BuzzNovelChapter 386
“If you dare treatlike that, I'm not going to play nice like Carla did. I'll make your life a living hell.”
As people drifted away in small groups-slaughing, sshaking their heads in pity-not a single person
stepped up to intervene.
The crowd dispersed. Outside, the sun dipped behind the hills, and the once-bright living room slowly faded into
shadow.
“Enough with the act. Get up and make dinner already. I'm starving!” The man shot an impatient glance at the
mother and daughter sitting together, but couldnt quite meet their eyes. He went straight to the fridge, grabbed
a fresh bottle of beer, took a long swig, and slumped on
the couch in front of the TV.
The flickering light from the screen revealed his face in harsh relief. Vera stared at him, seeing not a father, but
something monstrous.
“What are you looking at? You want to rebel too, huh?” Sensing her gaze, he grabbed the glass ashtray from the
table and hurled it at her.
Vera flinched and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for pain that never came. Instead, she heard a heavy thud-a
muffled gasp.
Carla had stepped between them and caught the blow.
“Mom!” Vera's pupils shrank in shock. “Are you okay? Does it hurt? Lettake you to the clinic.”
“No, no, it’s just a scrape. I'll clean it up with santiseptic in a bit. You go do your homework. I'll call you
when dinner’s ready. Your dad’s in a bad mood lately, don’t argue with him.”
Carla waved her off and forced a smile. The blood on her forehead had dried into a dark, jagged line, making her
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtlook almost frightening as she stood up.
Vera's eyes filled with tears, but she knew her mother well enough not to push. Gently, she tried to wipe away
the blood with her fingers, but it was
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Chapter 386
already crusted over.
“Why don’t you lie down for a while? I'll handle dinner. Later, I'll see if Peggie next door has sliniment for
your bruises. Your back is probably all black and blue.” Vera's voice cracked.
“Don’t start crying again. Always crying, day in and day out. No wonder I've got such rotten luck with you two!
Now get in the kitchen!” the man bellowed, making both of them jump.
Carla patted Vera's back, trying to comfort her, though she was trembling herself.
Vera sniffled and helped her mother into her room, set down her schoolbag, then headed for the kitchen to start
dinner.
She'd hoped tonight was just a bad fluke, but as twent on, the man only grew meaner. He'd lash out at the
slightest thing, always taking his frustrations out on them. At least he hadn't started hitting Vera yet, but Carla
was another story. It seemed every few days she'd show up with fresh bruises, and even the neighbors kept their
distance, whispering and pointing behind her back.
Their gossip was always the same: a woman shouldn't be too capable. Now her husband's lost his job, and she’s
still got hers-who knows what she’s doing to keep it? Maybe something indecent with the boss.
It didn’t matter that the real fault lay with the man. In the end, it was always the woman's reputation that
suffered. She had it coming, they said, as if she deserved every blow.
Carla kept her head down and her mouth shut. She knew better than anyone that if she stopped working, they'd
have nothing left to eat.
The man either drank of gambled
away what little money they had. If
)
he won, he'd buy pgreCoazer Hie
lgstyhe take it'6ut on her, then send
: )
her out to buy more beer. It didn't
take long for the family savings to
disappear. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Everything cost money—food,
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clothes, bills, and Vergssccol féks.
The onehing Car was grateful for
s losing the second pregnancy; at
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10:03
Chapter 386
least she hadn't brought another child into this misery.
And that loss was his fault, too.
She'd caught him cheating with another woman at the factory, and the shock had sent her into early labor. The
baby hadn't made it.
The man had seemed guilty for a
while after that. He never mentioned
wanting another ihawg it leftia)
in Sara's Heart that
Kpotn farda’s Heart that never went
away. Still, she said nothing to
anyone. Looking at her innocent
daughter, she knew all she could do
was endure. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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