Chapter 29: A Painful Past

"Father, please... he's just twelve! He's just a child! You can't push him out, please... have mercy! Where would he go?" I begged, my voice cracking as I grasped his arm.

But he shook me off, his face twisted in anger. I fell hard onto the ground, my palm scraping against the rough rock. I winced in pain, but my eyes never left my father's face.

"Insolent!" he spat, his belt raised high. "You dare defend him after what he's done?"

I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing. "He didn't do it, Father! I swear it! Ryder's just a child, he can't even... he can't even think like that!" I pleaded, tears streaming down my face.

I looked at Aurora, who was sitting down on the stairs crying. "Please Aurora, Ryder cannot look at you sexually, please for once tell the truth!"

"Shut up, Aurora is just thirteen, she is small, she is beautiful, of course Ryder would have those thoughts."