Chapter 2588: Chapter 2588

“I had told her to wait for me by the auditorium doors before the rehearsal. I need to check in with the teacher first to see whether she could come with me to the backstage.”

But when I came out, she was gone. The teacher and everyone were inside waiting, and I couldn’t just bail on the others, leaving the teacher hanging like that!”

Mara sobbed as she explained, “Victoria, I didn’t just wander off. It was blazing hot outside the auditorium, so I was just looking for a spot in the shade. I didn’t see you come out, and if I had known I could’ve gone in, why would I have run around? I know better than to go off by myself in unfamiliar places. Dad, I really didn’t mean to! Please don’t scold Victoria, It’s all my fault. I won’t ever go to her school again.”

Victoria bit her lip and remained silent, while Elton, seeing his younger daughter so upset, lost his cool.

“You’re always so full of yourself, thinking you can handle everything. But what now?

You’ve let your little sister get lost in a strange place, and now that she’s finally back, you didn’t apologize but expect her to beg me not to be mad at you? Victoria, I’m so disappointed in you!”

Elton’s words hit Victoria hard, and with tears in her eyes, she looked up, “I’m so sorry. But isn’t Mara back safe and sound now?”

“You’re talking back! Do you think you’ve done nothing wrong?”

Victoria didn’t respond, but her silent and stoic stance spoke volumes of her hurt.

Elton was softened by his younger daughter’s tears. He slapped Victoria across the face, “Fine, stand there then, and skip dinner tonight to reflect on what you’ve done.”

Victoria stared at her father in disbelief; it was the first time he had ever reprimanded her like this. Even when she made minor mistakes in the past, Elton would always downplay them. She had never been hit by him before.

Regret washed over Elton almost the instant he struck her. His eldest daughter had always been so considerate and caring. He had never laid a hand on her throughout all the years he raised her. Seeing the shocked and hurt look in her eyes, he regretted it.

“I…”

“Dad, I’ve always looked out for her, cooking when you’re not home, making time to help her with her homework, and teaching her how to study. Don’t I get tired? Why can’t I have my weekends to myself?”

“If you hadn’t insisted on following me, how could you have been left at school? This is all your fault!”

After yelling at Mara, Victoria wiped away her tears and retreated to her room.

Elton took a couple of steps forward, then stopped as he was drawn by his daughter’s crying.

“Daddy, I’m sorry. I never realized I was such a burden on my sister. I won’t bother her anymore.

Please don’t blame her, Daddy. Today was all my fault, but I’m home safe now. I won’t go there again.

I’ll just stay home and study. I won’t ask her for help with questions I don’t understand anymore. I know it really bugs her and takes up her time, but I’m just so slow. I’m sorry, Daddy. It’s all my fault.”

Elton wrapped Mara in his arms, his voice tender, “You’re not slow, not at all. Everyone learns at their own pace.

Besides, if you can’t ask your sister, who can you turn to? She’s your sister! We’re a family. It’s our duty to look out for each other.

Otherwise, what if something happened to her? Would she not want you to care for her?”

Through her sobs, Mara replied, “If my sister got sick, I would definitely take care of her.”

“That’s right. You two have to take care of each other. When I’m old, I’ll be counting on you girls to support each other.”