CHAPTER 414: THE VIOLENT ACTS

The door slammed open, and Brandon stumbled in, reeking of stale beer and regret. Nelly flinched, the half-folded laundry tumbling from her lap. It was well past midnight, and his delay was a familiar, unwelcome guest. "Nelly," he slurred, the word thick on his tongue. "Finally awake, huh?" "Awake and worried," she countered, her voice laced with a weariness more profound than his drunkenness. "Worried? About what?" He scoffed, collapsing onto the couch and knocking over a picture frame. "About you," she said, her voice rising. "About where you've been and why you're always so...like this." And anger ignited in his bloodshot eyes. "Like what? Like a man who works hard all day?" "Hard? Ha!" Nelly barked, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Easy money from your gambling buddies isn't 'hard,' Brandon. It's irresponsible." He lurched to his feet, towering over her. "Don't you lecture me! You haven't brought anything good into this life but that..." his voice trailed off, a nasty look