“This time I’ll teach you a lesson. You’ll stay here until you figure things out.”
“You’re just too idle at home, always meddling in things that aren’t your business. Let’s see if you still have the strength to cause trouble after two days without food.”
I pounded on the door with all my strength.
“Richard Miller, you’ll regret this!”
Ethan burst into terrified sobs.
“Mommy, I want Mommy!”
Richard didn’t comfort him—he snapped instead.
“Stop crying! Keep it up, and I’ll lock you in here with her.”
Ethan’s sobs quieted, but I could still hear his muffled whimpers through the door. The sound tore at my heart.
I had never once raised a hand against my son.
I knew Richard was doing this to punish me, to make me too afraid to resist again. He knew he could control me through Ethan at any time.
“Richard, are you even human? Why take it out on the child?”
After shouting that, I fell silent.
I knew the less I spoke, the less Ethan would suffer.
For two whole days, Richard kept me locked inside.
I had neither food nor water.
As he predicted, I no longer had the strength to even think about helping David. I could barely keep myself alive.
Ethan, seeing me pitiful, pushed a cracker under the door.