Hendrix's words and tone immediately dragged Noelle back to the past. Countless times before, he had forced her to apologize in the same way to Sandra. And now, the same thing was happening to Rosie. She clenched her hands tightly, but she managed to keep her voice calm. "I've already apologized. What more do you want?"

"But you're the one who did wrong," Hendrix replied expressionlessly.

"I'm her mother, so what's wrong with me apologizing on her behalf?"

"Can you take responsibility for her for the rest of her life?"

"Are you lecturing me on how to be a good mother? I don't need you to teach me that!"

Sensing the growing tension between the two, the woman beside Hendrix couldn't help but have a slight change in expression. She tugged Hendrix's arm and said, "Maybe we should just let it go."

But Hendrix didn't even glance at her. He chuckled coldly and said, "I wouldn't dare lecture you. I'm just

teaching your daughter that when she does something wrong, she needs to own up to it."

Noelle stood there, then suddenly laughed. "Oh, is that so? Maybe it's because her father died early, so

no one taught her that. Don't worry. I'll make sure to teach her properly in the future."

With that, Noelle turned to leave with Rosie.

But in the next moment, Hendrix grabbed her wrist.

"Noelle, are you cursing me?"

The woman beside him was stunned the moment those words left his lips.

Even Rosie's eyes widened as she looked between Hendrix and Noelle.

"Let go!" Noelle said through gritted teeth.

Hendrix, of course, didn't release her.

Noelle immediately tried to pry his hand off.

Seeing this, Rosie-who had been silent and nervous-suddenly burst into

reached out to help Noelle. "Let go of my mommy!"

On. Without thinking, she

But her strength was no match for Hendrix's. If Noelle couldn't break free, there was certainly nothing Rosie could do to help.

Realizing this, Rosie stood up in the shopping cart and grabbed Hendrix's arm, ready to bite him.

Naturally, Hendrix saw what she was about to do. But for some reason, when he saw her open her mouth, he felt a strange urge to laugh.noveldrama

Noelle had done the same thing to him before. The apple really didn't fall far from the tree, after all.

Hendrix hadn't planned to stop her, but the woman beside him couldn't stand by. As Rosie was about to sink her teeth into Hendrix's arm, the woman rushed forward and pushed her away.

en

"What's wrong with you, kid? You're the one who did something wrong, and now, you still have the audacity to bite someone?"

Her push wasn't particularly strong, but she forgot that Rosie was only a toddler.

The force sent Rosie tumbling to the side, her nose slamming into the edge of the shelf. Blood gushed out instantly.

Noelle, who had been trying to break free from Hendrix, immediately froze. Then, she shoved him away like a madwoman and scooped Rosie into her arms.

"Rosie, are you okay? Rosie!"

"Mommy..." Rosie tried to speak, but blood flowed back into her throat, causing her to choke.

After coughing, blood spilled from her mouth.

"Rosie!" Noelle's voice grew frantic. Her hands kept trembling as tears streamed down her face. Without another glance at anyone else, she clutched Rosie tightly and dashed out of the supermarket.