Mom, don’t you feel wronged at all? How can you endure this? Yvonne said.
She couldn’t imagine how her mother had managed to endure all this over the years.
Even if it was for the sake of love, love isn’t supposed to be so one-sided! Isn’t love about mutual giving? But what has Dad given you?
All these years, Geoffrey had been taking from Xyla, while Xyla willingly let him. She had been really foolish.
Vonnie, I know you feel sorry for me, but I made these choices. Love can take many forms, not just one. I’m willing to be that fool. Over the years, your dad hasn’t loved me, but I can’t find fault with him in any other way. Perhaps this is also a punishment from heaven because I insisted on marrying a man who didn’t love me. I’ll just have to bear this suffering myself.
Why should you be punished? Dad married you for his own reasons. If there’s punishment to be dealt, it should be to him!
Vonnie, he’s still your father. No matter what happens between him and me, he has never mistreated you. Please don’t speak of him that way. Can you do it for my sake? Xyla asked earnestly.
Yvonne wiped her tears away. Mom, does he know you speak up for him? He only thinks of other women. Why are you so kind? Sometimes it really makes me angry. If you weren’t so kind, Dad might not have divorced you or been so obsessed with Sydney.
There are already enough bad people in this world. I don’t want to be one more bad person, Xyla said. Her gaze was gentle, but filled with helplessness.
Mom… Yvonne was crying uncontrollably, her face wet with sweat and tears.
Xyla’s gaze fell back to the red marks on her daughter’s neck.
Vonnie, you still haven’t told me what happened to your neck?
Dad almost choked me to death, Yvonne said angrily.
What did you say? Xyla was shocked. He almost choked you? Why? What happened?
I found out he was with Sydney last
night. I went to see him today, planning to investigate, but he found it. I admitted I was investigating him. I told him I knew he was with
Sydney. He got furious, and you know I have a stubborn temper. I said some things that made him very unhappy.
Yvonne touched her neck, still a bit shaken.
I just said a few words about Sydney, and Dad pushed me against the wall and choked me. I almost died.
Xyla clenched her fists in anger. He actually harmed you over such a thing!
Mom, I didn’t expect it either. I was
really scared. Dad looked like he
wanted to eat me alive. I can’t even
remember how I managed
escape.
Xyla felt both heartache and anger. She gently patted Yvonne’s head and said, Vonnie, you’ve been wronged.
She knew Yvonne was standing up for her.
What’s a little grievance to me?
You’re the one who’s wronged! I just feel so angry. I’m his daughter! How
could he treat me like this? He’s really cruel! I hate him! Yvonne snarled.
Seeing Yvonne trembling, Xyla was worried that she would do something foolish.
Xyla only had one daughter. If anything bad happened to Yvonne, Xyla wouldn’t be able to live with herself.