Chapter 433: Calm Down
Hayley’s POV:
I wasn’t expecting it. My instincts kicked in, and I quickly dodged her sudden attack. The woman froze, her eyes wide and unblinking, fixed on me. Without warning, she reached for my arm, her voice shaky as she spoke. “Michelle… my Michelle. You’ve grown so much. Come, let me take a good look at you…”
I was taken aback by her strange behavior. I quickly pushed her away, speaking gently. “Please calm down and stay back. I’m not Michelle.”
But to my shock, she held on even tighter, insisting with a tearful tone, “No, you are Michelle; you’re my daughter, Michelle… Michelle, I’ve missed you so much, I really have…” Tears ran down her face as she spoke. Something about her sorrow pulled at my heart, though I wasn’t sure why. Hera’s voice echoed in my mind, assuring me that this woman couldn’t cause me harm.
I hesitated for a moment, letting her pull me in without resisting. But then, the woman reached out and wrapped her arms around me, sobbing. “Michelle! I’m so sorry, Michelle. I’m so sorry…” Instinctively, I placed a hand on her back, trying to comfort her as her sobs quieted in my embrace.
Just then, a servant hurried over, trying to intervene. “Madam, what are you doing here?” The woman shook the servant off violently. “Don’t touch me! I want my Michelle! Leave me alone, all of you!”
“This isn’t Miss Michelle! You’re mistaken,” the servant gently explained, attempting to calm the woman. “No, I’m not wrong! It’s her, she’s my Michelle…” the woman stubbornly repeated, holding onto me even tighter.
The servant, clearly distressed, looked at me with an apologetic expression. “Ms. Carson, I’m so sorry! This is Mrs. Sander. I’m sorry she’s causing you trouble.”
“It’s alright,” I replied, glancing at the woman with sympathy. She seemed to be in a fragile state, and it was hard not to feel pity for her.
At that moment, Freya entered, her face shadowed with frustration. But she spoke to the woman with patience. “Mom, please let go of her. She’s not Michelle; she’s just a guest…” The woman ignored her, gripping me even harder.
Freya sighed in exasperation and turned to the servants behind her. “Why are you standing there? Go pull my mom off her!” The servants quickly rushed to help, but the woman displayed surprising strength, refusing to release me.
Freya’s expression darkened, and it was clear she’d had enough. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and seized her mother’s wrist. “Wake up! Michelle is dead, and she’s not coming back. No matter how much you scream, she’ll never come back,” Freya snapped.
The words seemed to hit the woman hard. Her eyes widened, and with a sharp cry, she released me, crumpling to the ground in distress, tearing at her hair. “No… no…”
Freya signaled to the servants, who quickly stepped in to guide the woman away. Once the woman had been taken out of the room, Freya turned to me with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that, Ms. Carson.”
I wasn’t one to pry into other people’s problems, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit sorry for the woman. “It’s fine,” I said. “Since we’ve finished, I’ll head out now.”
“Winifred, please see Ms. Carson to the door,” Freya instructed. “Of course, Ms. Carson,” Winifred said, leading me outside where a driver was ready to take me back to school. When we arrived, I made my way to my dorm on my own.
Upon opening the door, I was surprised to see several large suitcases in the middle of the room. The bathroom light was on, and the sound of running water filled the air. I placed my bag down, pulled out a chair, and sat to begin unpacking my things. Just as I started, the bathroom door opened.