Dennis finally stopped crying. He peeked out from between his fingers, his eyes glossy with tears as he watched Kevin Lane.
Kevin’s face looked stormy, nothing like the gentle grandfather Amelia had described. Dennis caught sight of him and immediately covered his eyes again.
“I don’t want to stay! Grandpa is just going to hit me and yell at me. I want to go, I want to go! I don’t want to be here!” Dennis started struggling all over again.
Hearing that, Kevin’s patience snapped. His voice came out low but forceful, heavy with authority.
“And where exactly do you think you’re going?” he pressed, his words hanging in the air.
Dennis had always been stubborn. Now that he’d spoken up, there was no going back to being the obedient grandson everyone remembered. He raised his voice, matching Kevin’s intensity.
“I want to find my mom! You never let me see her, so I’ll go by myself! None of you care about me anyway. I’m already so sad, and all you do is yell and keep me from my mom. If that’s how it is, I’d rather be dead! I never want to see any of you again!”
Phrases like “find my mom,” “be dead,” and “never want to see you again” weren’t a surprise to Amelia and Ethan. They were the ones who had told Dennis what to say. But Kevin was caught off guard. His chest rose and fell with quick breaths, his face turning red as anger and worry fought for control.

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