Chapter 445
Chapter 445:
She glanced at Callum, who still looked pleased, and wisely decided to swallow any unnecessary complaints. Irritating him over something so minor wasn’t worth it. Donna, on the other hand, had been bracing for Elianna’s usual sharp tongue.
Over time, she’d grown used to the older woman’s habit of sprinkling snide remarks over everything, no matter how perfect they were.
But today was different—oddly so. Not a single sarcastic comment had been fired in her direction.
Just then, the sound of the front door opening broke the moment. Bernice and Katelyn returned from their afternoon walk, their chatter echoing down the hall.
Bernice’s eyes immediately landed on the cake, her expression lighting up before she could stop it.
She’d always been a not-so-secret fan of Donna’s desserts, though she went to great lengths to try and not show her enthusiasm too much.
Feigning disinterest, Bernice let out a theatrical sigh. “Oh, cake again?” she said, her tone hovering between boredom and mockery.
Elianna, who doted on Bernice endlessly, gestured toward the tray with an approving smile. “Your aunt made this. Try a piece p>
Bernice didn’t need to be told twice. She slid into the chair across from Elianna, picked up a slice, and took a bite, her face betraying a flicker of delight as the chestnut and pecan flavors worked their magic. She quickly schooled her expression into one of nonchalance, though.
“It’s… okay,” Bernice said with an exaggerated shrug. “Not as amazing as I expected, though p>
Callum raised an eyebrow, smirking at her transparent act. “Bernice, why don’t you enlighten us and explain what exactly is wrong with it p>
Donna’s careful roasting of the chestnut shells had created a richness that set the dessert apart—nutty aroma wafting through the house.
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Bernice, who had been happily inhaling the lingering scent of roasted chestnuts in the room, failed to notice Callum. As soon as she heard his voice, her eyes widened in panic as she stammered, “U-Uncle Callum p>
Callum folded his arms, his tone heavy with mock surprise. “Oh? Didn’t notice me, did you? I’ve been home for a while, and you didn’t even say hello when you walked in p>
Katelyn immediately understood the root of Callum’s anger—Bernice’s careless remark had hit a nerve.
Everyone knew Callum’s unwavering stance when it came to his wife. Donna was his pride, his soft spot, and the one person he wouldn’t allow anyone to disrespect, intentionally or otherwise. Even Elianna, with all her sharpness, knew when to tread carefully around Donna.
Katelyn, however, was still adjusting. Though she had begun to see Yelena and Donna in a different light, her instincts often leaned toward her old habits. Today, she had let Bernice’s teasing slide, forgetting how quickly such moments could escalate under Callum’s watchful eye.
Katelyn no longer had the luxury of pride or defiance. Her husband’s family had practically cut ties with her, leaving her isolated and dependent on the Harris family.
Steeling herself, Katelyn took a breath and stepped in, her voice measured and conciliatory. She had to fix this before it got any worse.
“Callum, she’s just a kid. You know how Bernice is—sometimes she doesn’t think before speaking. Please don’t take it to heart p>
Callum’s voice cut through her attempt to smooth things over. “This isn’t about me taking it seriously or not. I can overlook a lot of things, but when it comes to Donna, she’s off-limits. Even though it seemed like a trivial matter on the surface, Callum saw it for what it truly was—a reflection of how little respect they had for Donna p>
“Besides, a kid? Bernice is a college student now. She’s old enough to know better. If she wants to act like an adult, she needs to learn to measure her words first. And if she can’t manage that herself, I’ll handle it for her p>