Chapter 8

As the girls walked back to their room, Ryan slumped into bed, his mind swirling with the weight of the situation. He knew he needed to be strong for them, but inside, he felt like he was falling apart.

As Ryan stared at the ceiling, the quietness of the house seemed to amplify his thoughts, and the idea of his mother meddling with the children's minds added to the heaviness in his chest, making him feel like he was suffocating.

As the hours ticked by, Ryan's mind wouldn't rest. He tossed and turned, the faint creaks of the house keeping rhythm with his restless mind. The words of his daughters echoed in his ears, and the pain in their voices haunting him.

Ryan woke with a groggy head and a heavy heart. After a fitful night of tossing and turning, he reached for his phone as soon as his eyes opened. His mother's name appeared on the screen as he dialed, his mind still foggy with worry and exhaustion.

"Hello, mother," he said, and immediately she picked up the phone.

"My darling Ryan,