The next day Victor decided to tell Patricia what had been on his mind. He sat quietly for a while, thinking about how to bring it up. Finally he looked at Patricia and said, “Patricia, I need to tell you something.” Patricia, busy with her chores, replied sharply, “What is it now?” Victor cleared his throat and said, “Hope has changed her name. She said she doesn’t want to be called Hope anymore. She wants to be called Amanda.” The moment Patricia heard those words, she stopped in her tracks. Her face twisted with anger and her voice rose like thunder. “That little brat!” she shouted, her eyes wide with fury. “I told you, Victor! I told you that girl was sent to destroy this marriage!” She suddenly burst into tears, crying loudly as if her heart was breaking. “Oh, my beautiful baby Amanda, I miss you so much. How could that girl call herself my daughter’s name? How could she mock my pain like this?” Patricia cried and wailed, her voice filling the house. Then she stood up, wiped her tears, and said with bitterness, “Victor, we must chase her away. I don’t want her in this house. I can’t stand the sight of her.”
Victor shook his head firmly. “No. I can’t do that. She is my daughter now. Until I find her real parents, I won’t send her away.” Patricia’s face turned red with anger. “If you refuse to chase her away, then I will leave this house! I won’t live under the same roof with that cursed child!” Victor looked her straight in the eyes and said calmly, “You are free to go, Patricia. After all, you have no child for me. What use is your staying here? You can go.” Patricia was shocked. Her mouth fell open and tears filled her eyes again. “So you choose a total stranger over me?” she cried. “After everything I’ve done for you, after all these years of being your wife?” Victor remained silent. His silence spoke louder than words. Patricia cried harder, hoping Victor would change his mind, but he didn’t. After a while she wiped her tears, stood up straight, and said with a cold, bitter voice, “I will not leave my marriage because of that little witch. Since you won’t send her away, I will make this house so uncomfortable for her that she will beg to leave.” Victor replied sharply, “Don’t you dare. If you try anything funny, I will make sure you regret ever knowing me.” Then he turned and walked away, leaving Patricia standing there, fuming with anger.
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