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Chapter 2892
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Vince nodded in agreement.
Rita and Sadie soon took their places at opposite ends of the table. As soon as Sadie sat down, she lowered her head in dejection.
Vince asked casually, "What's wrong? Did you have a bad night's sleep?"
Tears welled in Sadie's eyes as she lifted her head.
Rita could only marvel at Sadie and Karen's increasingly dramatic performances. She felt that they ought to dabble in an acting career, as Sadie would be able to make a name for herself and have an outlet to put those acting skills to good use.
Having to deal with their charades was exhausting. There were times when Rita had to put up an act too if she wanted to escape swiftly from a particular predicament.
Rita struggled to contain her laughter as she thought of all that while reaching for her favorite dish.
"It's nothing, Dad. Rita doesn't come back often, so let's not dwell on it any longer. Let's eat. You said you were hungry, didn't you, Mom? Go ahead and have more of your favorite dish."
Vince could no longer feign ignorance after seeing Sadie's attempts at reconciliation. He set down his cutlery and glanced sternly at Rita.
"Didn't I just tell you to call her down to have a meal together? Why do you always have to complicate things and make her unhappy?"
Rita nearly questioned her own ears. "What did I do this time? I was just standing outside her room! You saw that, didn't you?"
Sadie then interjected, "She's right. She didn't do anything at all. Come on, Dad, let's enjoy the food before it gets cold."
"Then why are you so upset if Rita didn't do anything? I know things haven't been easy for you because you're not my biological daughter, but I've vowed to treat you as my own from the day your mother and I got married. The least I should do is make sure you're being treated well."
Karen swallowed the food in her mouth and attempted to mediate with Vince. "It's normal for the girls to argue from time to time. They'll move on soon enough. This is the sort of thing you should stay out of."
"Why are you trying to smooth things over?" Vince asked. "Your own daughter doesn't even dare to complain to me because you spoil Rita so much and shield Rita from the consequences. Don't you know that spoiling a child isn't the right way of parenting?"
Karen frowned. "That's not true! Didn't Rita turn out just fine? I've never spoiled her to the point where she became entitled, did I? Now tell me what happened, Sadie. Don't cry crocodile tears in front of your father! Tell the truth!"
"Why are you both blaming me for this?" Sadie asked. "If a stranger saw us like this in public, they'd think I've done something terrible!"
Meanwhile, Vince was furious at Rita's nonchalance as she continued to eat her food in apparent indifference to the unfolding drama. "What's with that attitude, Rita? Your aunt is trying to defend you, and your sister is pleading on your behalf. Do you think everything revolves around you? Show some empathy, for goodness' sake! Where's your sense of basic human courtesy?"