The atmosphere was positively stifling, in Hailey’s opinion.

She had never felt this way before whenever she talked with her parents. Even when she got a failing grade one time, Luther and Emilia didn’t scold her that much. Not at all, in fact.

Instead, Luther simply told her that she could do better next time, while Emilia suggested tutoring for that subject in case Hailey had a hard time understanding the lectures.

Even when she accidentally broke an expensive antique in the house, when she fought with her brothers as a kid, when she argued with her parents as a young teenager going through puberty and menstrual cramps…

They never...