p breath before walking into the living room in her fancy dr

ss?" He joked, giving her his arm to acco

ago." She answered ironical

usual, Grace gave Brooke a look of disapprova

to time, comment on his stories. Nestled at her feet was her beloved Doberman, which also enjoyed the dinner from the hands of the woman. In front of her mother, there was Sasha,

e raise in pitch in Charles' voic

n, she tended not to listen to the speeches of her stepbrother, con

close." He continued, pointing with his hand at the distance be

do?" He imme

es replied obvious, and then laughed at it,

s, Oswald?" Grace asked

've seen them

m. But don't worry, they're al

turning to Oswald again. "Don't listen to him.

e and two sisters also passed away upstairs. And my poor, dear parents." He explained, his gaze always fixe

nce. "How did you meet?" He asked, shifti

y." She replied, acting as if she

intricate plot of lies and deception she had devised which had taken her to sit at that table that night. The fake indi

ther died, I sat alone in this house for months, barely got out of bed in fact. Finally, I foun

seltzer." Grace sp

ll had suffered at the hands of her abusive husband, who left them with nothing after his death. I had to help. I offered her refuge and she accepted. And thi

" Oswald commented, s

him. Richard, my previous husband, was a very violent man." Grace

ace an expression of fear, sadness and shame even. The girl could not help but cheer mentally to her talents as an actress, but she would not listen to a wo

memories: living her childhood with an abusive father must have been hell for her, it was perfectly

♛

eeks. Her arms held one among her many pillows tight to her chest, as if looking for a long lost affection. If her mind had become accustomed to living in deception, her

o sit on her father's lap and listen to him tell the best moments he and the woman had spent together. The stories never ended. Some were among the most extravagant, such as when they had stormed a pirate ship, or wh

the only thing she had

♛

eks were red, her eyes swollen, surrounded by dark circles,

before crawling into the show

ugh that night had disappeared from her face. The anger, the resentment, the melanch

reeted her two favour

e." Oswald replied,

d, referring to the late hour. "How are yo

on the couch in front of them. "So, why are you play

ing me to play bridg

it. I'm loosing." Elijah commented

queen of this game." Brooke smi

it could even begin. The woman stormed into the room, followed by Sasha and Charles

urmured, pointing hi

blic library today." S

novel I'm writing."

l himself a writer and boast of his exceptional poetic skills, when, in fact, in the last two ye

I made an alarming discovery." He con

sheltered lives here, we would know what the whole world knows. He's a notorious c

King of Gotham underworld. He's the Pen

asked, a shocked exp

lled the internet, you know? I

ler and a rapist, we were all in danger!

is family. And I honestly don't think Oswald would e

e to understand how to deal with this criminal." Grace intervened, stopping

rrified and embarrassed

. "He just didn't tell me how famous he was. You're too mo

" Brooke

nal in our house?" Grace

're not this man anymore, are you?" He then asked his son

ediately answered

now? How do you know h

rene expression convinced his wife that his decision was not questionable and the

man exclaimed, reading the headline o

arrassed at the name, while

u've known the truth?"

ked when I met you. I'm still sorry for

cate. "Just, may I ask you, why didn't you say anything? I mean, w

I knew this would happen." She replied. "You just didn't seem like

have such a good heart under all that bitt

t knew it well. The woman, however, was not certai