Broken Bonds

The morning sun poured into the house Tessa had moved the children into, its golden warmth filling every corner. From the outside, it was the picture of peace—wide balconies, freshly painted walls, polished floors that gleamed like mirrors. But inside, that peace was nowhere to be found.

Tessa stood in the middle of the hallway, hands pressed against her temples as she tried to keep her voice steady. Jamal and Kamal had already stormed into their shared room and slammed the ...