Chapter 32
Bang, bang, bang.
Even from down the hall, Slater’s pounding on the door was frantic and angry.
Carla frowned. “Shouldn’t we go check on him, big brother? Something’s off with Slater p>
“Don’t.” Swain grabbed her arm. “When he’s in one of his moods, his temper gets the best of him. You’ll just get scared p>
Though Swain wanted to follow after Slater himself, he hesitated. In the end, he decided to stay put with Carla. She had always been timid; a raised voice alone could startle her.
As for Seren, well-Slater had always been sharp-tongued with her, constantly losing his temper. If anything, she was probably used to it by now.
Still, Swain couldn’t shake a nagging sense of unease. For some reason, Slater seemed even more volatile than usual after coming home today.
“Who the hell is it p>
Nadine, hearing the violent knocking from the living room, scowled in irritation. If it had been anyone else, she’d have called security to have them thrown out.
Over the years, the Bradley family had always been so polished and put-together in public. Nadine never imagined they could be so crude and disrespectful behind closed doors. If this was how they behaved in someone else’s home, what must it be like in their own?
She found herself wondering how Seren had managed to survive all these years with the Bradleys.
“Seren, do you want me to make them leave? You don’t have to deal with this p>
If it had been before today, Nadine might have greeted Swain and Carla politely, out of respect for the family connection. But after that phone call earlier, she had nothing but contempt for them. Self-righteous, the lot of them.
Seren shook her head. “It’s fine. Go back to your room. I’ll handle it p>
This was her own mess, and Seren had no intention of dragging Nadine into it. The Bradleys and the Brewers were relatives, after all-there was plenty of
were stoetween the
families. It wouldn’t be fair for
Nadine to get caught in the crossfire
on her account.
Besides, even if Nadine helped her hide once, she couldn’t do it forever. Sooner or later, Seren would have to face them herself.
Nadine sighed. “Alright. But if you need anything, just call for me p>
She knew Seren’s stubborn streak-once her mind was made up, there was no changing it. Still worried, Nadine retreated to her room, glancing back several times before finally closing the door.
Outside, the pounding grew even more insistent, the blows now shaking the whole frame. Seren stood in front of the door for a moment, steeling herself, then drew a deep breath and opened it.
The door swung open just as Slater’s fist was about to crash down. He stopped himself just in time, his hand recoiling, but he didn’t apologize for nearly hitting her.
His eyes were cold as ice, lips pressed into a thin line, the tension in his body practically radiating through the entryway. He looked like a thunderstorm about to break.
Once, when Seren faced Slater like this, it felt like drowning-like she couldn’t breathe, her mind paralyzed by terror, always scrambling to figure out what she’d done wrong to make him so furious.
But now she knew a word for this: emotional abuse.
Slater’s silent, manipulative fury was nothing but a tool of control-a way to force others to his will. She hadn’t done anything wrong; he simply needed to dominate, to have
everything unfold exactly as he demanded.
She wasn’t a puppet, and she refused to spend her life dancing to someone else’s tune.
She could never be like Carla-meek, eager to please, always molding herself to
fit everyone’s expectations. That just wasn’t who she was.
So, with that clarity, even under Slater’s stormy glare, Seren’s expression remained calm, her heart steady.
Instead of shrinking back, she
looked him square in the eye. Her voice was cool and measured. “Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t done anything wrong. I told you was busy You’re the one who keeps pushing, and that’s on you.
And this isn’t your house. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look,
banging on someone else’s door like that p>