s. The sound of my footsteps on the polished wood f

dabbing at Liam' s eyes with a napkin, while he put on a show of heaving sobs. Brenda was glaring at me, her fork hel

r voice shrill. "How could you do that to Liam? H

led louder. "My

taking. They were accusing me of hurting their precious son, while my d

able. I didn' t say a wo

said, my voice

e sniffled and shuffled towards me, expecting an a

' s reach, I raised my

ac

t a hard slap, not enough to truly injure him,

instantly, his eyes wide wit

r, her face contorted with rage. "You bastard!" she shrie

ody now. A body that was taller, stronger. I caught her wrist

hand, I slap

ac

o the side. She st

ped he

ac

ag

ac

For every time she had let Liam bully Olivia. For every bit of

ly screamed, scrambling to her feet. Mark just sat

ed back, collapsing into her chair

you hit your own sister! Is it because of that woman? That usele

was a cold, controlled thing no

, but they carried more weight than all t

ocking with Brenda' s. "And from this moment

iam, now genuinely terrified and silent; useless Mark, who couldn

e you all sat down here, stuffing your faces, you left a sick child to fend for h

oth flinched, a cl

n here?" I continued, my voice dripping with

regain some authority. "She' s a clum

' t you dare lie to me. I will not tolerate anyone, and I mean anyone, harming m

hreat hang

if I hear you raise your voice to her, if you neglect her in any

only sound was Tiffan

ce dropping to a dangerous whi

jerky nod. Tiffany

eno

sitting in a stunned, terrified silence. The air was thick with their shock.

l Jake was gone. And Chlo