Chapter 8 The Banished Daughter

• I slip through the back door of the house like a shadow, moving carefully to avoid making any noise. The house is silent, but that doesn’t mean I’m alone. My beta father, Logan, is unpredictable, and if he catches me sneaking in, there’ll be hell to pay.
• The air inside is heavy with the scent of my mum's old wood and herbs, a familiar comfort that I refuse to dwell on. I can’t afford to let myself feel anything right now.
• My room is just as I left it. Small, bare, almost empty. I pull out my worn-out bag from under the bed and start stuffing in the few clothes I own. Not that I had much to begin with—Logan never allowed my mother to buy me more than the bare minimum, claiming I didn’t deserve it. He made sure I never looked like I belonged, and for the longest time, I let him believe I didn't.