Venge

Ch 6

Ezra's POV:

There she sat across from my father in my mother's seat. I can't stand her face there as she sits in my mother's seat. It feels like every year father decides to bring home a new bride in replacement of mother. But nothing could ever replace her. Now we have to eat breakfast as if we're a "happy" family when we're truly far from that. She looked as old as me. Father had married someone as old as me I can't believe that he would stoop to such a level.

As I glanced at Lily, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her innocence in the face of this twisted reality. She smiled and chattered away, oblivious to the weight of the situation, her innocence a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. How could she understand the complexity of our family's fractured dynamics when she was just a little girl?

Sitting on the cold church bench, my heart felt as frozen as the stone beneath me as I listened to the solemn vows exchanged between my father and his new bride. Each word uttered was like a dagger to my soul, a painful reminder of my father's betrayal. He had sprung this marriage on us without warning, without even asking for our opinion. And now, we were left with more questions than answers. Who was this Aya Adair, and where had my father even met her? Did they truly love each other, or was this just another calculated move on my father's part? There were too many questions swarming my mind. 

The clamour of heavy knocks shattered the silence as Father stormed into the room, his brow furrowed and his gaze sharp with discontent. It was evident from the stern set of his jaw and the darkness lurking in his eyes that he was far from pleased. 

"Ezra," he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble that filled the room with tension. "Explain yourself."

"I said what needed to be said," I replied, my tone edged with defiance.

He steps forward, his presence looming over me like a shadow. "You embarrassed me in front of our guest," he seethed, his voice dripping with barely contained fury. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

But I remained unyielding, meeting his glare head-on. "I spoke the truth," I insisted, my voice unwavering. "That woman will never be our mother, no matter how hard you try to force it."

His nostrils flared with anger, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "You will show her respect," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "She is your father's wife, and you will treat her as such."

My jaw tightened, my eyes flashing with defiance. "She's not my mother," I retorted, my words ringing with finality.

His expression darkened, rage contorting his features as he took a menacing step closer. "You will learn to obey me, boy," he snarled his voice a low growl that sent a shiver down my spine. "Or there will be consequences."

He stood his ground, his expression a mask of stern disapproval as he glared at me, his eyes ablaze with anger. His voice was sharp as he cut through the air, each word dripping with frustration.

"Ezra, you will show respect in this house," he admonished, his tone laced with authority. "Aya is your new mother, and you will treat her as such."

I bristled at his words, my jaw clenched in defiance as I met his gaze head-on. "Respect? How can I respect a woman who's barely older than me?" I retorted, my voice edged with bitterness. "You expect me to accept her as my mother when she's nothing but a stranger?"

Father's features darkened at my defiance, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to maintain his composure. "Watch your tone, boy," he warned, his voice a low growl. "Aya is your father's wife, and you will address her as such."