Joy froze, her words caught in her throat.
She tried to give an answer, find anything that she could say that Cassius had done wrong and needed punishment for but no matter how much she thought about it nothing came to her mind.
And realising this, she couldn't help but tremble with how frustrated she was, as she had never been so clueless or lost before.
And seeing her daughter's reaction, Maria reached over, stroking her daughter's hand affectionately.
"There, there. Don't get upset now. Your mother's right here. No need to cry."
"I—I'm not crying." Joy muttered through gritted teeth, her face flushed with frustration. "I'm not!"
Maria chuckled lightly. "Of course you're not, dear."
Joy looked away, her voice low. "I will find something wrong with him. I have to. There's no way he's that perfect."
Maria smiled knowingly but said nothing more, only shaking her head affectionately at her daughter's stubbornness.
