Whenever I voiced my concerns, my wife brushed them off, insisting Astrid was just "straightforward" and "spirited."
At the time, I convinced myself that having another child around would help Zera open up.
Floyd's POV
But Zera didn’t seem happy. In fact, she carried a kind of sadness that felt far too heavy for someone her age.
I didn’t want my ambition to cost her a childhood without love and attention. Work could wait — so, from now on, my family would come first.
Watching her sleep peacefully, I finally felt a little relief. But just as I began to relax, a sudden shout from downstairs jolted her awake. Her eyes flew open, wide with fear.
I rushed out to see what was happening and found Astrid sprawled on the sofa, legs crossed, furiously playing a game on her phone. She cursed under her breath, oblivious to the disturbance she’d caused.
"You idiots! Do you even know how to play?!"
Seeing her like that made my blood boil. My fists clenched at my sides.
"Astrid, keep your voice down. Zera’s sleeping."
Yet, she didn’t even glance at me. Instead, she irritably shot back, "What do I care if she’s sleeping? Don’t bug me, I’m about to win!"