Tabitha's POV
As soon as I spoke, Kelsey's face fell. She pouted unhappily at Andrea and complained, "Mrs. Greenwood, see how she is? How can she be so crass? I was merely trying to show kindness..."
Andrea had been sitting on the sidelines, watching the drama unfold. She probably did not expect that she'd get caught in the crossfire.
"Show your kindness?" she scoffed, setting her fork down and dabbing her mouth gracefully. "I'm not seeing any kindness in you. You've been nothing but critical of Tabitha's family. It's clear to me you're lacking in manners."
Kelsey looked at Andrea in disbelief.
I knew that she couldn't comprehend that after all the time she spent catering to Andrea, in the end, Andrea actually took my side.
"Mrs. Greenwood, I was standing up for you, you know. It's outrageous that as Derek's mate, she doesn't take good care of you. She sleeps in so late every day and doesn't even consider you as her mother-in-law."
Andrea looked down at her. "She didn't consider me as her mother-in-law, who did?"
Hearing this, Kelsey blushed and looked all flustered. "Mrs. Greenwood, you know how I feel about Derek..."
A chuckle reached my ears. The next second, Andrea, with her nails painted in bright red, lifted Kelsey's chin. "Do you know what I hate the most in my life?"
I looked at Kelsey, and then I turned my head to glance at Andrea's eyes.
I felt a murderous intent in her eyes.
Kelsey clearly felt it too, as she trembled all over. "I..."
Andrea added coldly, word by word, "The people I hate the most in my life are those who knowingly pursue someone who already has a partner."
This statement hit Kelsey like a bucket of ice water, leaving her feeling utterly chilled.
It then dawned on me, with Andrea's experience, wouldn't Kelsey have become a thorn in her side?
"Mrs. Greenwood, I wasn't that kind of person. Derek and I have been childhood friends. We knew each other first," she tried to explain.
Andrea pulled her hand back and used a wet wipe to clean the spot where she had just made contact with Kelsey's skin. "If I didn't have dementia, I've never heard Derek say he likes you. Ms. Arnold, are you just daydreaming?"
"But Mrs. Greenwood, I really like Derek. This woman isn't worthy of even a fingertip of his. She has no family background or connections, and she didn't even finish college. Apart from her looks, she's utterly useless. If Derek were to break up with her, our families joining forces would definitely make a much more suitable match."
"Like? The most worthless thing in this world is liking," Andrea said scornfully. "Or do you think the Black Thorn Pack is on the verge of bankruptcy and we have to resort to a marriage alliance to save it? The Arnold family's resources are fine to have, but we won't suffer any loss without them either. You're just a pianist; I don't see any nobility in you. Who gave you the audacity to repeatedly slander my daughter-in-law in front of me?"
If before Andrea had been too indifferent to bother with a junior like Kelsey, now she was directly firing at Kelsey.
Kelsey looked particularly aggrieved. "Mrs. Greenwood, what did I do wrong? For the past two years, I have served you like my own mother. If I make a mistake, please tell me. I can change..."
"Did I ask you to come and take care of me? Am I paralyzed or without hands and feet? Are there no servants in the Black Thorn Pack, or do you think you can do better than a servant?"
Kelsey's sobbing ceased, and she looked at Andrea in disbelief.
"Mrs. Greenwood, you didn't say that before."
"What am I supposed to say then? I can't just send away a servant who came to my door."
My wolf also sensed the awkwardness of Kelsey and the dominance of Andrea in my consciousness.
I looked at Kelsey without a trace of sympathy in my heart.
She knew that Derek was married, yet she continued to pester him, which was truly annoying.