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He slowly rises to his full height, his face falling into his signature i at his jacket sleeves before straightening his tie I’ to redee I can’t take that back ‘I’e to toss the book into the fire

‘You’re forgiven,’ he retorts with zero genuineness, striding past rab his ar his around, physically knocking , his chest expanding fast I wilt under every hard-cut plane of his face and telling sign of his current state of mind He points directly atto shake beforethe door behind hi me immobilised by his raw fury It’s never before been directed solely on me with such intensity He looked like he could s to pieces, and while I’d put er on ht now

‘Fuck!’ I hear hiain I reh the door of the lounge That finger is pointed atmore than before ‘You’ll stay here Understand?’

I don’t knohat happens Soers under his order and I find h up the pros and cons of retaliation I knock his hand out of the way ‘Don’t tell me what to do!’

‘Don’t pushanywhere and leaving Nan alone This is principle ‘Fuck off!’

He clenches his teeth ‘Stop being so fucking difficult! You’ll stay here!’

I see red, then blurt so that surprises me as much as it clearly surprises Miller ‘Did you know?’

Miller’s neck retracts on his shoulders, a scowl settling ‘What?’

‘Did you know she was back?’ I shout, thinking hoell he handled the situation There was no shock He fell straight into coht I was losing my mind and you talked me down, did you know?’

‘No’ He’s ada to lessenTed’s shirked me, William has avoided me at all costs until now – now that I know for sure – and Miller virtually threw the phone off his desk to cut the call when Gracie’s na about the call fro for me Her description It matches Sophia perfectly, but it also

Blood burns in my veins ‘You told Willia did!’ he yells, startlingsorry!’ Firhtly, his noseme deeply ‘I Didn’t Know What To Do’

I can’t speak; his grip won’t allowemotion take hold – all of the stress, worry, and fear ripping throughto shield aze drifting everywhere, and though it’s an order, I knoants ain ‘Good,’ he says siives me a forceful kiss

When he releaseshis back disappearing out of the roo to suppress the sound so I don’t wake Nan It’s silly; if she was to wake up, then she would have by now after that brief shoutingof a few doors My pathetic choked sobs won’t rouse her

‘Everything OK, Miss Taylor?’