Part 3The Aunt from Hell

"I didn't! You're lying..."

My aunt froze, eyes wide with shock and embarrassment.

Before she could react, I continued in an innocent tone.

"You said Mom would only regret leaving if she saw me angry, and only then would she want to remarry Dad."

"But Auntie, I haven't seen Mom in so long. I really missed her. Could I not throw a tantrum this time?"

The room exploded.

Dad stood up abruptly. "Faye, what nonsense are you telling the child? Is this how you raise Lynn?"

My aunt's face turned pale, lips trembling. "No, I never said that. Lynn, what's wrong with you? When did Auntie say that?"

I put on a confused face and counted on my fingers: "This morning, yesterday, the day before... you say it every day."

"Oh no, I lost count. Auntie, don't be mad at me for being dumb."

I carefully tugged at her sleeve, looking up at her.

Her expression was a mix of anger and anxiety, but she couldn't explode in front of the relatives.

"How could I? Lynn is smart, but you can't lie!"

She squatted down, staring at me intently. "Good Lynn, be brave and admit when you lie, or Auntie won't like you anymore."

I quickly covered my mouth. "Auntie, I was wrong!"

A triumphant look appeared on her face.

Before she could speak, I smiled fawningly. "I admitted my mistake. So Auntie, you still have to take me to the reservoir to play!"

"Reservoir?!"

Mom and Dad screamed in unison.

"Lynn is only 8! Taking her to a reservoir? Are you crazy?" My mom was furious.

"Faye, this is outrageous!"

Even Grandpa scolded her.

"You're her aunt! How could you do such a thing?"

My aunt was scared silly, stammering an explanation. "...It was Lynn who insisted on swimming. I couldn't handle her tantrum..."

"Besides, she took swimming lessons. She'll be fine."

Ridiculous. I never threw a tantrum; she took me herself.

Thankfully, my mom wasn't buying it.

She gritted her teeth at my aunt: "If she wants to go, you take her? If she told you to eat shit, would you eat it?"

"My daughter survived by luck. Why didn't you take your daughter?"

My aunt panicked and reached for me. But being small, I dodged her, crawled under the table, and threw myself into my mom's arms.

"Mommy, I'm scared!"

Mom hugged me tight immediately, glaring at my aunt. "What do you want?"

Back in my mom's embrace, I almost cried.

In the past life, you protected me. This time, I'll protect you.