Wendel quickly comforted her. "Don’t worry. She’s just throwing a little tantrum. What else can she do? Run away?"
The two of them obediently returned home. By the time they arrived, Iris was already asleep, leaving Wendel with no chance to talk to her.
The next morning, Iris was startled awake by a sharp scream.
Still groggy, she walked into the living room, only to find Esther clutching the floral dress she had bought the day before, sobbing uncontrollably.
“My dress! There’s a huge hole in it! Someone clearly cut it with scissors! Who did this? Why would they do this to me?”
Wendel was also jolted awake by the commotion. He rushed over to inspect the dress and saw that it indeed had a long, jagged tear—an unmistakable sign that someone had deliberately cut it.
Their adoptive parents were awakened as well. Having lived frugally all their lives, they were immediately heartbroken at the sight of the ruined dress.
Immediately, Stella erupted in anger. “Which heartless wretch dared to cut up Esther’s dress? I swear, I’ll skin them alive!”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Iris.