“Stop being difficult. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping—buy whatever you want.”
I didn’t answer. My body ached too much, my stomach cramping sharply.
I whispered his name, barely a breath.
No reply.
From the bathroom came bursts of laughter—his and Althea’s voices, tangled together, mixed with the shrill chaos of the game.
Each sound pierced through me, until I could no longer tell whether it was my stomach or my heart that hurt more.
I heard Althea’s voice through the headset.
“Did you coax him? His fighting power’s soaring. You really are my boy. Keep it up—Mommy’s going to be King tonight!”
Evander laughed.
“What’s there to coax? Just buy him a few gifts. Damn, dead again? Can’t you signal?”
I stayed up all night, listening. By dawn, Evander yanked me out of bed.
“I promised you a gift, didn’t I? I won’t break my word. My dear wife, I’m not angry anymore.”
Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I followed him to the car.
The moment the navigation turned on, Althea’s voice echoed from the speakers.
“Boy, turn left ahead. Go straight. Damn it, you missed again! You’re getting hammered by mama!”
My stomach churned. He caught my expression and smirked.