Watching Zachary Preston and Vera Xavier interact made Cara Preston extremely uncomfortable, but she smiled and said, "Dad, you're the best!"
She then added, her eyes darting slyly, "My sister always used to score zero on her exams. After eating the eggs and noodles Dad made, I'm sure she'll be able to score a perfect hundred."
Vera Xavier knew Cara Preston was taking another opportunity to bad-mouth her in front of Zachary Preston. Her expression darkened, but Zachary Preston said, "As long as you both try your best, your scores don't matter."
Cara Preston was taken aback. Vera Xavier chuckled and said, "Dad, I'll work hard. I won't disappoint you."
On the way to school, Cara Preston asked Vera Xavier, "Vera, how could you make Mom so angry yesterday? She's your biological mother, after all!"
Vera Xavier brushed her bangs aside, revealing a forehead smeared with gentian violet. "When she was hitting me, was I supposed to just stand there and let her, and get beaten to death?"
