Chapter 125: Her Gaze Fixed on the Spice Rack in the Distance

"Clara, go get some allspice." Helen suddenly spoke, her gaze fixed on the spice rack in the distance.

Clara nodded obediently. She knew her mother was trying to send her away.

Once her daughter was out of earshot, Helen took a deep breath. "I'm still considering it."

"You've been saying that for three months!" Phoebe's voice rose sharply. "It's always 'considering.' How much longer do you need?"

Helen gripped the shopping cart handle tightly. "I specialize in mystery novels. Switching to web fiction is too big a leap."

"It's all storytelling. What's the difference?" Phoebe waved a dismissive hand.

"Web novels run for millions of words, and the genres are completely different." Helen's voice trembled. "Haven't we learned from the failure of Unripe Fruit?"

At the mention of her ill-fated genre shift, Phoebe's expression darkened. "That was bad timing. The web fiction market is stable now—"

"I'm not cut out for those CEO romance fluff pieces!" Helen cut her off.

Phoebe lowered her voice abruptly. "Ten years. You've only published one book, and it sold poorly. If this continues, what kind of writer are you?"

The vegetables in the cart crumpled under Helen's grip. Her fingertips turned white. "I have new ideas—"

"Those garbage ideas?" Phoebe scoffed. "Wake up. The 'Queen of Suspense' is outdated!"

"Mom!" Clara rushed out from behind the shelves, holding up the spice packet. "It's time to go home."

Helen quickly wiped the corner of her eye and forced a smile. "Yes, let's go home."

Clara linked arms with her mother and shot Phoebe a cold look. "Goodbye, Auntie."

She could feel Helen's arm trembling slightly.