Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Abby’s seemingly sincere words almost convinced Pearl.

Sneering, Pearl said, “I don’t know what you’re plotting this time, but don’t provoke me again, or I won’t

let you off the hook.”

A sinister light flitted past Abby’s eyes as she kept her head down. Then, she abruptly raised her hand

and struck herself with a hard and forceful slap, startling Pearl.

“I was wrong, and I slapped myself as an apology. Plus, I came back this time to change everyone’s

perception of me. I really don’t have any ulterior motives.” Sobbing, Abby continued, “I know that Rick

likes you, so I won’t try to snatch him away from you.”

But Pearl found herself amused by yet another of Abby’s self-directed drama. “You’re trying to make

Richard witness me bullying you again, huh?”

Covering her face, Abby cried pitifully. “No, I really don’t mean anything else.” Seeing that it was almost

time, Abby stopped saying anything else. “Okay, I’m leaving. Do take care of yourself.’

“Bye.”

11 This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Not long after Abby left, Pearl was ready to take a nap when Susan entered the room, accompanied by

Abby.

Susan immediately bombarded Pearl with questions the moment she came in. “What’s going on,

Pearl? Did you slap Abby?”

Smiling at Abby, Pearl replied, “I didn’t slap her, Madam. She did it on her own.”

J

“Preposterous! Abby wouldn’t slap herself for nothing.” Susan was far from convinced. Besides, she felt

tremendous sympathy for Abby, who now bore a conspicuous red mark on her face. After all, she had

promised Abby’s mother to look out for her. She couldn’t simply dismiss this incident.

“But why would I randomly slap her?” Pearl’s logical question left Susan momentarily speechless.

Yet Abby interjected when Pearl appeared ready to dispel Susan’s doubts. “Madam, Pearl didn’t do

anything wrong. She simply doesn’t like me very much because of the things I’ve done to her, and she

hasn’t forgiven me yet. I deserved it…” Abby’s implication was that Pearl held a grudge and slapped

her because of past transgressions.

Enraged, Susan started demanding an explanation. “Pearl, I understand that Abby wronged you, but

she’s not a bad person. She acted that way because she liked Rick too much, and she assured me that

she would let you be with Rick. Look, she’s turned over a new leaf. Why won’t you give her a chance?”

Pearl, however, remained unmoved. “Of course, I haven’t forgiven her, and I never will.”

Susan rebuked angrily, “I’ll never allow Rick to marry someone as heartless as you. You’re so cruel that

you won’t even give a young woman a break!”

“Alright, if you doubt that I slapped her, I’ll provide evidence.” Pearl smiled as she pointed to the

surveillance camera in the upper right corner of the room. “All the rooms in this hospital are equipped

with surveillance systems. You can check with the hospital to verify whether it was me or not. Then

you’ll see who did it.” Pearl’s suggestion demonstrated her clear conscience.

Suddenly, Susan wondered if Pearl had really slapped Abby or not.

“Abby…” She turned to stare at Abby, making the latter rather uneasy.

Abby immediately explained, “I… I did slap myself, Madam. I just wanted Pearl to forgive me…” With

her head hung low, Abby was about to cry again.