Sharon Sterling stared blankly at Joy Dalton. She never expected that at a time like this, Joy would not only refuse to help her but would actually hit her and shift all the blame onto her shoulders. That was her mother, her own mother! She hadn't planned any of this; from start to finish, all she'd done was secretly film that video. But why? Why, in the end, would her mother not help her and instead pin everything on her?
The stinging pain on her cheek pierced Sharon Sterling's heart like a knife. Joy Dalton's slap and tirade made her feel abandoned and betrayed. "Mom… you hit me… But it was you…"
"Shut your mouth! What happened to all your schooling? How could you turn out like this? You've disappointed me so much!" To stop Sharon Sterling from saying more, Joy Dalton panicked and slapped her across the face again. The sound and force of this slap were even greater than the last, making everyone present wince as if they'd been struck themselves.
