Noel's voice trembled with anguish as he continued to unravel the tragic aftermath of the family's ordeal, each word heavy with the weight of their despair.
"After the incident," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, the air thick with sorrow, "the little boy's mother went to others to ask for help."
The desperation in his tone was palpable, a stark reminder of the family's dire circumstances.
Dustin's heart sank as he listened to the tale of desperation and rejection, the injustice of it all leaving him reeling.
The sheer cruelty of their abandonment by those they had once considered friends and allies struck him like a physical blow, the betrayal cutting him to the core.
"But no one helped them," Noel continued, his voice choked with emotion, the weight of their abandonment bearing down on him like a heavy burden.
"Neither her family nor her husband's, not even the people whom they had helped." The sense of betrayal echoed in his words, a bitter reminder of the fickleness of human nature.
A surge of righteous anger welled up within Dustin as he contemplated the callous indifference of those who had turned their backs on a family in need, the betrayal cutting him to the core.
The hypocrisy of their actions burned like a fire in his chest, leaving him seething with indignation at the sheer injustice of it all.
"When they had money," Noel's voice quivered with bitterness, his resentment palpable in every word, "everyone came to them. But now, when they needed support the most, no one was there."
The bitterness in his tone was like a bitter taste in Dustin's mouth, a bitter reminder of the harsh realities of human nature.
"As I had told you earlier," Noel's voice grew hollow, the weight of their struggles evident in his words, "the mother was not very educated. Finding a job was very difficult for her. And even if she found one, the people around her would criticize and belittle her."
The injustice of their situation weighed heavily on Dustin's heart, the mother's struggles a poignant reminder of the barriers faced by those on the margins of society.
Noel's voice quivered with emotion as he recounted the mother's unwavering sacrifice for her son, her resilience in the face of insurmountable odds a testament to her boundless love.
"But for her son," he whispered, the words heavy with sorrow, "she endured all the humiliation, all the sufferings."
The depth of her sacrifice left Dustin speechless, his heart breaking for the mother who had given everything for the sake of her child.
"She just wanted her son to be happy," Noel continued, his voice trembling with emotion, the depth of a mother's love evident in every word.
"It didn't matter whether it was a menial job or a poor one, she did whatever she could to feed her son."
The selflessness of the mother's sacrifice left Dustin speechless, his heart swelling with admiration for her unwavering devotion.
Dustin felt a lump form in his throat as he imagined the mother toiling away in obscurity, her only motivation the well-being of her beloved child.
The image of her laboring tirelessly, her hands calloused and her spirit weary, struck him with a profound sense of sorrow and admiration.
"However," Noel's voice faltered, the weight of their tragedy bearing down on him, "she also had a limit. Whenever she saw her son with bruises, her heart would be torn away."
The anguish in his voice was palpable, a raw expression of the mother's agony as she bore witness to her son's suffering.
Dustin's breath caught in his throat as he contemplated the anguish of a mother forced to witness her son's suffering, her heart breaking with each new injury inflicted upon him.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The helplessness of their situation weighed heavily on him, a suffocating weight that threatened to crush him beneath its unbearable burden.
"And soon," Noel continued, his voice barely above a whisper, the air thick with sorrow, "she reached her limit."
Dustin's heart sank as he braced himself for the inevitable tragedy that awaited them, the weight of their impending loss heavy in the air like a dark cloud hanging over their heads.
"One day," Noel's voice cracked with emotion, each word heavy with the weight of their grief, "the little boy woke up, and as usual, he wanted to greet his mother first. But what greeted him was not his mother, but her hanging body."
The horror of the scene unfolded before Dustin's eyes, the sheer devastation of the moment leaving him reeling in disbelief.
Noel's voice cracked with grief as he painted a haunting picture of the little boy's agony, his words heavy with the weight of their tragedy.
"The little boy couldn't do anything," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "except for crying beside his mother, hugging her cold body."
The image of a child robbed of his innocence, his world shattered in an instant, left Dustin's heart shattered into a million pieces, his soul aching with the weight of their shared sorrow.
"The world took away that boy's happiness," Noel continued, his voice trembling with righteous anger, "The society destroyed that boy's world."
The injustice of their suffering burned like a fire in Dustin's chest, the cruelty of fate robbing them of everything they held dear.
"So answer me, Mr. Dustin," Noel's voice rose with urgency, a plea tinged with desperation, "what was that boy and his family's fault that they had to go through something like that?"
His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of injustice, demanding an answer that seemed to elude them both.
Dustin's heart clenched at the desperation in Noel's voice, the weight of his words pressing down on him like a leaden weight.
