Chapter 169. Torn Between

Ellie's POV

Life is really a turn of events, and sometimes, what we think is happening is way far distinct from reality. Sometimes, our eyes may not even see the ordinary things. Sometimes, a heart can even go wrong.

The realization hits me like a tidal wave, crashing over me with a force that leaves me reeling in its wake. I never could have imagined that I would see my father in such a defeated state—his once indomitable spirit now bowed beneath the weight of pain and suffering. It's a sight that pierces me to the core, shattering the illusions I held of his invincibility and leaving me grappling with a profound sense of loss and disbelief.

And yet, amidst the wreckage of my shattered expectations, there is a glimmer of something unexpected—a flicker of pride in my father's eyes as he looks upon me. It's a pride born not of my obedience, but of my defiance—a recognition of the strength and courage it took to stand up to him, to assert my own auto