Enough was enough. Ronald had finally reached his limit. His voice was sharp with restrained anger as he turned to Lila outside the house.
"Sister, I've always respected you like a mother. You've looked after me since I was little, but this has to stop. Leave that useless man. You should divorce him. He won't change—no matter what happens. This cycle will just keep repeating itself."
He paused, his tone softening as he tried to reason with her.
"We'll split the property. You and the kids won't have to live like this anymore. You can go back to your maternal home or start fresh somewhere else. We'll support you. You deserve better than this, Lila."
Ronald's sincerity was unmistakable. He wasn't just angry; he was heartbroken. He had seen Roger spiral over the years, understood the weight of his struggles, but Roger's issues didn't justify the pain he caused his family. Ronald now had a wife and a son just a year younger than Daniel, and he couldn't bear to see his sister and her children endure such suffering.
Lila stood silently, her eyes cast downward. She didn't know what to say. Divorce felt like an insurmountable decision. What would happen to her children? Could they grow up happy without a father? She didn't want this life, but she had endured it for so many years that the thought of leaving felt impossible. Finally, she spoke, her voice quiet but firm.
"I understand what you mean, Ronald, but he's still your brother. Please, don't speak about him like that."
Ronald's jaw clenched. Her words felt like a slap to his face. Without saying another word, he stormed off, grabbing his bike and riding away to clear his mind. Amelia, standing nearby, had overheard the conversation. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
Inside the house, Roger was bandaging his wounds, his two sons watching him anxiously. He gave them a weak smile and pulled them into a hug.
"The gate was old, see? That's why it fell and hurt me. You two need to be careful around it, alright? I'll get someone to fix it tomorrow," he said, his tone soft and caring.
Dave stared at his father, torn between anger and concern. The caring tone in Roger's voice made it harder to stay angry. Despite everything, there were moments when his father felt like the dad he wished he had all the time.
"Okay, Dad," Dave finally said, forcing a small smile before heading back to his room.
Later, Lila returned home and silently helped Roger change his clothes, applying medicine to his wounds. She said nothing as she tucked him into bed, her expression unreadable.
Ronald came home late that night, still simmering with frustration, but he went straight to bed without a word. The household settled into uneasy silence, the storm brewing underneath, waiting for its inevitable eruption.
The Next Day
Roger woke late the next morning. Lila had already gone to open the store, and the boys had left for school. He hurried to get ready, knowing he was already late.
At work, his manager's voice rang out as soon as he walked through the door.
"Roger, you're late again! This is the second time this month. I can't keep ignoring it. Do you know how many complaints I've gotten about you? What am I supposed to do if others start following your example?"
Roger lowered his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. Our gate fell last night. I had to deal with it late into the night, and it set me back this morning."
The manager's expression softened at the explanation. "The gate fell? Was anyone hurt?"
"No, sir. Just a few scratches here and there for me. Nothing serious."
The manager nodded, his tone less severe. "Alright, take care of yourself. But don't make a habit of this, Roger." With that, he walked away, leaving Roger with a sigh of relief.
At School
"Yo, Dave! What happened yesterday? I heard a loud bang and then some woman screaming," Karl said, sidling up to him in the hallway. Ethan followed close behind, his face full of curiosity.
Dave hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to share. "It was nothing. The old gate at home fell. It was pretty rusty, so it just gave out. My aunt got scared and screamed. That's all."
"Oh man, that sounds scary! Is everyone okay?" Ethan asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Dave replied, forcing a casual tone. He didn't want to dig deeper into the event, so he gave a diplomatic answer and quickly changed the subject.