ie

of gathering and more like a courtroom

d guilty long b

y dinner, reserved stric

orner, exiled next to a c

e, naturally, w

and cloying in the air. It made b

und the porcelain rim of my p

Chloe c

across the room, b

p, my hand

," she said, her smile innocent but her eyes sharp. "

went dea

t that I had once worshipped t

k until my knuck

sed my father he

d in my head, a cr

voice barely a whisper.

" Marcus i

e that seemed to vibrate

e. His gaze was fix

red smoothly. "You don't need to listen to anyone e

efi

ck me like a

art in the cradle of the Renaiss

hrug. "Ellie's taste has always been a bit... niche.

with a cold, hu

writing my history in real-t

the ghost of the household.

pered, her voice a soft

-cold, but it did nothing to co

al clock ticking i

up. Rain lashed against the ta

me from school because the driver was late. He had held the umb

e," he had said then. "I don't l

s the one

rning, the

phone in bed, the morning

rn family accoun

s and

ple, brutal: The Fu

It was offici

screen, waitin

xpected to throw the p

I felt...

xpanded within me,

to my c

rc

t de

Instagram.

s private nu

mbling, but my mind

wrapped the duvet around me for a m

the empty room, testing the weight of the

ulled on heavy boo

out of

take an

ce like shards of ice. It soaked my hair ins

l. It felt

arcus prized so much, the ones

sh away the scent of this house, th

or when I finally returned. She

heavy with sadness. "Your father... he

s's father. She meant

d died so Marc

l, clutching it

you,

felt heavy, as if I were dragg

didn't

the cana

rose. Beautiful. A

alized yet that

first person yo