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    "Don''t do that, Mona. There are so many potatoes! Let me help you!" Barbara said sweetly and quickly snatched the peeler from Mona''s hand.


    "No need!" Mona emphasized once again. "There are many potatoes and a pecler beside me. Why does Barbara have to snatch the one I am holding?'' she thought.


    At that thought, Mona felt that Barbara must be up to no good. She became even more unwilling to give the peeler to Barbara.


    As the two struggled back and forth, the peeler in Mona''s hand slipped, grazing Barbara''s delicate skin and even drawing blood.


    At that moment, Albert appeared at the kitchen door. He saw the final scene where Mona was holding the peeler that had cut Barbara''s hand.


    Mona had her back to the kitchen door, while Barbara was facing the door. It could be said that Barbara had seen Albert earlier.


    "M-Mona, it hurts!" Barbara whined.


    Barbara spoke in a yful tone as if she were acting coy with Mona, though her gaze was fixed on the doorway.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Sensing someone behind her, Mona instinctively turned her head, locking eyes with Albert.


    Just moments ago, Mona had not understood what Barbara was trying to do, but now, seeing Albert there, she instantly realized Barbara''s intentions.


    Mona wanted to exin, but Albert had already walked over and was staring at Barbara with heartache.


    "Barbara, don''t cry. It''s nothing serious, just a little scrape. I''ll go get you a band-aid!" Albert said.


    Barbara sniffled and looked at Albert with a pitiful expression. "It''s my fault, Albert. I was the one who insisted on getting close to Mona, and that''s why the peeler cut my hand. It has nothing to do with Barbara!''


    Although Barbara was merely stating the facts to Mona, it somehow sounded as if she was being med.


    After hearing Barbara''s words, Albert felt even more sympathetic for her. He had seen clearly that it was Mona who identally cut Barbara''s hand, and yet Barbara was still speaking up for Mona. Mona, however, had not even offered an apology, and her expression remained indifferent, making Albert feel that Mona was deliberately picking on Barbara.


    "Mona, you hurt Barbara so shouldn''t you at least apologize?" Albert asked, noticing the blood seeping from Barbara''s hand. He quickly held her hand, feeling the warmth of her blood against his skin.


    Mona put down the potato and replied tly, "Barbara said it herself-she got close, and that''s how her hand got cut. It has nothing to do with me. I didn''t do anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"


    Hearing Mona''s words, Albert felt she was being unreasonably cold and heartless. He stared at Mona intently, clearly displeased.


    "Yes, Albert. Mona is right. It''s all because I wanted to help Mona peel the potato that I ended up cutting my own hand. Let''s not talk about it anymore. Could you go to my room and get me a band-aid?" Barbara asked.


    With teary eyes, Barbara gently pushed Albert out.


    Instead, Albert pulled Barbara closer, his concern for her growing even deeper. Holding up Barbara''s injured hand for Mona to see, he said coldly, "Mona, look at Barbara''s hand-you''re the one who hurt her. I saw it with my own eyes. Don''t you Chapter 350


    think an apology is the feast you could offer?"


    Albert subconsciously raised his voice as he spoke.


    "I didn''t do anything wrong. This has nothing to do with me. It''s not my fault!" Mona said determinedly.


    If Mona had simply apologized to Barbara, the matter would have been resolved-after all, it was a small issue. But Mona was stubborn. If she believed she was not at fault, she would not pologize, especially not to Barbara. She was extremely reluctant to do so. Just then, Maxwell and the others arrived, having heard themotion in the kitchen. As Maxwell walked in, he noticed the strained look on Mona''s face. He immediately went to her side and naturally took her hand, offering her support. "Grandpa, please say something to Mona! Look, she caused Barbara''s hand to bleed, yet she refuses to apologize, Albertined as soon as Bernard entered. Albert felt that he could not persuade Mona, but perhaps Bernard could. Bernard and the others noticed the blood on Barbara''s hand and the spot Albert held, realizing that a simple band-aid would not be enough.


    Instead of following Albert''s suggestion to make Mona apologize Bernard asked Jane to help tend to Barbara''s wound.


    Jane first applied medicine to Barbara''s injured finger, then wrapped it thickly with gauze. "Remind me to change the dressing tonight, and avoid getting the injured area wet for the next few days," Jane said.


    Barbara looked down, her eyes red as she thanked Jane and promised to remember her instructions.


    Deep down, she understood that while Jane and Bernard were not her biological grandparents, they treated her kindly though Mona was treated much better than her. After Jane finished tending to Barbara''s wound, the three of them exined the kitchen incident to Bernard and the others, Finally, Mona said, "As Barbara said herself, it has nothing to do with me; she brought this upon herself."


    "You''re right, Mona," Barbara said softly. "I ruined the Christmas spirit. I should just gather my things and leave. Without me, everyone will surely be happier." She lightly wiped a tear from her cheek and stood up to go to her room to pack.


    Watching her, Albert felt a pang of sympathy. He could see how much Barbara had to tiptoe around here, and the image of her happy face when she arrived with her suitcase came to mind. "Today, I will make sure that Mona apologizes to Barbara, he thought determinedly.


    It was Christmas, and Barbara had alreadye all this way. Berard would never allow her, a young woman, to spend the holiday alone. There was no way he would let her leave.


    "Mona, look, Barbara''s hand is hurt. Why don''t you just apologize to her?" Bernard said gently after a long pause. From the conversation between the three of them, Bernard understood that Mona had not done it intentionally. Barbara had approached Mona, and Mona simply had not pulled back the peeler in time, which led to Barbara''s injury.


    At this moment, though, Barbara was indeed injured and had lost quite a bit of blood. Bernard thought it would be simple enough for Mona to just apologize..


    "Come on, just apologize to her. You were the one who hurt her, so it''s only right to apologize," Bernard said, looking Mona in the eye with a slightly firm tone.


    "They have already made it clear earlier-it wasn''t Mona''s fault. She doesn''t need to apologize!" Maxwell said coldly, casting a harsh re at Barbara. He thought, ''It''s just a bit of blood, what''s the big deal? And now she''s crying. So fake!


    Mona patted Maxwell''s hand to reassure him. She looked at everyone in the living room. There were no surveince cameras in the kitchen. ''It seems like I''m going to suffer in silence again. There''s no way I''m going to allow that to happen!'' she thought.