emed to be getting worse. Every time they were in the same room, the atmosphere became tense. The two children clearly refuse

ded to make breakfast. Even though she knew her cooking skills were l

recipe book she had just downloaded from the internet. Her eyes stopp

r, reality soon hit. The eggs she whisked were too watery, and the toast she grilled ended up bur

but it was already too late. The omelet was burnt and misshapen, and

l looked at the scene in front of her with a mocking gaze.

nt. "I was just trying to make breakfast for

s her chest. "Zizi and I don't need you to cook for us. W

ioned "Mama," there was a bitterness clearly etched on her face. T

help..." Alena said, h

hen without another word, leaving Alena

He saw the untouched breakfast plates and looked at Alen

ppened?"

htly. "I tried to cook, b

. "Sasya and Zizi still

appointment. "I feel like a guest in this house.

ad. "I know this is hard, but you have to be more patient.

it still felt like she was walking on glass. Every step fel

w this would be hard?" Alena sud

dn't answer immediately, simply staring at A

gh this together," Aziz finally sai

ould get better, but every day she felt further away fro

hanged life over the past few weeks. Aziz was busy with his work, and the child

moment, then walked in and sat on the couch without saying anything. Al

ng wrong?" Alena

ng Alena's gaze. The girl then pulled out a sketchbook from her ba

ddenly spoke softly, "

ords. "I know," she replied quietly.

ed at Alena with her big, sad

to say. She was still asking herself the same question-why was she

z had returned from work, and the atmosphere in the room changed. Zizi imme

eiling. She felt increasingly distant from her husband, as though the gap between them was growing large

n the presence of the man

o talk," Alena

d looked at her briefly befo

asya and Zizi clearly don't want to accept me, and you..." Alena

chair. "I'm not pulling away. I just

ena said softly. "I can'

on, but there was something restrained in h

ime might not be the answer. Something was missing in thi

ep with an emptiness that c

the sound of crying outside the room. When she opened the door, s

irl cry? What was hap