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In Apple's stall, which wasMalcoles a day John Aned me Sometimes I hid the book under the hay, soan to read I chewed on a piece of the hay, finding my place marked with one of Momma's little leather

bookmarks:

I reht and came home to find my ered father had finally remarried I stared at his bride, whom I later found out was only sixteen I 246 knew i and beautiful had married him only for his money

My oife, Olivia, had never been what anyone would call a beauty, but she'd had so aspects when I married her, and her father was very wealthy Suddenly I found out after she'd borne me two sons, she had no appeal for rim compared to Alicia, my stepmother of sixteen

I'd read this osh darn it But I had a way of flipping through the book and reading here and there, especially when boring stuff like kissing came into Malcolm's story It seemed so odd, as much as he hated women, that he'd want to kiss them

Now, here it here I'd left off

Alicia was giving birth to her first child, whoirl But no, it had to be another son to co and looking at her, and the baby she snuggled at her side in the big swan bed, and I hated them both

I said to her when she smiled up at me innocently, and so proud of her son, as if I'd welcome him as much as my father did, "My dear steph to inherit your husband's fortune, for I am alive to prevent that"

She annoyedface "I don't want your father's money, Malcolm My son won't want it either My son will earn his way, not inherit what money other men have made I'll teachabout"

Wonder what she'd been talking about? What were values anyway?--sa

le prices? I turned ain He had skipped fifteen years before he wrote again

My daughter, Corrine, grew more and more like the mother who had abandoned me when I was only five

I saw her changing, beginning to develop into a wo breasts that would soon entice so there and blushed I liked that--at least she was modest "Corrine, promise that you will never marry and leave your father when he's old and sick Swear to me you won't leave me ever"

Her face grew very pale, as if she feared I ht send her back into the attic if she refused my simple request "All my fortune, Corrine, if you promise--every cent I will leave to you if you never leave me"

"But, Father," she said, inclining her head and looking et married and have babies"