Tania was unraveling or going crazy as one would say.
Her paranoia had grown worse, to the point where she could barely function. Every noise, every shadow in the house sent her spiraling into fear. And while Ethan had become distant, spending most of his time at work, Grace became the unfortunate target of Tania’s growing instability.
It was a sunny afternoon when Grace, full of excitement, burst into her mother’s bedroom holding a drawing she had worked on all day. “Mommy, look!” Grace said proudly, holding up the colorful picture she had drawn.
But instead of praise, Tania snapped. “Get out!” she screamed, her voice filled with venom. “I don’t want to see your stupid drawings!”
Grace’s face crumpled, her eyes welling with tears as she clutched the drawing to her chest. At that moment, Ethan walked into the room, just in time to witness the heartbreaking scene. Tania, consumed by her rage, grabbed the picture from Grace’s hands and tore it to pieces.
“Go to your room, Grace,” Ethan said gently, his voice soothing as he knelt down to console the sobbing child. Grace ran from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Once Grace was gone, Ethan turned his anger on Tania. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “She’s just a child!”
Tania’s eyes were wild, her chest heaving as she stared at him. “I should have aborted her,” she spat, her voice dripping with bitterness.
Ethan’s face darkened with fury. Without thinking, he slapped her hard across the face. Tania stumbled, clutching her cheek as she glared at him with a mix of shock and hatred. Ethan grabbed her by the throat, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you ever say that again.”
Tania struggled in his grip, her eyes flashing with defiance. “She’s not even yours! Do whatever you want with her. I don’t care.”
Ethan let her go, disgust washing over him. He couldn’t believe how far Tania had gone, how twisted she had become. For the first time in years, he realized just how toxic she was and how much he needed to protect Grace from her.