urgess had changed over the years. Where once he had been sharp and fla

y he attracted so many women. But beneath his polished

g in our direction. The way he looked at us reminded me of how he used to gaze at str

nally acknowledged my presence. His gaze bore into me, his words dripping with conde

a sense of relief, I made my escape, retreating upstairs to the safety of my room. Afterall,

ng my heart to skip a beat. "You are magnificent, captivating

brows and retorte

ith you, rendering your legs weak and incapable of leavi

's words dripping with depravity and desire. "You're sick!" I cursed, my fingers t

much as I tried to deny it, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watche

*

. Harrison sat at the head, flanked by mother on his left and Burgess on his right.

e words and considerate questions only served to highlight the glaring disparity between us. While she

ract. Here was my biological mother, sitting beside me, yet her attention was

uning out their conversation as best as I could. mother's reproachful tap

r brother. He's asking you," she chid

urgess want from me? Did he expect me to engage in meaningless

g into mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Without bothering to hide

head to resume eating, showing no int

a heavy fog. I could feel Burgess's gaze burning into me, his scrutiny almos

done. You guys can take your time," I announced, rising from my seat with a sense of li

firmly, anchoring me to my seat. The smile that had graced her face moments

s," she admonished, her to

rds. "Mom, how am I being capricious?" I q

like you, always trying to please them, you think I'm being capricious?" I challenged her, my word

line. Her face paled, her grip on my hand tightening befo

at, her voice tre

fair skin burning with humiliation and rage. I could feel the mocking gazes of

n the Harrison family, just like

pite my best efforts to be careful, I had accidentally broken Burgess's mother's favorite

n front of his mother's portrait, begging for forgiveness. And mother, instead of defending me, had scolded me for

se years. From that moment on, I had harbored a deep-seated grudge a

inally free from his oppressive presence. I had moved out, determined to live my l

the same reality I had hoped to escape. And now, as I sat there, nursing the sting of mothe