"Whitney, come out. I need to talk to you!
"Whitney, did you hear me?"
He called out several times, but only silence answered him.
A deathly silence.
The warmth that once filled the home was gone.
"Whitney, I'm hungry! Aren't you going to come out and cook?
"Is it worth it for such a trivial matter?"
I had been raised to follow the traditional roles of supporting my husband and raising children. So, after marriage, I became a housewife, taking on all the household chores.
Brian had gotten used to treating me like a maid, expecting me to serve him.
"Don't be ungrateful. If you don't come out, I'll lose my temper."
The house remained deathly silent.
Brian angrily pushed open the bedroom door, only to find it empty.
After searching around, he found Lily lying motionless on the bed.
"Lily, where's your mom?
"You're at home; can't you talk? Are you mute now?
"Your mom is like this, and now you are too. You're both worthless."
Lily had been crying in bed for the past seven days, soaking her pillow and causing her face to swell.
She no longer had the strength to argue against her father's insults.
At that moment, Winnie hurriedly rushed into the house.