The hospital room was too quiet. The only sound was the steady beep of the heart monitor, once a comfort but now a reminder of how much time was running out. Evelyn Hart sat in the worn chair beside her mother's bed, holding Sophia Hart's frail hand. Sophia had once been full of life, her laughter infectious, her spirit unyielding but now she was barely more than a shadow of the woman she had been. The cancer had claimed so much of her and Evelyn could see the toll it had taken on her mother's body.
Sophia's breathing was shallow, slow, as if each breath she took was an effort. Evelyn tried not to stare at her mother too hard, but the toll of it all was weighing on her. Every day felt heavier than the last. Her mother had fought hard but the doctors had told them there was little left they could do. This wasn't a battle they could win.
Evelyn's fingers tightened around her mother's hand. She could feel the fragility of it, the once-strong hands that had held her as a child, now brittle and weak. It was hard to admit but she was losing her mother.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, a reminder of the world outside the hospital. She fumbled for it, trying to keep herself together long enough to see who had messaged her. It was from work—a message from the senior partner of the law firm where she worked as a personal assistant.
"Miss Hart, please report to my office immediately. We have an urgent matter to discuss regarding Knight Enterprises."
Her stomach dropped as she read it. Knight Enterprises. The name sent a cold chill down her spine. Evelyn had been working at the law firm for years now but this was something new. She hadn't been involved in any major cases lately but Knight Enterprises was one of their most powerful clients.
Her hands trembled as she set her phone down. She didn't want to leave but she knew she had to. Her father, Charles Hart was still at home and he would be waiting for her. She had no choice. She had to keep working despite the toll it was taking on her mind and body.
The hospital room felt suffocating as she glanced one last time at her mother. "I'll be back soon, Mom," she whispered, even though she didn't know if she believed the words herself.
The drive home was longer than usual. Evelyn could feel the weight of the day pressing down on her, her body aching with exhaustion. The sun was setting as she navigated the city streets, the familiar route home feeling strangely alien. The silence in the car was oppressive, broken only by the sound of the engine. She felt her eyelids grow heavy but there was no time to rest. She couldn't afford it.
When she reached her house, she sat in the car for a moment, staring at the dark windows. Her father's presence loomed over her, even when she wasn't with him. The house always felt like a prison, its walls closed in on her, suffocating her with memories of abuse and despair.
She stepped out of the car, quietly shutting the door in a bid to avoid drawing attention. But it didn't matter. Charles Hart was always waiting. He had a way of knowing she was home, a way of making her feel like she was never truly safe. As she walked up the driveway, she could see the flickering light from the living room window. He was sitting there, waiting for her.
Evelyn felt her heart race as she approached the door. She had been living in this house all her life but it had never felt more like a cage than it did now. The fear, the uncertainty, the unpredictability of it all. She hated every second of it. Her father's wrath had been a constant throughout her life, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape it.
The moment she stepped inside, she was met by the smell of whiskey. The familiar scent filled the air, thick and oppressive. He was sitting on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and the TV remote in the other. He looked up at her, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Where the hell have you been?" he asked, his voice low and slurred. "Don't you dare lie to me, Evelyn. I can smell the hospital on you."
Evelyn froze in the doorway, her mind racing. "I was with Mom," she replied, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach. "She's not doing well, Dad. You know this."
Charles's lip curled into a sneer and he slammed the whiskey bottle down on the table. "I don't care about your mother. You've been gone too long. Too long and I'm sick of it!"
Evelyn's heart pounded as she took a step back, instinctively bracing herself for whatever was coming. She had learned to prepare for his anger. It was always there, lurking beneath the surface. But tonight, there was something different in his eyes.
"I'm doing the best I can, Dad," she said, trying to keep her voice calm but the shaking in her hands betrayed her. "Mom needs me, and I…"
Before she could finish, Charles shot to his feet knocking over the whiskey bottle. He staggered toward her, his breath reeking of alcohol. His eyes were wild with rage.
"Your mother is a lost cause! And you are just like her!" he yelled, his voice a distorted growl. "Weak! Pathetic! Always running off when I need you!"
Evelyn tried to back away but he was too fast. He grabbed her by the wrist, his fingers digging into her skin like a vice.
"You think you're better than me?" he snarled. "You think you can just ignore me and run off to your mother? Huh?"
Evelyn's heart hammered in her chest. This wasn't the first time he'd grabbed her but tonight felt different. Tonight, the fury in his eyes scared her more than it ever had before.
"Dad, let go of me!" she cried, trying to free herself from his grip, but it only tightened. He pulled her toward him, his breath hot and angry on her face.
"I'll show you what happens when you disrespect me," he spat.
And then, he slapped her across the face.
The shock of it stunned her. Her vision blurred for a moment, the sting radiating across. The impact was harsh, the slap leaving a trail of fire on her skin.
Her hand flew to her cheek, but she didn't cry out. She couldn't. Crying would only make him angrier.
Charles backed away, laughing under his breath as if this were some sick joke. Evelyn stood there, her heart racing, her cheek burning, the tears stinging her eyes. She couldn't look at him anymore. She couldn't stand another moment in this house nor did she have anywhere to go.