Susan Caldwell let out a sob and continued, "Vera Xavier knows her status is too low for Mom and Dad to ever let her into the Caldwell family. So, after finding out Mom has a problem with me, she decided to use me to get on Mom's good side. My brother has always been a mama's boy, and Vera, being beautiful and a smooth talker, has had him wrapped around her little finger for ages!"
"Now, my brother only has eyes for Vera Xavier; he's completely forgotten about me, his own sister. He's constantly helping her bully me! Today, Vera slapped my face until it was swollen and gave me a bloody nose, and my brother still said it was for my own good!"
"How outrageous!" Julian Caldwell was furious. "How can this Vera Xavier be so malicious? And Sheldon... how can he be so foolish!"
"Dad, I'm only telling you this because I have no other choice," Susan Caldwell said through her tears. "Just... forget I said anything once I'm done. I don't want Mom to accuse me of sowing discord again."
