A Father's Cruelty

**Gael's POV***

That evening, my mom made me a hearty dinner with all of my favorite side dishes.

“Mom…you don't have to do all this for me, you know. You're spoiling me.”

“What do you mean spoiling you? You ought to be spoiled. Who else should I spoil if not you?”

“Well, you can say that again. Then I'm going to enjoy a hearty meal.”

“Of course you should, child.”

“While in the middle of eating dinner, a thought flashed through my mind.

“Uhm, mom, did you hear from dad, recently?”

“Huh? No, of course not,” my mom replied with her gaze facing downwards. Why do I feel like she's hiding something from me?

“Mom, you can't hide anything from me, and you know that, right?”

“Gael, why would you bring up your dad, in the middle of a joyous meal?”

“Right, I shouldn't be bringing that up. But then, I have a feeling that you're keeping things from me. Did he come to you and demand money again?”

She quickly raised her head up to meet my gaze as if I had grazed a spot, but at the same time, sh