At the least expected moment, Zelda Swallow laid everything bare before her.
Norris was trembling all the way home, still trembling even when they returned. He didn't know what to do with her, so he could only let her sleep.
She was his daughter, but he had failed to fulfill his fatherly responsibilities and even ruined her entire life.
How could he make up for it?
"How is Trenton doing?"
"He's barely hanging on, and has been sent to the hospital," Rufus Swallow said calmly, "Whether he can make it out alive depends on modern medical techniques."
It was the Swallow family's rule: if their children made a mistake and survived a beating, they would be forgiven, but if they died, it would only be a matter of following the rules.
Trenton had caused Zelda to lose face in front of so many relatives, it would be strange if Zelda didn't beat him to death.
