She Turned Her Grief Into Wings novel Chapter 75

Caden lifted his gaze to look at her, his tone indifferent. "Didn't she already explain herself? She said she had things to do."

Rowena frowned, clearly dissatisfied with his attitude. "Caden, you never used to be like this."

"And what was I like before?"

Rowena sat across from him, her expression turning sour. "Before, whether we were picking up golf balls on the course or holding shopping bags, you always told her to stick by me. Even if she didn't want to, you'd tell her to learn some manners. What's wrong with you now? You won't even speak up for me?"

Hearing her words, Caden's eyes flickered, his fingertips pausing as they traced the edge of his purple clay teacup.

He took a slow sip before asking, "Didn't Helga go shopping with you? Why did you insist on giving her a hard time?"

"A hard time?"

Rowena could hardly believe her ears. "You're saying I gave her a hard time? A junior who doesn't even greet her elders is one thing, but when I actively invite her out, she gives me the cold shoulder! And now you're making me out to be the bad guy?"

Seeing her drone on and on, Caden took a deep breath. "Then what do you want? Drag her over here to apologize to you?"

"Did I say I wanted her to apologize? I just can't stand her arrogant attitude."

Caden replied, "I know exactly how she treats people. There's no need for you to exaggerate."

"I'm exaggerating?"

Noticing their voices rising, Helga quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Rowena, please calm down. You and Caden haven't seen each other in so long; there's really no need to fight over this."

"Am I fighting with him? He's the one disrespecting his own aunt over a woman who isn't even fit to be shown in public!"

If she was willing to say something this awful right to his face, what exactly was she saying to Shera behind closed doors?

He couldn't even bear to imagine.

It brought back Aiken's words from the other night—how they had forced Shera to kneel in the snow for two solid hours just because a child tripped.

Whenever he wasn't around, this was how they bullied her.

His knuckles turned white, a surge of resentment bubbling in his chest. His brows pulled tightly together. "I remember everything you've done for me, but Shera is my wife. I'm asking you to show her a basic level of respect. Calling her unpresentable, calling her a bitch—is this how an elder is supposed to behave?"

"You..." Rowena was so choked up by his comeback she could barely breathe. Slumping against the sofa, she clutched her chest. "Caden Hayes, you..."