eigh

sted like ash in my mouth. Every clink of silverware against porcelain sou

trying desperately to win back favor. She was excessively complimentary of Geneva' s cooking, h

They were no longer veiled. They were openly hostile, filled with a

when spoken to, and tried to breathe through the knot of dread that had ta

houlder. "Son, come with me to the study for a mi

he women a moment. Geneva started clearing the plates, her movements e

mping up. But she didn' t head fo

ngly sweet. She looped her arm through mine, her grip sur

her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I have a

e were coconspirato

my arm away, but her grip ti

ated, her voice even lower. "This life. The house, the money, the

od ran

ith condescension. "Brock is mine now. And while it' s cute that you' ve had this little family se

tting the impl

t a matter of time before it becomes awkward. You should probably start thinking

chless. The sheer aud

ugh bubbled up in my thr

yanked m

va are my parents. Brock is my brother. Th

r and more brittle than before. She reached out and patted my ha

when I am the lady of this house, I' ll be sure to take very good care of you. We' ll find you a nice

sumption that my life, my position in this family, was

ance between us. My voice came out low and c

s Geneva Sampson. And if you ever become a part of this family, whic

or the record, I don' t need you to take c

e mask of saccharine sweetness dissolved,

her voice a venomous whisper. "You h

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