The arguing in the Shaw household never stopped.
By contrast, the family compound was exceptionally quiet. Cecilia Adler studied her face in the mirror. The clear five-fingered print from the slap had faded into a red patch. To speed up the healing, she boiled two eggs and used them while they were still hot to massage her cheek.
She stewed, trying to figure out how to get back at Ruth Shaw and vent her fury.
Anyone could accuse her of having a poor upbringing, but the Shaws had absolutely no right to.
She wasn't going to let this slide.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
"Who is it?" she yelled impatiently. "It's one thing after another today."
Suddenly, it went quiet outside.
'It couldn't be my father-in-law, could it?' Cecilia wondered.
'He's the only one who ever visits,' she thought.
'What if he heard how loud I was? What if his opinion of me gets even worse?'
