CELESTINE’s P O V

After a brief period of disbelief, Mr. Hughed eventually managed to muster a smile and put out his hand for me to shake, and I could feel Ada’s gaze burning towards me. ‘‘Celestine… right?’’

‘‘Yeah…’’ I nodded in response and extended my hand to shake his calloused one. ‘‘Mr. Hughes, it's no surprise that I recognize you so easily. Are you the person who had a conversation with my father most recently when he was... beating me in his house?’’ I asked him, and he reluctantly gave me a yes.

Right! It was typically the person who was closest to you who ended up betraying you...