Chapter 29. Behave, Madeline

Madeline’s POV

I walked into the house and closed the door gently.

I didn’t want to let Janet know that I was home. If Mike wasn’t here, she would make sure to insult and threaten me.

“Honey!” I heard Mike’s voice calling me from the kitchen.

A part of me was relieved that he was home. Another part of me dreaded going there and seeing Janet. My stomach was turning every time she would look at me. I could feel the hate radiating off her and it was making me sick.

“Maddie?” Mike called me when I didn’t answer.

I took a deep breath and walked to the kitchen. Mike was making dinner. He looked up at me and smiled.

“Hi, honey,” he said softly. “Are you hungry? I am making lasagna.”

I glanced at Janet who was sitting at the table. She was looking up at me with so much hate that I shivered.

“No, thank you, Mike,” I mumbled as I looked back at him. “I ate at the diner.”

Mike frowned a little.

“Are you sure, honey?” he a