Chapter 73

Snakelet decided to drop the topic. As long as his little sister was happy, she could call herself whatever she wanted. He was just about to pat Ellie again when, unexpectedly, his father's voice rang out from outside. "You little brat, get out here!" Snakelet's body stiffened. "What's wrong, brother?" Ellie's soft, cute voice came from beside him. Snakelet gave her a gentle smile, doing his best not to let her notice anything was off. "It's nothing. I'm just fine. You stay here and rest. I'll come play with you again later." "Okay, I got it." Snakelet gently closed the door, turned around—and saw his father standing there, face dark as thunder. He already knew he was in for another beating. "What were you doing in there?" Snakelet said nothing. Herkoen chuckled and lifted him off the ground with a wave of his hand. "You want to acknowledge that woman as your mother, don't you? Remember this well—you don't have a mother. Got it?" Snakelet's face was full of defiance. "Mom's