"Maybe she's never seen a young tomato plant before?"
"But everyone knows what tomatoes look like..."
The whispers were damaging Maya's reputation and credibility with each passing second.
Finally, Maya seemed to deflate, all her dramatic energy draining away.
"I... I was just so worried," she said in a small voice, her earlier shrieking completely gone. "When my husband collapsed, I panicked. I saw that plant and I didn't recognize it, and I jumped to conclusions. I... I apologize."
The apology was clearly forced and insincere, but it was an admission of defeat.
Heena looked at her with a cold smile.
"I accept your apology, Mother-in-law. I understand that worry can make people act... irrationally."
The way she said "irrationally" made it clear she thought Maya was an absolute idiot.
Samuel picked up the tomato plant carefully.
