Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 32

Bang, bang, bang.

Even from down the hall, Slater's pounding on the door was frantic and angry.

Carla frowned. "Shouldn't we go check on him, big brother? Something's off with Slater."

"Don't." Swain grabbed her arm. "When he's in one of his moods, his temper gets the best of him. You'll just get scared."

Though Swain wanted to follow after Slater himself, he hesitated. In the end, he decided to stay put with Carla. She had always been timid; a raised voice alone could startle her.

As for Seren, well—Slater had always been sharp-tongued with her, constantly losing his temper. If anything, she was probably used to it by now.

Still, Swain couldn't shake a nagging sense of unease. For some reason, Slater seemed even more volatile than usual after coming home today.

"Who the hell is it?!"

Nadine, hearing the violent knocking from the living room, scowled in irritation. If it had been anyone else, she'd have called security to have them thrown out.

Over the years, the Bradley family had always been so polished and put-together in public. Nadine never imagined they could be so crude and disrespectful behind closed doors. If this was how they behaved in someone else's home, what must it be like in their own?

She found herself wondering how Seren had managed to survive all these years with the Bradleys.

"Seren, do you want me to make them leave? You don't have to deal with this."

If it had been before today, Nadine might have greeted Swain and Carla politely, out of respect for the family connection. But after that phone call earlier, she had nothing but contempt for them. Self-righteous, the lot of them.

Seren shook her head. "It's fine. Go back to your room. I'll handle it."

But now she knew a word for this: emotional abuse.

Slater’s silent, manipulative fury was nothing but a tool of control—a way to force others to his will. She hadn’t done anything wrong; he simply needed to dominate, to have everything unfold exactly as he demanded.

She wasn't a puppet, and she refused to spend her life dancing to someone else's tune.

She could never be like Carla—meek, eager to please, always molding herself to fit everyone's expectations. That just wasn't who she was.

So, with that clarity, even under Slater's stormy glare, Seren's expression remained calm, her heart steady.

Instead of shrinking back, she looked him square in the eye. Her voice was cool and measured. "Don't look at me like that. I haven't done anything wrong. I told you I was busy. You're the one who keeps pushing, and that's on you.

And—this isn't your house. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look, banging on someone else's door like that?"