Chapter 11

I watched in apprehension as Father grabbed a knife and forcefully tore open the letter in his hand, his furious gaze locked onto me. My throat felt constricted, making it hard to find my voice.

"You came home late," he stated, and with those words, the icy and oppressive atmosphere lightened slightly.

"I had some other matters to attend to," I replied with a newfound boldness, even though my body quivered with fear.

Silencing myself once more, I tightly clasped my hands together in a desperate attempt to appear composed, even though it was evident to Father that I was trembling. He placed the knife, previously used to open the envelope, on the table.

My body shook even more as my enraged father continued to fix his sharp gaze upon me. As he began to rise from his chair, my heart raced, and the tension in the room became almost unbearable. It seemed like he was gearing up to administer a severe punishment.

Thoughts raced through my head as I tried to figure ou