CHAPTER 53

  Ellen's POV

  I waited patiently for my father to continue his story. It would be a crazy revelation to find out grandma Monica was no saint.

  "She hated me." My father confessed, his voice heavy with emotion. "And it messed me up so badly. That's why I decided to love all my kids equally."

  His words hung in the air like a heavy shroud, casting a pall over the room. I reached out to him.

  "Sorry father." I paused briefly. "Can you tell me what Grandma Monica did?" I asked softly, my voice tinged with curiosity and concern. "And what happened to Aunt Fiona?"

  But my father shook his head, a haunted look in his eyes. "You shouldn't worry about that." He replied, his tone strained. "It's in the past, and it's better left there."

  That's it?

  I pouted, feeling a surge of frustration welling up inside me. I wanted to understand, but I could see the pain etched into my father's features, and I knew that some wounds ran too deep to be reopened.