Chapter 206

In the quiet of the hallway, Joxan lifted his innocent eyes to look at his mother. There was pain there so much pain but she was doing everything she could not to let the tears fall.

Something shifted inside him. His little heart hardened like stone. Anger began to rise sharp, cold, heavy.

He hated Daimon Blackwood.

Because of Daimon, his mother was hurting. Because of Daimon, his father was no longer with them. And Joxan didn’t want Daimon as his father. He never would. Not in this life.

Slowly, Joxan lowered his head, swallowing back everything he couldn’t say. He was only five, but in that moment, he felt much older.

"Now, we’re going to see your sister," Elyana said softly, reaching over to ruffle his hair as she started the car. She tried to keep her tone light, as if nothing was wrong.

Joxan gave a small nod, but his eyes stayed distant, cold. The usual chatter between mother and son was gone. The air in the car was heavy, too quiet.

Halfway through the drive, Elyana picked up h