I shook my head, sobbing as River took the blow. I even noticed just now that there was blood at the corner of his mouth.
He didn’t look at Dad, but at me.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be with you,” he said hoarsely, the sincerity evident in his voice. “I meant every word.”
Dad didn’t like what he had just said. He looked at the guards who were holding River and exclaimed, “Get him out of my house.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“No!” I shrieked, trying to free myself from Mom’s grasp. “Dad, you can’t do this! He can’t leave!”
“And why can’t he?” Dad asked, raising an eyebrow, looking at me with fury. “You two have shamed this family. Don’t you have any idea what the others will say once they find out about what you did?!”
“This shouldn’t have happened in the first place!” Mom agreed, and I could fe
