Chapter 417

Bethany's eyes welled up with tears almost immediately as she realized how little she understood what Kelly had been through. She pulled Kelly into her embrace but was careful not to hold her too tightly. Her sorrow left her feeling uncertain about what to do next. "Ms. Reyes, I'm not hurting, really. Not at all," Kelly said meekly. Bethany sniffled, struggling to hold back her tears. "Kelly, did your dad cause these injuries?" Kelly hesitated briefly before nodding. "Sometimes, when Dad misses Mom too much, he'll drink and… Then again, I don't blame him for that." Bethany couldn't hold back her tears any longer. The sight of Kelly, so meek and helpless, was almost unbearable. Yet, as just a passerby, she felt powerless to change anything. While helping Kelly with her bath, she asked, "Kelly, do you remember your mom?" Maybe Kelly's mother had been forced to leave, and perhaps she was Kelly's only hope. Kelly shook her head. Her mother had been gone by the time she was old enoug