Chapter 18: Spicy Cupcake Meanwhile, on the other side of town...

"Christy, darling, would you please come out? You've been in there for over two hours," Nora called out as she knocked gently on the bathroom door. Christina had locked herself inside as soon as they returned from the mall, and she hadn't uttered a single word of explanation for their abrupt departure. Nora, sensing something was off, had refrained from asking any questions during the ride home, but now, with Christina still in the bathroom after such a long time, she was starting to worry. Inside the bathroom, Christina stood under the shower, relentlessly scrubbing her body with a sponge. Her usually fair skin had turned an angry red from the harsh treatment, looking almost bruised. In fact, she felt bruised—everywhere. The mere touch of water on her skin now made her flinch in pain, but she continued, determined to strip away the layer of skin she seemed to loathe so much. Her knees, in particular, bore the worst of it, covered in ugly blue bruises that sent sharp, shooting pains