126: Hidden Motives

I open the door to my mother's room and I see Ferdinand standing beside her.

Her eyes are wet with unshed tears, and she snaps her head in my direction sharply. His eyes are narrowed and his brows are furrowed. I pause at the door momentarily before closing the door. "What are you doing here?"

"You seem to like disobeying me," he says. "You get it from her."

I look at my mother briefly. She's stiff, and her lips are pressed together. "What did he say to you? Did he threaten you?"

"I told you not to leave." He's standing upright, like a soldier. "You can't keep doing as you please. Do you really think I won't follow through with what I said?"

"You can't do anything to her, not in here." I say this, but I'm not so sure. I don't like the energy he's exuding. I look at my mother again, but she's not trying to communicate with me at all. What's going on here?

"Don't be so sure." He reaches inside his blazer and retrieves a shiny revolver. My heart sinks. He presses it to my mother's temple