The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the fields outside their cottage. The day had been a mix of mundane errands and small joys. Evelyn had taken Mira out to the market, as promised, and the time spent in the bustling village had been a welcome reprieve. They had laughed together, shared stories, and even indulged in the excitement of watching a street performer use magic. It was a day of lightness, a brief escape from the weight that always seemed to hang over their home.

But as the evening drew near, the shadows grew longer, and the peace they had found outside began to fade. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension.

Evelyn stood by the hearth, stirring a pot of stew, her mind occupied with thoughts of the day. The warmth of the fire did little to ease the chill that had settled in her bones ever since she had returned home. She had hoped for a quiet evening with her children, a moment to unwind after the stress of the market. But as always, there was the lingering presence of Richard—the constant reminder that peace, however fleeting, was never meant to last.

The front door slammed open, and Evelyn looked up, startled. Richard stood in the doorway, his tall frame casting a shadow over the room. His eyes were hard, his jaw clenched in that way she knew all too well. Lior, their eldest son, entered behind him, looking uncomfortable but silently following his father’s lead. Lucas, their youngest, trailed behind them, his wide eyes looking from his father to his mother, sensing the change in the air.

“Where’s Mira?” Richard’s voice was low, filled with an edge that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Evelyn’s heart sank. She had been expecting this. Richard had never been fond of Mira being outside the house, let alone going to the market, where there were distractions and, in his view, potential dangers. He believed that a girl like Mira had no business being out in public, especially when there was work to be done at home. He wanted his daughters—and even his wife—to stay within the walls of the house, safe and unseen.

“She’s in her room,” Evelyn said, keeping her voice steady despite the nervousness building in her chest.

Richard’s eyes narrowed. “What was so important about a trip to the market?” he demanded, stepping further into the room. “She should be at home, helping with the housework, not out gallivanting with you.”

Evelyn sighed, trying to remain calm. “She’s just a child, Richard. She needed a break. She’s been working hard, and—”

“I don’t care about her needing a break,” Richard snapped, cutting her off. “She is a girl. Her place is in the home, not in the streets. She’s not meant for the market, not meant for anything other than what I say she is.”

Evelyn’s grip on the spoon in her hand tightened. She had heard this countless times before. Richard had never understood why Evelyn allowed Mira some freedom. To him, a girl’s worth was tied to her obedience, her role in the house. He believed in the rigid boundaries of their world—the roles each person had, the rules that governed their lives. And those rules were clear: women stayed home, out of sight, and out of trouble.

“She’s only thirteen, Richard,” Evelyn said quietly, her voice wavering. “She’s not ready for everything you expect of her. She’s still a child.”

Richard took a step toward her, his eyes flashing with anger. “And who’s responsible for raising her?” he barked. “Who decides what’s best for her? Not you, Evelyn. Not anymore.”

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Evelyn felt a chill run through her as he towered over her, his words biting at her like a cold wind. Lior and Lucas stood off to the side, uncomfortable in the face of their father’s fury. But Evelyn knew they wouldn’t interfere. They never did. This was how it always was.

“She needs to learn her place,” Richard continued, his voice rising. “I’ve let you have your little indulgences, let you take her out to that market, but no more. I won’t have my daughter thinking she’s free to do as she pleases. She’ll stay home. She’ll work. And she’ll learn.”

Evelyn felt a sharp pang of frustration, mixed with guilt. She had tried to shield Mira from Richard’s harshness, to let her have some semblance of childhood, but the weight of his beliefs always seemed to pull her back, drag her down to the same place. He had never been kind to her, but he had been a father in his own way. She had always believed he loved her children, even if his love was twisted by the rigidity of his views.

“Mira is just a child,” Evelyn repeated, her voice steadying. “She’s not ready for this kind of life, Richard. She doesn’t know what it means to work like we do. She’s still learning.”

Richard’s nostrils flared, and before Evelyn could brace herself, his hand shot out, grabbing her by the wrist. The force of it made her gasp, but she didn’t pull away. She had learned long ago that resistance only made things worse.

“You’ll learn to stop coddling her, Evelyn,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ll stop treating her like she’s some delicate little thing. She’ll grow up. She’ll do what she’s told.”

Evelyn swallowed hard, her chest tight. She had always been the one to defend Mira, to stand in the way of Richard’s anger. But tonight, something had shifted. She felt the weight of his grip, the pressure of his words, the harsh reality that there was no escaping this life. She wasn’t strong enough to break free of his hold—not on her own.

The tension between them snapped when Richard gave her wrist a hard shake. She stumbled slightly, trying to steady herself. But as she did, something inside her broke. This wasn’t right. None of this was right.

“You’re hurting me,” she whispered, the words barely escaping her lips.

Richard sneered. “Good. Maybe you’ll finally learn your place.”

Evelyn didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Instead, she stood there, silently enduring the pain, the anger, the shame of it all. She had known this day would come. She had known it in her heart that Richard’s views would eventually tear apart everything she had tried to protect. She had tried to shield Mira from the worst of it, but maybe there was no escaping the inevitable.

Lior stepped forward, his face pale. “Father, stop. You’re scaring her.” His voice was low, strained.

Richard didn’t look at him. His gaze was fixed on Evelyn, a look of contempt in his eyes. “Stay out of this, Lior.”

But Lior didn’t move. He stepped closer, putting himself between his father and his mother. “She’s right, Father. You’re going too far.”

For a moment, Richard stood still, his eyes locked onto Lior’s. There was something dangerous in the silence, but finally, Richard stepped back. The grip on Evelyn’s wrist loosened, and she pulled her arm away, clutching it to her chest.

“You think you can tell me how to run my house?” Richard’s voice was harsh, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll let you have your little rebellion. But you’ll see. This won’t end well.”

Evelyn stood, her back stiff as she tried to calm the trembling in her hands. She looked at her son, standing protectively between them. Lior’s defiance gave her a small measure of comfort, but it wasn’t enough to ease the storm inside her.

“I’ll handle this, Richard,” Evelyn said, her voice quiet but firm. “I’ll make sure Mira stays in line. But don’t you dare hurt her. Don’t ever lay a hand on her.”

Richard stared at her for a long moment, then turned on his heel and left the room without another word. The door slammed behind him, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

Evelyn collapsed onto a nearby chair, her body shaking with the weight of it all. She closed her eyes, trying to hold herself together. But inside, she knew the truth: no matter how much she loved her children, no matter how much she wanted to protect them, the reality of her life, of their life, was inescapable.

And for now, she would have to continue playing the role she had been given.

But Mira—Mira deserved more.