"Wh-Why are y-you here?"
He took a few steps closer, his voice trembling with fear and longing as he explained.
"I'm sorry.... I know I---"
"Stop right there. Don’t come near me! Aria, come here."
Aria grew worried seeing her mom’s strange behavior. She looked at the man, who appeared genuinely sorry and helpless and thought her mom had misunderstood him.
"Mom, he’s the guy who helped us. I told you about---"
"I SAID COME HERE!!"
Aria flinched at her mom’s shouting, something she had never experienced before. Her lips quivered and tears streamed down her small, frightened face. Ethan frowned at Violet’s treatment of Aria.
"Why are you shouting at her? She did nothing wrong."
Violet let out a shaky, broken laugh, the situation feeling painfully absurd to her.
"N-Now you’re going t
