I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 272

She hid the dress behind her back, her chin tilting up defensively. "I am not! What's wrong with pink? Is it a crime to like it? Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you can call me a loser!"

Cassie turned her face away, muttering "Childish," and refused to say another word to Bonnie.

Nora's expression turned icy. "Cassie, apologize to Bonnie."

Cassie stubbornly lifted her chin, her tone filled with self-righteousness. "I didn't say anything wrong, so why should I apologize? Pink is babyish. Only the weak, overly sensitive girls in my class wear that color. Just like how you used to buy me those kinds of dresses. You're all just childish."

Nora let out a deep breath, forcefully swallowing the swell of emotion in her chest. She crouched down to Cassie's eye level, gripping the girl's shoulders and trying her best to remain patient.

"Everyone has the right to like different colors. No one made a rule about what you can or can't wear at any age. If you like black and an edgy style, that's your choice. If Bonnie likes pink, that's her choice. You think pink is childish, but Bonnie thinks it's pretty. You two just have different tastes; it doesn't mean anyone is right or wrong. Do you understand, Cassie?"

Cassie's brow furrowed as her little brain worked hard to process her mother's words.

It made a tiny bit of sense, but she still didn't think she was in the wrong.

She tilted her head, thinking it over, before muttering, "But wearing pink is just whiny. Whiny and childish."

Seraphina let out a soft laugh, reaching out to pull Cassie closer to her side. Her tone was dismissive.

"Nora, they're just kids bickering. Don't take it so seriously, you're going to upset Cassie. Forcing your own daughter to apologize for the sake of someone else's kid—isn't that a bit of an overreaction?"

"Mom, stop saying stuff like that to me. I just hate pink, and you don't get to tell me what to buy."

Nora's brow furrowed slightly, but the ripple of emotion quickly flattened out into utter numbness.

She had lived through this scenario too many times to count. Drained of any desire to fight, her tone leveled out. "In that case, I'll go shopping with whoever I want. You don't get a say in that, either."

With that, she took Bonnie's hand and turned to walk away.

Cassie stood frozen for a second before bursting into loud, frantic sobs.