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Chapter 39: Switched Plates

Aвтор: Judith GW
last update Последнее обновление: 2025-03-14 11:09:07
(Layla’s POV)

The declaration landed like a bomb at the dinner table. Barbara’s face froze in a rictus of a smile, her knuckles white around her wine glass.

Samuel went completely still, his fork suspended halfway to his mouth.

I stared fixedly at my plate, heat blazing across my face and neck in embarrassment.

Nobody spoke, nobody moved. The only sound was the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner, marking each excruciating second of silence.

My chest tightened with mortification at being put on the spot, as well as strange pleasure at Annie’s preference, and acute discomfort at Barbara’s obvious dismay.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at Samuel, afraid of what I might see in his expression.

Barbara recovered first, forcing a brittle laugh. “Children say the most outlandish things, don’t they?” She patted Annie’s hand condescendingly. “Sweetie, Layla is your nanny. That’s a very different relationship.”

“So?” Annie challenged, stubbornly crossing her arms. “Dad can mar
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