Chapter 40: There Has Been No Maternal Love

• Cathryn's heart suddenly tightened, and then her lower lip protruded in a sulky pout. She moved her head obediently. There was a deathly silence in the car. Mr. Riley was driving and had been observing the mother and daughter's expressions in the mirror. He knew his wife was very tolerant of her own affairs, but as long as it involved Cathryn's issues, she couldn't bear it.
• "There had been no gush of maternal love." Mr. Riley thought in his mind. The atmosphere between the mother and daughter changed from the initial warmth to stiffness in the middle and then finally to embarrassment.
• Mrs. Riley asked Cathryn to sit a bit away from her, and Cathryn reluctantly moved. Then Mrs. Riley said, "Do you think that what I said today is to allow you to continue wasting your youth being an actress. You must get your Teacher Certification this year."