A/N: Hello lovelies. There'll be mass release on the 30th-31st of this month. This is my own little way to thank you all for the suport and love so far. Keep watch for it. Love y'all❤❤🤗🤗
Rita's Point Of View
The silence that followed my declaration pressed down on us with such weight I could almost feel the walls contracting, squeezing the air from the room. I stood my ground, thumb hovering over my phone's screen, watching the tiny red recording dot pulse like a heartbeat… the only honest heartbeat in this entire room.
My hand remained steady, though inside, triumph and sorrow waged a quiet war. These people were my family, after all, even if they'd long forgotten what that word truly meant. Even if they'd twisted it into something unrecognizable, warping love into leverage and trust into transaction.
Cynthia broke the silence first, though her voice sounded as if she'd swallowed gravel.
