man she once trusted. He had rushed to shield Xenia without a second thought when it mattered mos
r side before a soft, almost moc
er liked her. And I'm the one who g
s, the tension in his expression sharpening
d Kaelyn's eyes as she reached fo
r soft waves spilling over her shoulders as they framed her composed, almost indifferent face-an effortless, dangerous kind of char
a, and ever since he brought her back into the fami
ight into line, orbiting around
smoothly stepped forward, slipping herself betwe
, Dr. Hudson wouldn't have been held up and delayed g
eness, as though she'd rehearsed
r Kaelyn's irritation burned, that delicate act o
n said with a cold, mocking curl of her lips. "Since the c
ropped, sharp with warning
ough the faint resentment in her eyes was impossible to miss. "I used to
that way, Andrew had
on softening at once. "Get some rest tonight. I'll go with you to pick up groceri
's fingers slowly tightened, a dul
ally knew h
s surpr
hen the sound of activity in the kitchen drew
noisy market, then return home to tie on an apron and move about the kitchen with
re of her with careful attention, yet his obsession with clea
The truth was far simpler-and far colde
glow of the kitchen, her gaze lingering as con
frame, a bright, almost sugary smile spreading across her face. "Go wash your han
the faint curl of steam rising around him. When he turned slight
he pan, he said, "Can you h
ight
d the cabinet and reached up for i
e warmth fading almost instantly. His tone cooled as he said
h, she moved forward in slow, measured steps, d
a mess, and she hadn't dragged
hose two heading out for breakfast, picking up grocer
hey looked exactly
n forced every bitter, t
dish, while Xenia carried it to the table an
lace, then looked at Kaelyn with eager eyes.
oice came from behind her. "It's been a whole night. I
ght past Kaelyn and sat
moved between him and Kaelyn, her voice dropping to a
's lips as she replied coldly, "If yo
ell silent, lifting her fork wit
all over the place, some sharp, some bland, and the
, her expression composed, as soft conv
you're incredible. I only mentioned a couple of things I like, and you actually learned to cook them. Kaelyn's
es as he looked at her, h
he murmured, "He'll
and jarring as she rose to her feet, a brittle laugh slipping past her lips. "Xenia, spare me the fake
her side, her eyes flickering with som
reatening to betray her, but she swallowed it down,
ossible-like I'd asked for the world. So what changed? Di
y down her cheeks. "Please don't blame Dr. Hudson. This
"Of course it's your fault. If not for you, how wou
e couldn't escape-Andrew had only d
surfaced, a bitter sickne
lowed the rising disgust, no long
d her chair back and turned awa
up and caught her arm, fingers tightening as her voice broke. "Kaelyn... is it really... no
unwavering stare. "Yeah. Whatever you try, it just gets under my skin. Your who
raight through Xenia, le
her lashes lowering to hide the flicker of
ps as she tilted her chin. "You're st
frantically, her voice trembling. "My mom and I had nothing to do with
nds curled
Of all things, she dare
s, a violent pulse building until it fel
nding Xenia stumbling sideways until she crashe
Andrew's eyes as they narrow
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