CHAPTER 27

Stella Romilly's pov,

Past

“That's maltreatment!” Hannah exclaimed.

“What's that?” That was a very big word.

“Mama told me it's something bad someone does to you.”

I nodded.

“Oh, I forgot,” I gasped slightly.

I lifted my weight off the ground and stood up straight. I tried to reach my zip at my back. Thankfully I did. And it slid faster than I expected. Maybe because I had nothing underneath to interrupt its slide.

The scar.

“Look,” I pointed to the place with a long mark on it. There was no need to see it to confirm it. I could feel its embedment into my pale skin. It was imprinted into my skin like a tattoo.

“What is that?” Hannah gasped, running her hands silently over my scar.

“My dad used a cane on me and struck my back so hard. It was painful.”

“It looks very painful Stella," Hannah agreed sympathetically.

And then she was angry..

“Why did he do this to you?”

“He told me it was my punishment for disobeying him,” I told her again.

“How can someone do something this bad?”