He lowered his head towards me, a cocky grin spreading across his lips as he raked his eyes across my body before landing them back on mine.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance before averting my eyes, ignoring the blush that threatened to run across...
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY!
AN AN ENTIRE WEEK PASSED.
Seven consecutive days that came one after the other, each of them spent with thoughts roaming my head, all aimed at one person. It had taken Theodore hours to speak—days to look me in the eye. The moment his father spoke those words, voice filled with cruelty as he compared me to an animal, something had shifted. It tore him from me, kept Theodore's gaze away as he placed a wall between us.
I couldn't blame him. I didn't. I was in shock, baffled at the way a father could hate his son, a child of his blood so much. It took everything in me to keep my eyes dry, to look away and nod as Theodore apologized for the actions of a man decades older than him. Once again shouldering the burden that came with being born a Camden.
"What's wrong, my love?" My father's voice rang out from the doorway as I swung on the swing set outside, eyes drawn to the floor as my feet kicked up splatters of snow with every push.
I inwardly groaned. Both of my parents had kept their attention on me since the moment I came home with bruises I refused to speak about. They worried and hovered, unwilling to leave my presence for even a moment. My body still aches and trembles with every thought of that night, Achilles heel groaning with pain whenever I placed too much pressure on my foot.
Still, it was healing steadily. As good as it could with every sleepless night.
"There's nothing wrong, papa."
Both of his brows rose in disbelief as he took a seat on the swing next to mine. "Nothing doesn't explain the frown on your face. Nor does it explain why you've been dragging your feet throughout the house with a cloud of sadness hovering over your head."
I side-eyed him. "I do not drag my feet."
He chuckled, deep and gruff. "Perhaps. Which is why I'm confused as to why you're so dedicated to cosplaying the grim reaper. Even your sister has noticed."
I grumbled, slowly coming to a stop. "Yes, well, Ari notices everything."
"As do I." He wisely replied, brows drawn together as his eyes narrowed. He placed a hand on my shoulder, voice soothing my ears. "I might not speak on it. I might not voice my opinions, but I notice. You've been different, ever since that Halloween party and I have noticed, tesoro. As has your mother."
I swallowed, breath hitching as I blinked away the tears. I shrugged my shoulders in false apathy. "I don't know what you want me to say. There's nothing wrong."
He hummed but his hand didn't leave my shoulder. "You know I love you. Both your mother and I, we love you, Mara."
I nodded, sniffing through the cold. "I know. It's- I'm fine."
