A silence followed, thick with unspoken emotions. It was my mother who finally broke it, her voice quiet yet firm.
"Then we will stand by you."
I looked at her in surprise at her unwavering words before shaking my head slightly. With a gentle smile, I said, "You already are, Mother. And you too, Father. Along with Luna."
"Your presence is all I ask for. Leave the rest to me, okay?"
This time, my voice was firm, carrying the weight of my conviction.
Yet she still shook her head, as if in denial, while looking at me with a serious expression. The intensity of her gaze made me gulp.
"That's not how things work, son. Have you forgotten something?" she said, her voice firm. "In this house, you follow my word. Hmm?"
Her domineering tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I could feel a cold sweat forming.
Before I could respond, she continued, "You are our son, just as your father said."