ed moving the moment Hun

ilence dominates the hall-so deafe

t households. Chandeliers overhead, their lights r

, but I'm certain the former's shifting in his seat as if waiting

s. Her glare's nearly boring holes in my skin, sparks fly

tead, he shifts his stare f

g into a deep-set eye of sage green

brow calls for my attention. But I'm rather en

mix of feelings within

resence or I'm SCARED of him. It could be the latter, as I'm inwardly screa

nt, more than I exp

red to before. Instead of the warm gaze that was his cou

assive, and his lip

ly is this man? Why is his aura much different from t

inside and hoping it shows in my eyes. "You clearly offended him," the man adds, only fueling the urge to dunk h

know b

the tension in the air has risen and Dad Griffin

ook. The man hasn't said a word. Is he

I hate-I'm supposed to speak up; that was the plan. But the adrena

gy could surface.

to stare. I can't even meet his gaze, as I have my head down, loo

s me, I bow ninety degr

away-just like I do some other things I've

s hanging low, but the maids' snickering as I s

his iris effaced, the way he didn't bat his eyelid or make a crease on hi

t felt like a cold, dark hole absorbing my s

er who that is, becau

onths before I submitted my report, I stumbled on a v

le, watched his vid

I was embarrassed at the time. But the thrill of Hunter's reciprocat

would be free to do as I pleased once I su

t may be the reason for his strange behavior. I

arter with a sneer on their faces. And t

hat tends to eat up my brain cells, crawling like vines on every no

bunk and plop down on the lower bed,

ilt, and fucking anger. Even the queasy sensation in my

sks with a snigger. I'm struggling to r

well did. Sn

len with the nasty facial expressions. Her voice brims with disdain, its v

hird girl titters, stirring the spice in the conversation w

myself to the bathroom and shut the d

uffled. "Look at her d

ow, r

at coating shite with vanil

Its daunting sound causes me

er. And I find myself plop

cognize. Even though I hadn't mistreated them deliberately, the

ed resentment toward me from the beg

Yivlen says between her chuckle

he jackass feels? She thinks she's

lips as I lean forward wit

tile chinwags. However, it relates to Hunter-the one person I

aspy voice booms from the

sound for fear of facing her wrath; often in the form of h

evastated. That'd only be more problemati

, it flies open, nearly knocking me out i

ling backward. It hurts, but what hurts m

m. Or maybe none. I mean, what else would have bitten my tongue an

t cover. Only this

em. Even if I did now, it's too late since I've already h

s. I want to get on my feet, as Madam Kwakye's solid posture ov

wer injuries, that's if I can stop my hands fro

hauls me up. She's strong and inhumane and could battle a bunch of b

re's a collision of grunts, thudding-occasionally slid

or you the next time you break the servants' rule, Heidi. Do you get me?"

smell. But what's Madam Kw

as my bra before she pulls. Hard, f

eyeing my bare chest as she says sternly, "Now ta

bathroom door behind her, just as she

roll in the aisles

room, disregarding how my breasts are

orm before returni

he consequences of my choice, I may