Facing her slap, Illay stared downwards for a brief moment without uttering a word to her loud grumble. More than the sharp pain that stung his cheeks, he felt a throbbing ache to stir him deeply inside, making him hitch his breath for a few seconds. That numb emotions that disappeared inside him a while ago returned back, making his soul feel completely hollow.
But Lorelia didn't stop, instead, she frantically rushed towards Illay and grabbed him by both his shoulders. Forcing him to look into her eyes, she scowled, "For how long I will keep defending your mistakes before everyone, huh? Just why do you keep doing things that would provoke your father's anger on you!? Why can't you understand–"
"Father is always annoyed with me, no matter what I do." Suddenly, Illay hardened his gruff voice as he cut in between her sentences, unleashing himself from her grasp with a jolt.
