"I did not kill my mother!" Devon's voice reverberated with full fury, his eyes ablaze with anger and pain.

"Go and tell that to your dead mother," his stepbrother retorted callously, his words hitting Devon like a punch to the gut.

The room seemed to grow smaller, closing in on Devon as he struggled to contain the overwhelming emotions surging inside him. His brothers' heartless accusations had touched a raw nerve, and he could feel his control slipping away.

Determined not to prove them right, not to let them see the monster they accused him of being, Devon slowly lowered Hannah down from his arms. He took a deep breath,...