Chapter 261 The Concealed Hostility

Cleo's crying, which had just subsided, grew louder again. Catherine did not understand why, but she gently patted Cleo's back. It took a while to make her stop crying. Catherine turned to get some antiseptic to treat Cleo's wound, but her daughter grabbed the hem of her shirt and would not let go. Catherine guessed that Cleo was afraid. She decided to let someone else handle the medicine while she held Cleo's hand. "I'm not going anywhere," she said. "Don't be afraid." Cleo crawled up from the bed and curled into Catherine's arms. She looked insecure. After Catherine coaxed her to sleep, she carefully treated the wound. Seeing Cleo's face wrinkle in pain, Catherine felt a pang of distress. She wondered if this injury could have been avoided if she had bathed Cleo herself that night. Catherine stroked Cleo's head. She told herself that once she finished this busy period, she would have more time to accompany her. The next morning, she placed Cleo in the children's area of the