"Acute enteritis. Luckily, you applied the navel plaster in time and kept him warm. Otherwise, he would have been in much more pain."
The doctor’s tone softened. "Just be careful. No cola or hamburgers for him anymore. And avoid hot and cold food combinations, they're a nightmare for his stomach."
Astrella nodded silently, her heart squeezing as the doctor continued, "Preschoolers have delicate digestive systems. When you get home, stick to cereal and nutritious meals."
Raiden stood there, his head hanging lower with every word, his expression darkening further.
When Astrella carried her son back home, the sight of the hamburger boxes and cola bottles on the table struck her like a dagger to the heart. The weight of it hit her all at once and a flare of anger ignited within her, scorching through her veins. It was a fire that demanded no response, no words, just pure, unrestrained fury.
Without a second glance, Astrella tightened her grip on her son, the child who had always been her world and turned away. She retreated to her room, seeking solace in the quiet, away from the mess they had left behind.
With a soft click, Astrella locked the door behind her, the sound echoing in the stillness of the room. In the living room, Raiden sat on the couch, lazily pulling out a cigarette. Norella rushed over to light it for him, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face.
“Raiden…” Norella’s voice quivered as she gazed at him, her face as pale as the moon.
Raiden barely lifted his head, his expression empty, as if the weight of everything had drained him.
Seizing the moment, Norella let a single tear fall, her voice cracking with feigned distress. “Actually, that burger and cola weren’t mine… They were bought by Astrella to frame me. Think about it: how could she know about Reaghan’s illness? How could someone with just a high school education know something even you didn’t?”
Her words dripped with venom, yet she softened them with a tremor of fake vulnerability. “She’s jealous, Raiden. She can’t stand seeing you buy me clothes and gifts. She’s taking it out on the child!”
From the other side of the door, Astrella squeezed her eyes shut, a tide of fury rising within her.
How could she take her anger out on her own child?