Chapter 2

ARIANA

Her mother sat on the chair. She passed her assuring smile that she was well but blotches on her left cheek, forehead, arms, and collarbones said another story. However, she covered it with foundation. Her beautiful smile was doing a miracle but she knew her mother was in pain.

She blinked the tears and bit hard on her tongue to stop the tears. Her father wouldn't like it. She was taught to endure pain and tolerate unfairness. The silence was making her nervous. She swallowed heavily.

She snapped her head as her elder brother squeezed her hand. His gaze was on his wristwatch. He was waiting for his father to arrive at the dining table. He was a made man, a future heir to replace his father's position in the outfit.

She wanted her mother to leave her father. Or she wanted her father to die. So her mother could breathe happily and they could sit like a happy family in the dining room.

Her brother had always protected