Chapter 276



“Mom, please,” Bria said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don’t be so harsh. She can’t talk.”

Astrid’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Leaning in, she stage-whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, “She’s a mute? Why the hell did they bring back a mute?”

“Shut your damn mouth!”

“Shut up, woman!”

Tyrone and Abram erupted in unison, their voices booming through the hall.

Abram shot Astrid a furious look, grabbing her arm and yanking her away from the group.

Astrid, teetering on her heels, narrowly avoided a fall. “Have you lost your mind?” she hissed, adjusting her hair. “What the hell is wrong with you? I’m just stating the obvious! I met your sister before, and she was perfectly healthy. So why the hell did she have a mute kid? Something ain’t right here, and I want some damn answers.”

Kallie’s initial frown softened. She couldn’t blame Astrid for her suspicions. She never believed she was a member of this family. Therefore, even though she was suspected, she was unfazed. As long as they didn’t actively try to harm her, their doubts didn’t bother her.

Klein, clearly embarrassed by Astrid’s outburst, pulled her aside for a stern talking-to.

Klein then approached Kallie with a sincere apology. “I’m so sorry, Kallie,” he said. “My mother can be very blunt, just like my sister. Please don’t take her words to heart. I’ve given her a piece of my mind, and I promise she won’t say anything like that again.”

Klein sounded sincere.

Tyrone, hearing Klein’s words, softened his demeanor yet kept his tone stern. “Just consider Kallie’s feelings and ask if she can overlook this. How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of such harshness?”

Klein quickly nodded, eager to smooth things over. “I understand.”

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Kallie responded via sign language, her interpreter translating for her, emphasizing her resilience but also her desire for distance. “I’m used to hearing such comments. It’s fine as long as we keep our interactions minimal in the future.”

Bria, unable to hide her disdain, scoffed at Kallie’s measured response. “Mom, Dad, Klein, don’t be shocked. It seems living with the Nixons has given her a sense of entitlement.”

Bria bitterly added, “Of course, with Ewing and Tyrone’s support, who would dare to challenge her?”

Abram, weary of the conflict, cut in sharply, “Enough of this.”

Bria, clearly frustrated by the lack of support, turned her back to her father.

Astrid was seething, her voice dripping with disdain. “Look at her! Acting as if we’re the ones desperate to be associated with her. It must have been hard for her out there, and that’s why she can’t wait to come back. I don’t see what she has to be so proud of.”

Tyrone, sensing the escalating hostility, grew stern. “Come on. Let’s go,” he said gently to Kallie, guiding her out of the tension.

Left in the silence of the now empty hall, Abram, Astrid, Bria, and Klein were a mix of simmering emotions.

Abram was the first to voice his thoughts, trying to inject some reason, “Why are you so harsh with someone who can’t even argue back? Can’t you see how much my old man cares for her?”

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