body. I promise I will protect you.”
I scoffed, “I’ll show you a madwoman!”
“If you even place a finger on Rosette, I will make you regret it…”
Smack!
Now that my daughter was gone, I had nothing left to lose. I slapped her across the face with every ounce of strength I had. Her cheeks turned red in an instant.
I observed the stark disbelief and anger painted on their faces. The sight of it gave me pleasure.
“Clarice! You’re insane! Do you have a death wish?”
I was about to throw myself at them when I felt someone grabbing me by my arm.
Someone cried out, “Clarice, you already said your piece and got what you wanted. Please just listen to Leo and leave.”
