NE

ding. Second, his eyes never looked at me with warmth. His gaze wasn't full of hate, but it wasn't tender either. It was more like he was inspecting me, sizing me up, with

rs last night, I thought I was in trouble. I thought I had done something horribly wrong. But no, instead, she

k into your life?" Monica screamed at me, throwing th

f a man, taller than my stepbrothers. When he came near me, it felt like I might throw

e had started, but I couldn't feel anything. There was no happiness, no relief, o

oked at me like I was the cause of all her frustrations. Jimmy and Ma

ed at me like I was something to be controlled, something to be molded. And now... now I was m

amiliar tightness in my throat felt like a vice, squeezing the breath from me, and

ut then I noticed it: the slight guilt in his eyes as he looked at me. His gaze softened for

, a warm, comforting presence whenever my father had business to attend to. But now, seeing him here, watching me in silence as I stood with his son, it felt like time had wa

me, and when the ceremony was over, he turne

unsure of what was expected of me. My steps were slow, tentative,

owledge me as I got closer. His hand reached for the door handle without a second glance, and he opened it for me.

shut, the reality of my situation settled in. I was alone with a man I barely

d see the way his hand clenched and unclenched on the steering wheel, his jaw tight. The silence betw

steering wheel. My instincts kicked in, and I hunched

ard, keeping my eyes squeezed shut. My heart raced in my chest, my breaths coming out in ragged bursts. But I peered ou

added, his voice softer now, though his narrowed ey

my body coiled with fear. But I unfolded myself from

e didn't start the car right away. Instead, he sigh

to me," he started, his gaze briefly flicking to me. I remained silent, unsu

s heir, and then we'll go our separate ways," he said, his brows raised slightly as if to gauge my

really good. I just needed to stay with him for a year, then I'd get my

know you, you are not even my....." he continued, but th

able, and I could feel my cheeks flame with embarrassment. My eyes dropped to my body, I was thin, really thin,

ught bitterly, I wou

im to turn off the lights anytime he wanted to do what he