“Spencer, the reason I asked was because I want to know how things are going between the both of you. I don’t want to be just your mother, darling. You can tell me stuff about your boyfriend…”

“Aiden’s not my boyfriend!” Spencer cut in sharply.

“Oh?” Paula stirred the contents in the pot. “Are you dating anyone?”

“That’s none of your business.” Spencer spat. “And don’t pretend you care.”

“Spencer!” Paula was now getting furious. “How dare you talk back to me in that way? Ever since you’ve come here, you’ve changed. Look at yourself!”

“If I have changed, as you call it, then I would say it has been for the better.”

“What is going on here?” Arthur had just returned home to be greeted by raised voices from the kitchen. He saw his wife and daughter engaged in what looked like a confrontation. That was in itself a surprising thing to watch.

“Arthur, you were the one who said that girls like Spencer don’t change overnight. Didn’t you say that?” Paula looked at her husband.

Arthur nodded. “Yes, I did. And I still believe in what I said.”

“How can you still believe in that? Look at our daughter! Look at what she has become. She is fighting with me. She got arrested in school. We hardly used to ground her once in a year but since she came here, we have had to use strict grounding measures so many times.” Paula paused, breathing hard. “It’s all that girl, Ashley’s fault. I told you she was a bad influence on Spencer. But you wouldn’t listen!”

“Don’t put the blame on Ashley, mom!” Spencer cried out.

“Why not? She is clearly the one inducing you to become so rebellious. Even your father sees it but he is too stuck with his liberal counselor mind to do anything about it.”

“Oh right, so now it’s my fault.” Arthur walked towards his daughter and stood beside her. “Maybe if you spent more time at home with your family, Spencer wouldn’t have the need to lean on to her friends. But Paula, you are too busy with your hospital and B…” He bit of the rest and clenched his jaw.

“Arthur, don’t.” Paula warned, her body stiffening. “This is not about you and me.”