Irvin's POV
I froze, my body going rigid as I spun around to face the man behind me. "What did you say?"
His voice cut through the air again, louder and more vicious. "I said get your useless mother and brother and get the hell out of my house."
That broke me.
I didn't pause to think. Didn't hesitate. My fist shot forward on pure instinct, driven by years of bottled fury, anguish, and powerlessness. The blow connected perfectly, catching his jaw dead center. The crack echoed through the room like a whip.
It felt incredible.
He staggered backward, shock flooding his features more than pain. The man who'd spent decades terrorizing everyone around him had never imagined someone would finally fight back.
"Irvin!" Mom's voice pierced the air from behind me.
I whipped around instantly, my pulse hammering as I spotted her at the base of the staircase, palm pressed to her mouth, tears already forming in her eyes.
"Mom, I told you to stay upstairs," I said, moving toward her.
