Kayden – POV
It had been a grievous day. My mother's disdain for me had reached a new height; she didn't even want to look at my face anymore. On the other hand, Dad remained silent, offering no insight into his emotions. While I had long sensed my mother's hatred, my father's stoic silence left me in the dark about his feelings. I slumped back into a chair on the porch.
Kate quietly took a seat beside me. I hesitated to initiate a conversation or ask her to leave; perhaps I simply didn't want to be alone. The loss of my brother, though he had chosen a different path, was weighing heavily on me. He was still family, and memories of our childhood—those precious moments spent with Macoy- flooded my mind.
"Here, have a drink; it might help you feel better," Kate said, offering me a flask o
