Chapter 2

Time passed and three years have gone by. After that night, Kirsi never mentioned that topic again and Rhys was satisfied with that. But their situation that was slowly stabilizing once again shifted. The people started looking at their families as if they were some sort of attraction. Not wanting to put his family in danger, Rhys decided to move his whole family to a more secluded place, away from the prying eyes of the public.

A few months went by and Kirsi gave birth to a healthy baby girl. And ever since Aiyana was born, Rhys noticed the change in his wife's behavior. Her temperament made a drastic change. His once calm, understanding, and happy wife became more prone to anger, and most of the time it was directed at their first daughter, Eris. And she also started to voice out her discontent and complains about everything about him.

Rhys who just returned from hunting was about to enter their home when he heard his wife's loud voice and a child crying. He immediately opened the door and saw his daughter, Eris, being hit behind her legs with a broom.

"KIRSI!" he shouted at his wife and run towards them, forcefully pulling the broom from his wife's hands and throwing it far from her reach. "Just what the hell are you doing?!"

"That demon—"

"Don't you dare call her that!"

Kirsi shifted her anger toward him.

"She—" she pointed at Eris, "broke my Aiyana's toy!"

Hearing her answer, Rhys' blood boiled as he looked at his wife with anger and disappointment in his eyes. "Just because of a mere toy, you dare lay your hands on my daughter?!"

"Aiyana is also your daughter!"

"And your Eris' MOTHER. She is also YOUR daughter!" Rhys snapped.

Kirsi paused.

Rhys didn't want to face his wife now so he turned to look at Eris who was trying hard not to cry. He looked at the tears falling in his daughter's eyes without a sign of stopping. He truly feels sorry for this daughter of his.

Just because she was given a name that everybody perceived as evil. Just because he and his wife had another daughter which was granted the name of a savior. Just because of a book that somebody wrote and was believed to be a prophecy by the majority of the people. Just because of all those, she was judged as a demon. Even by her own mother.

And as her father, he can't even do anything to protect her.

He kneeled in front of her and felt his heart break as he looked at her injury.

"Hush now, Daddy's sorry for coming home late. I'm here now," he consoled her as he wiped her flowing tears. He hugged her as he continues to whisper words of comfort.

Kirsi hated this father and daughter scene. She has long believed that the Book of Prophecy was the truth and the future. So she has long cut her ties with this daughter of hers. Treating her as a stranger. An intruder to what was supposed to be a happy family.

If not because of this child, her husband won't be treating her like this. Getting angry at her. Shouting at her. Rhys was always kind and sweet to her and just because she gave birth to a demon, she felt like he has changed. He treats Eris as more important than his own wife. Even her daughter, Aiyana, was never treated favorably like how he treated that child.

If Rhys can hear his wife's right thoughts now, he would really be disappointed in her.

He treats both their daughters equally. Love them both equally. But because Kirsi treated Aiyana like her only daughter, it's as if she created a barrier around her precious daughter and treated herself as her protector. Even Rhys can't come even one step closer to his second daughter without Kirsi blocking his way.

If he buys toys and clothes for both their children, Kirsi always creates this misconception that all the toys and pretty clothes he takes home were all for Aiyana. If it weren't for the clothing size, then nothing he does can stop Kirsi from giving Eris' clothes to Aiyana. But he can't do anything about the toys.

Rhys decided to bring Eris back to her room to treat her wounds but was stopped by Kirsi's words.

"That toy is worth three silvers, Rhys. Three. Fricking. Silvers! Where do we even get that amount of money that that child wasted!"

"Shut up!" His blood was still boiling as he looked at his wife with indifference. "You don't have the right to lecture me about money when you do not even contribute to the finances of this family!"

"How can you say that to me?!" she shouted.

"Do I sound unfair to you? The food you eat was bought using MY money. The clothes you wear were also bought with MY money. And this house's rent is paid using MY money. If you find it unfair then you're free to leave. Let's see if you can survive without using any of my hard-earned income. So who, where, when, and what I used MY money on is MY business."

"I am your wife! Your money is my money. That is my right! "

Rhys chuckled. In his ears, his wife is starting to sound more and more shameless.

Ever since Aiyana's birth, Kirsi gave her whole undivided attention to her newborn. Not even making time to clean or cook for him and Eris. Whenever he gets home from hunting all day, he will see her dozing off with the baby while Eris is sitting at the empty dining table. When Eris sees him, she will immediately runs towards him with a happy expression and welcomes him home instead of his wife. And whenever he asked her if she has eaten, she always says that her mother was tired so she just ate the fruits that the kind neighbor gave them. That happened countless times so after a month, he tried to come home earlier than usual to cook for them.

Rhys looked at his wife one last time. "That only applies if you also do your part as my wife and mother of my children, " and with those last words, he turned his back on her.

***