CELESTINE’s P O V

After hearing all that happened years ago from Mr. Smith, I am unable to adequately express how I was feeling. I experienced a wide range of feelings, including anguish… wrath… sympathy, and love. I felt pain, sadness, and love for my mother even more for loving me in spite of all she went through with Victor's hands. And a deep-seated hatred for him. A resentment that will never go away toward my father.

Now I understood why Victor despised me so much, to the point that his beatings came dangerously close to taking my life. He didn't have much affection for my mom at all. He...