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Sweet summer child. Morella really is an idiot. “Leave that part to me.” I won’t rape her, that’s not me, but I know the attraction we have for each other so I leave there without giving him another opportunity to bring up the fact that they’ll still be married. Him asking me to step aside and allow him to be her husband isn’t going to cut it in the long run, especially when he’s sneaking around with his side girl like he can have his cake and eat it too, but again, that’s a later me problem. We’ll figure this shit out eventually.



















Thirteen

Unclench your jaw.

I repeat the same things to myself twenty times a day, but it never makes a difference. Unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, uncurl your fists. Smile when people look at you. Be kind, be helpful, be pretty and pristine, the perfect little pawn.

But I can’t.

It’s subconscious at this point. The fear, the tension. It’s palpable under my skin.

I had hoped that with time, Alexander would come around. He’d realize that I don’t care if he keeps his precious gardener on the side, in the shadows. He’d do what he was bid.

Ibeggedhim to do what he was bid.

But he won’t.

The only solace I take from any of this is that it’ll be over soon. In a couple of minutes, I’ll be on my way to some high profile doctor who will poke and prod at me until they decide if I’m fertile or not, and when it comes back that I am, and Alex is too, the gig will be up. Ephraim will learn that the Keeper’s girl, the one they tried to hang onto, the only one they ever wanted to keep, couldn’t manage to seduce his son once.

Not once.

Not even to save her own life.

It fucking infuriates me.

If Alexander was a woman instead of a man, she wouldn’t have been given a choice. She’d have been raped if that’s what it took, over and over again until the men around her were satisfied and her body was spent. But he’s not. He’s a man, and for some fucking reason, we still have to bend to the whims of absolute morons.

The fury makes my steps heavy and quick as I race down the stairs. Let this be over then. Let them all find out the truth, and let them blame the man for once. I’ll burn his world down if I have to.

I’ll burn it all.

“Miss Harbough,” Shay says loudly, grabbing my attention as I head for the dining room to look for Miss Maddy.“She’salready in the car, just head on out. And good luck, okay? We’re all rooting for you.”

Why did she enunciate “she” like that?

I focus on her face looking for signs, and the little minx winks at me. “Shay,” I scold gently. “What—”