He felt the weight of responsibility bearing down on him, the burden of truth and justice heavy on his shoulders.
"For what sin did they suffer?" Noel's voice cracked with emotion, the anguish of their plight echoing in the silence that followed.
His words pierced Dustin's heart like a dagger, the raw pain of their suffering palpable in every syllable.
Dustin remained silent for a few moments, the weight of Noel's question pressing down on him like a heavy burden.
"You're right what happened to you and your mother was really unfair and wrong." His tone was apologetic, a recognition of the injustice they had endured.
But then, with a sudden shift, his voice took on a colder edge.
Dustin's voice, initially apologetic, took on an icy edge, slicing through the room like a bitter wind.
"But I disagree when it comes to your father," he declared, his words laced with accusation.
The accusation hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over their already tumultuous conversation.
Confusion clouded Noel's face as he struggled to comprehend the sudden shift in tone.
"What do you mean?" he managed to utter, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Dustin's gaze hardened as he leveled his accusation.
"According to you, he was a good and honest person, but our investigation tells a different story."
His words were like a dagger to Noel's heart, the implications too painful to bear.
Noel's heart sank like a stone in his chest, his mind recoiling at the implication.
He stared at Dustin, his eyes pleading for this revelation to be untrue, for his father's integrity to remain untarnished.
Ignoring the pain etched across Noel's features, Dustin pressed on relentlessly.
"He was a corrupt individual. He deceived and manipulated countless people, and the food poisoning incident... that was his doing too. Innocent lives were lost because of him. He got what he deserved."
Each word from Dustin's mouth felt like a blow to Noel's already shattered world, the weight of his father's alleged sins bearing down on him with suffocating force.
Anger clawed at his chest, threatening to consume him whole.
Then, with a sudden, jarring sound, Noel's repressed emotions exploded.
He slammed his handcuffed hands against the table, the metallic clatter echoing through the room like a gunshot.
Rising to his feet, his voice trembled with a mixture of fury and desperation.
"Don't you dare say anything false about my father," he growled, his words a fierce declaration of loyalty to the man he still believed in, despite the damning accusations.
As Noel's anger simmered and the officers outside the room prepared to intervene, Dustin's hand rose in a gesture to halt their advance.
His eyes never left Noel's, a silent challenge hanging in the air between them.
The tension in the room was palpable, a storm waiting to break.
"You don't know anything," Noel seethed, his voice thick with frustration and defiance, the fire in his eyes burning bright with intensity.
Dustin rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and controlled as he met Noel's gaze head-on.
The tension crackled between them like electricity, each locked in a battle of wills that threatened to ignite at any moment.
"And what if what I'm saying is the truth?" he prodded, his words a calculated taunt, his confidence unwavering in the face of Noel's fury.
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Noel's face, his resolve wavering in the face of Dustin's unwavering confidence.
His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms as he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of Dustin's challenge.
"If you think I can't do anything because my powers are restricted," Noel's voice crackled with barely contained fury, his eyes blazing with defiance, "then you will regret it."
His words were a warning, a promise of retribution should Dustin underestimate him.
Dustin's expression remained stoic, his eyes locking onto Noel's with unwavering determination.
"I know your powers aren't completely restricted," he acknowledged, his voice steady, his confidence unshaken by Noel's threats.
Noel's confusion was palpable as he struggled to comprehend Dustin's cryptic words, his mind racing with possibilities.
"But do you know why I didn't care about it that much?"
Dustin's tone was calm, almost casual, as he extended his hands forward, his movements deliberate and purposeful.
Suddenly, a massive hand materialized out of a thin portal, seizing Noel in its vice-like grip, its unseen force constricting around him like an iron band.
Panic flashed across Noel's face as he attempted to break free, but his powers proved futile against the overwhelming strength of Dustin's command.
Dustin's words hung in the air like a heavy weight as Noel's defiance turned to desperation, his struggles growing more frantic with each passing moment.
"So sit down and continue our interrogation," Dustin's command was firm, his authority undeniable, his words echoing through the room with an air of finality.
With a forceful tug, the hand propelled Noel back into his chair, leaving him stunned and powerless in its grasp.
His heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps as he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of Dustin's power.
In that moment, as Noel struggled against the large hand that held him captive, the realization dawned upon him.
Dustin's title, "Astra's Hands," took on a new significance, sending a shiver down his spine.
It was a stark reminder of the true extent of Dustin's power, and the lengths to which he would go to uncover the truth, his hands wielding authority and control with a strength that left Noel feeling small and insignificant in their grasp.