At exactly four in the afternoon, Larry arrived at the Zeno residence carrying Argon in his arms. Alea quickly approached and clung tightly to Zeno’s arm. He could tell she was trembling a little.
“Where’s that courage of yours, Alea?” Zeno asked coldly. “You had the guts to leave me—me, who holds more power than your father. But him? That’s who you’re afraid of? When you walked out on me, weren’t you even scared I’d be furious?”
Alea swallowed hard. “You’re not like Dad, Honey. You’ve never hurt me. Not like that…”
“He hit you?” Zeno’s voice sharpened.
Alea looked down, remembering how her father had struck her—spurred on by Liza’s malicious lies. It stung deeply. He was the only parent she had, and yet he had chosen to believe someone else.
She shook her head, not wanting to escalat
