The Day I Kissed An Older Man

"Watch your words. Who are you calling a mistress' daughter? My mother brought me into this marriage after your mom died!" Sadie retorted sharply.

Rita could never stand it when Sadie mentioned her mother's death so frivolously. It was a topic too painful to be treated lightly. Her expression hardened quickly, and she said, "You of all people should know what sort of character your mother has. Mine passed away due to illness, but yours isn't as upright as you think. Just because I was young when you two came into my life doesn't mean I'm clueless about what's happening. I know much more than you think, so stop trying to put on an act."

She then said, trailing off, "You know, Sadie..."

Rita began to approach Sadie, prompting Sadie to instinctively retreat a couple of steps. The contrast in their heights became more pronounced as they drew nearer. Rita inherited her mother's height and graceful figure, but Sadie took after her father's shorter stature which she compensated by paying more attention to her figure since joining the Russells. However, her height remained a conspicuous flaw that rendered her forever inferior to Rita's stature.

"If you say that I'm not fit to be with Sherman, then you're even less worthy of him," Rita continued with a hint of amusement. "Just because you've borne the Russell name for years doesn't mean you're a genuine part of our family."

A soft laugh escaped Rita's lips, causing Sadie's face to turn red with embarrassment. Sadie knew that Rita had always looked down on her.

"What do you take yourself for? You're just born into privilege! Oh, I see—I can't measure up to you because your mother married Vince first. But it's a shame she's long gone. Vince loves my mother now..." Rita realized that her greatest error over the years was her excessive tolerance of Karen and Sadie. It made her an easy target for their bullying. They felt free to say and do as they pleased in her presence, believing that she would not resist. After Sherman's recent rebuke, however, Rita could no longer endure Sadie's comments. She lashed out and delivered a tight slap to Sadie's cheek.

Sadie was left stunned as she

rubbed her stinging cheek. She was

unable to regain her composure from that slap, as no one in the Russett household had dared to lay a hand on her until Rita's audacious

act.

"Y-You!" Sadie's eyes welled with tears.

QUMS

Rita's eyes widened in some surprise. "This is a pretty convincing performance. Remember this when you're putting on the theatrics for my father next time. You're not television actress, so your usual melodramatic display is hardly convincing." Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"You just wait, Rita. I'll make you pay!" Sadie declared with tears streaming down her face.

Rita's impatience grew as she listened, knowing that there was nothing Sadie and Karen could do to her.

"Oh, I can wait. Now leave my house. I won't repeat myself," Rita commanded, pointing firmly toward the door.

Defeated, Sadie clenched her jaw and swallowed her humiliation as she left.

Sadie seethed with hatred toward

Rita, but she could at least find some comfort in knowing that no one else was home to witness their confrontation. If anyone were to see them like that, Sadie would have wanted to bury her head in the sand.