Reaghan instinctively clung tighter to Raiden and Norella, his small body trembling in fear as his voice wavered. “Mom, you’ve always taught me not to lie. Please don’t push me like this…”
Raiden’s eyes grew cold, his expression hardening. He handed Reaghan to Norella, his breath steadying as he drew a deep one before slapping Astrella across the face.
“Enough! You’ve completely disappointed me. Your jealousy has clouded your every thought. Is this all you care about?”
“We’ve given you everything: food, clothes, a roof over your head and yet, you’ve become more ungrateful by the day!”
“Leave! Leave right now! I never want to see you again in this lifetime!”
Astrella pressed her trembling hand against her cheek. The sting from the slap burned fiercely and had she not steadied herself against the table; she would have crumpled to the floor.
Her vision blurred as tears welled up, unchecked and relentless. The figures in front of her became nothing more than hazy shadows. All that remained was the icy, suffocating emptiness of the house as if she had plunged into a freezing abyss.
“Fine. Don’t worry, I’ll leave.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. She would leave. Soon. It was inevitable. The moment had arrived, whether she was ready or not.
