As the years passed, Genevieve's condition worsened.
The dance studios once proudly run by the Frost family closed down one by one — like lights flickering out in the middle of the night. Neighbors who once admired the couple now avoided every path Genevieve walked.
Five years had passed since Lucille's birth, and in that time, the love between William and Genevieve had vanished like dust in the wind.
One morning, as William fed five-year-old Lucille at the table, Genevieve walked in, applying makeup.
"I'm going out for a while," she said coldly. But when she saw William still feeding their daughter, she added, "That's why she's spoiled. You're raising her to be useless."
William's patience snapped. "If you're leaving, just go. Don't meddle."
"Oh really? You've got the nerve to shout at me? What exactly are you proud of?"
"What I'm proud of?" William nearly shouted, his voice trembling with restrained rage. "That I've been the real parent to our daughter! That I've endured every scream and neglect from you as a mother. You — you were never a mother. You're worthless."
Genevieve flushed with anger. For a moment, she felt a sting of guilt. "I don't care what you say!"
"Of course you don't. You've been gone from us for years — not just as a wife, but as a mother. If I'd known you'd become like this, I wish I'd never met you."
She stormed out, hands shaking. "Get out of my sight, Genevieve. Before I do something I'll regret more."
That night, when Genevieve returned home, she found William drunk, slumped over the table. But Lucille was nowhere to be seen.
Genevieve froze. She couldn't explain why, but a sharp ache pierced her chest — something maternal, something human. She stared at her husband, and for a few seconds, it was as if a voice whispered:
"What have you done? What have you become?"
In that moment — between sobs, the smell of alcohol, and silence — something passed between them. A moment neither could explain.
The next morning, Mary Jane returned from Amsterdam with her four-year-old daughter, Megan. With her modest savings, she had opened a small diner in Philadelphia — a symbol of new beginnings.
At the airport, a familiar voice called out.
"Mary Jane, is that you?"
She turned and saw Antonette, carrying a basket of fruit and smiling.
"Antonette! How are you?" Mary Jane greeted her warmly.
"I'm well," the older woman replied. "Just dropped my son off — he's flying to Switzerland. And this little one, is she yours? What a beautiful child."
Mary Jane smiled and stroked Megan's hair. "Thank you. This is Megan."
Antonette shook her head. "You clearly love her deeply. What I don't understand is how your sister Genevieve turned out so differently. Poor William and Lucille. She didn't even show up at the baptism — we later found out you paid for it. And during the reception, she drove us out and insulted us."
"I apologize for my sister's behavior," Mary Jane said sadly.
"If you saw your brother-in-law and niece now, you'd feel sorry for them. William's studios are gone, he's drowning in debt, and your sister acts like she's single — she's forgotten what it means to be a mother."
Mary Jane fell silent. "I don't know what happened to her."
"None of us do," Antonette replied. "Even William couldn't understand what was happening. She was kind during her pregnancy, but after giving birth, she changed. There are rumors she's mentally unstable."
Mary Jane didn't know whether to seek out her sister or let her go — their last fight had left deep scars.
The next day, at the Frost home, William woke up with a foggy mind — unable to recall the previous night. Moments later, Carrie Rowland arrived, the teenager he'd asked to watch Lucille while he considered separating from Genevieve.
"Mr. Frost, here's Lucille," Carrie said cheerfully, despite being tired.
"I'm sorry, Carrie. I didn't check in yesterday," William said, reaching for his wallet.
Carrie smiled and shook her head. "It's fine, Mr. Frost. Lucille's such a sweet girl. Give her a toy and she's quiet. When she's hungry, she just comes to ask. I wish I had a sibling like her."
"Lucille, I'll see you later, okay? Come visit us again," Carrie said, waving goodbye.
But before she could leave, Genevieve appeared.
"You little flirt!" she screamed, slapping Carrie hard.
"Mrs. Frost, you're mistaken! I just brought Lucille back!" Carrie cried, shocked.
"You're calling me a liar?" Genevieve shouted, grabbing her hair.
"Genevieve, that's enough!" William yelled, pulling his wife away. "Carrie, go home!"
Carrie ran out in tears, humiliated — her cries heard by nearby neighbors.
"You're unbelievable, William! You're replacing me with a younger girl!" Genevieve screamed, trying to shame him.
"I don't care what you think," William said, carrying Lucille inside. "You're a coward of a mother who won't admit her mistakes."
Moments later, Carrie's mother, Dolores, arrived — furious.
"Hey, lunatic!" she shouted at Genevieve. "What gives you the right to hurt and accuse my daughter? Are you really dumb or real insane"
"What are you talking about?" Genevieve denied.
"We saw everything!" a neighbor chimed in. "You insulted and nearly assaulted that girl!"
"You're all liars! You're just targeting me!" Genevieve screamed, trembling.
"You're a menace wherever you go," Dolores snapped. "If not for William's kindness, we'd have kicked you out long ago."
"What right do you have to say that?" Genevieve retorted.
"What right?" Dolores shot back. "What mother wouldn't be furious knowing someone hurt her child? But you — you're not a mother. You're just someone to be used. I'm warning you, Mrs. Frost — if you ever touch my daughter again, you'll be facing me."
"Facing you? Do you have proof?" Genevieve challenged.
"Proof? There's a hand print on my daughter's cheek and neighbors who saw everything. That's more than enough. We'll see each other in court. I won't let this go. Maybe it's time for you to know what real mothers do when they're children are mistreated by others"
Before the confrontation escalated further, the sheriff arrived to investigate the disturbance.