Emily slowly escaped from the tight hug with her mother, retreating back.

“Your father always maltreated me. He would beat me from time to time. I couldn’t handle it anymore.” Mrs Greenfield continued, then she coughed blood into a napkin. Her illness was severe.“I only stayed because of you. But it was too much for me to tolerate.”

She shook her head and Emily adjusted closer to her mother, her face stained with worry. She didn’t know her mother had to pass through all ...