In the days that followed, Vivian finally stopped pretending. The soft-spoken, fragile woman disappeared completely. What remained was someone brazen, overbearing, and unchecked.
Jack huddled in the corner of the living room. Hunger twisted painfully in his stomach, yet he was too scared to ask Vivian for food. All he could do was dig through the fridge and chew on a piece of cold bread.
The moment Vivian came downstairs, she kicked the plate out of his hands. "How dare you touch anything in this house? It's all mine. You don't deserve it!"
Jack shook with fear, tears gathering in his eyes. He remembered how Vivian used to save her favorite treats for him, cuddle him to sleep, and tell him he was the most precious boy in the world.
But the woman before him now looked at him with icy in
