When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 158

Sheila had warned her that if Hank ever ratted her out, she’d end up in jail too. Seeing Hank today was nothing like Selina had imagined. The room was small and icy, a police officer posted just a step away from Hank. Every bit of it made her uneasy.

Hank spotted her as soon as she walked in. He already seemed to know why she was there. Selina couldn’t even get the words out. Tears just spilled down her cheeks while Hank ended up being the one to ask about her life, her health, how she was holding up. It struck her that in all these years, this was the first time they’d been alone, able to talk, even if it was through glass.

When visiting hours ended, Selina stood up, pressing her hands to the glass, her eyes searching his face, desperate and lost. Hank’s own eyes were red. He just told her, quietly, “Don’t worry. On holidays, remember to come see me.” Those words left Selina frozen in place. There was something so gentle in the way he looked at her, the kind of warmth a real father would have, but at the same time, he looked so small, so defeated.

On her way home, Selina finally understood what Hank was trying to say. She couldn’t even name how she felt. Was it fear, worry, sadness, or all of it at once? She didn’t have anyone to talk to about it, so she went straight to Sheila’s.

Sheila pulled her in and tried to comfort her, but there was something unreadable in Sheila’s eyes. Even if Hank never betrayed Selina, Selina now had something she could use against her.

Night settled in. The wind howled louder and the rain crashed against the windows, wild and angry. Nelly was in the middle of closing a window when her phone rang. Carrie’s name lit up the screen. Lately, her daughter called every night to say goodnight, clinging to her in a way that warmed Nelly. Tonight, though, Carrie was crying before she even said hello.

“Mommy…”

Nelly’s heart clenched. “Carrie, what’s wrong?”

“Mommy, can you come home… please…” Carrie’s voice was so small and shaky it nearly broke her. The words came out in pieces, interrupted by sobs.

Carrie asked her to come home every night. Every time, Nelly found a reason not to. She told herself she was too busy with work or that something urgent had come up. The truth was, saying no hurt just as much as leaving did. Even if Carrie chose her after the divorce, Nelly’s job was demanding, and the Watsons had eyes on her everywhere. She was scared she’d let her daughter down. And honestly, she needed to talk things through with Felix and the others before she made any decisions.

So she kept putting Carrie off, promising she’d come home soon, that they’d go out together. But the more she said it, the more obvious it became that she was stalling. Carrie could hear it too.

“Didn’t Mommy promise she’d come see you when she had time?” Nelly tried to soothe her, but Carrie just cried harder.

“Mommy… I’m scared…”

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