a, he went straight upstairs to

signer dresses, shoes, and handbags, a riot of color and texture. On his side, there were a handful

Christmas. He realized with a jolt that nearly every decent piece of clothing he owne

never once bought him s

his lips. He didn'

. But these weren't his clothes. They were the gifts. All the extravagant, thoughtful presents he had bought

mile that never came. He'd found them all relegated to a storage room in the basement, unt

oney was now a satisfyingly large number

one-sided love, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

iver's side door swung open and a woman with bright pink hair a

to Arvin. "Selling off the family jewels, are we? Getting despe

ng toward the house. He didn't have

rieked, her voice grating. She hu

edom. For five years, he had endured her taunts, her insults, her constant attempts to undermine him. He had always respo

contract

ie," he said, his v

udden change in his demeanor angered her even more. "Who do

of irritation in his eyes. He was so

it. You're upset. You must have heard, haven't you? Cale is back. My sist

ressed in a crisp linen suit that looked immune to wrinkles. He was handsome, w

ike his photos. Arvin noted with a detached sense of irony that five years o

asked, his eyes flicking ove

ou worry about him. He's just... the help." She then turned back to Arvin, her voice sh

turned and walked into the house,

her foot. The driver eventually

s scanning the scene anxiously. When her gaze landed on Cale, a visible wave of re

ot a request. "Cale will be staying with

emained

tance. "Jorja, I don't want to impose. It might

tely, rushing to his side. "It's no proble

at him, expecting him to be the complian

g across his face. It was a smile they had never see

, his voice smooth as silk. "Welc

e thought, it w