Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 91

Zena lost all composure, her fury erupting. "Seren! Do you even hear yourself right now?"

"And what if I do? Am I wrong?"

Seren's gaze was unwavering as she lifted her chin, meeting Zena's glare with cool defiance. There was no wavering, no trace of fear.

"You accuse me of being ungrateful, of never following your rules. But maybe you should take a moment to really think—ask yourself: did you ever actually raise me?

Oh, right, you did. From on high, you'd snap, 'This child is hopeless,' or mutter how you never should have had me at all, and then walk away without looking back."

Seren drew a steadying breath.

She remembered those early days.

Old Mr. Rutledge and Old Mrs. Rutledge had spoiled her, yes, but a child's parents are irreplaceable in their heart.

When she first came back to the Bradley family, she'd been so eager, yearning to get close to Zena, to finally belong. But all she ever saw in Zena's eyes was thinly veiled contempt and disgust.

Eventually, Seren became cautious, always tiptoeing around, forcing herself to please Zena—desperate for some sign of acceptance. But no matter how she tried, that look of disdain never disappeared.

She stopped trying to please. She just wanted to be herself. And in Zena's eyes, that made her unruly—rebellious.

Truthfully, most of Seren's memories of Zena were a blur. The only things that stood out, clear as day, were the words Zena had hurled at her—words that cut so deep.

Susan and Hollis exchanged a shocked glance.

They'd never imagined that Zena's idea of "discipline" amounted to this.

As parents themselves, they knew just how damaging it was to tell a child, "You're hopeless," or, "I never should have had you." Words like that could shatter a child's spirit.

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