Chapter 6

As you can see, I didn’t die.

And I was late getting home again, even an hour later than yesterday.

Arthur Vance sat on the couch, a little tipsy, seemingly in a good mood.

“Dad, I…”

Before I could come up with an excuse, he waved his hand.

“I called your teacher today. She said you really did have extra lessons yesterday.

I was wrong to blame you.

Daddy thought you were learning bad habits from those other girls outside, starting to secretly date.”

He pulled me to his side, making as if to pull down my pants again.

“Did it hurt last night?”

I abruptly stood up.

“Dad, I’m an adult.

I have my privacy, and I need respect.”

I had always been terrified of Arthur Vance.

Ever since my mom left, he had only gotten worse.

I’d refused him many times, and even secretly called the police, but it was always useless.

The police said adults disciplining children was a family matter, and they couldn’t do anything.

And Arthur Vance was good at pretending.

He often presented himself as a suffering single father to others, crying to everyone about how my mom had abandoned me, a burden, and ran off with another man.

Everyone thought he was responsible and caring, a good foster father.

Only I knew what a nightmare those household rules were.

“My little Luna, don’t forget. Household Rule Number Fourteen: You must not be mad at Daddy.”

Arthur Vance gently reminded me, completely ignoring my protest.

“I won’t hit you anymore, we’ll switch to a different punishment.

Every time you break a household rule, you’ll be punished by sleeping in Daddy’s room.

How about we start today?”

—This was a request Arthur Vance had never made before, but I had no choice but to comply.

Late at night.