Daniel was sitting on the couch, watching TV, when he heard the door creak open, signaling his stepdaughter's return from school. He groaned in annoyance, standing up slowly, a hand resting on his swollen belly. His pregnancy had made everything more difficult, especially his already strained temper.

He walked toward her with a cold, calculating look in his eyes. He was an abusive, cold-hearted man now, but it hadn’t always been this way. After returning from the military, he had become bitter and violent. To make matters worse, his secret life as a mafia leader only fueled his anger. But now, with a child growing inside him, the emotions he couldn't control seemed to multiply.

“How was school today, witch? Anyone bother you again?” he asked, his voice sharp and full of disdain.