Page 11 of Isolation

I shrug again. “I don’t care.”

“If you don’t care about John pressing charges, do you care that Raven might not want to be with someone her parents disapprove of? John will be even angrier if he finds out that you were romantically entangled with his only daughter while you were legally her guardian.”

I am quiet, and Tessa realizes she has finally figured me out. Raven is my kryptonite. Tessa is right. I need Uncle John to be on my side.

“What do you suggest that I do?”

“Nothing. Just don’t say anything—” Tessa stops short when the door creaks open.

We both turn to find Uncle John opening the door to Raven’s room.

Tessa tenses. “I was just leaving,” she mumbles and gives my shoulder a squeeze.

She gives Uncle John a nod before walking out. I give Uncle John a nod as well, but he ignores me.

I have always liked Uncle John. He has always shown me respect, but right now, he is pissed.

Uncle John is notoriously religious and conservative.Since catching Raven and me in the act together, he won’t even look me in the eyes.

However, Uncle John and Theressa are now living under my roof, so he has to talk to me at some point.

Everyone was shocked to find out that Uncle John managed to convince Theressa to take him back.

Apparently, Raven finally grew a pair and confronted her parents about why they split when she was younger, leaving her parentless and stranded. Yet, they are now back together after Raven became an adult, and they no longer have any obligations towards her.

Theressa sent some unsavory emails (most likely under the influence of alcohol), admitting to Raven that she never wanted children. After receiving an offer for her dream job in Europe, Theressa left both of them behind, unsure how a child would fit into her new travel schedule.

If they didn’t have kids, she would have taken Uncle John along.Over the years, Theressa considered reuniting with Uncle John but hesitated due to her need for image preservation.

How would it look to others?

What kind of non-divorced parents leave their child behind and live it up abroad?

Fucking narcissistic Theressa.

After years of him prodding her into it, Theressa finally decided to take Uncle John back, but only after Raven moved to Paris.

As forRaven, she recently moved back to America.My guess is that Raven wanted to be closer to the Sinclair clan again after her parents doused her with the truth she secretly suspected: their cause for seperation was Raven.

Soon after, her parents also decided to move back. They have been wracked with guilt over sending those emails to Raven and for admitting those awful things.

Now, theyareTeam Ravenall the way.

Uncle John is suddenly acting like an overprotective father. Every time he comes in here to check on Raven, he seems more pissed off than before to find me with her.

He takes Raven’s vitals and checks on her wounds. Finally, he clears his throat to address me.

“Umm, she is dehydrated. Has she been getting fluids? Did she eat anything today?”

“She barely woke up earlier for some water and a few spoonfuls of soup. But I stocked up on water and coconut water,” I nod towards the mini-fridge I moved into her room.

Uncle John looks at the mini-fridge. “Good. She needs to eat more before taking the anti-inflammatory.”

He then studies my unshaven and disheveled face, looking conflicted before finally asking, “So, how long has this been going on with you and my daughter?”

I hesitate for a moment. “Uncle John, I’d rather that we talk about this once your daughter is awake. Raven has the right to tell you herself.”

“Yet, she chose not to.”