The air in the room felt heavy. Althea’s sweet floral perfume smelled strange next to the scent of rain and old wood. Standing by the desk, she crossed her arms. Her eyes showed that she was hurt, but she wasn't going to back down."The lease on the penthouse is already signed, Ethan," Althea says, her voice trembling but firm. "We decided this months ago. We were going to start our lives away from this museum. Away from your father’s."Ethan is standing by the window, his back to her. He looks out at the sprawling gardens, his mind clearly miles away, tucked into the master suite where Zora is currently resting."The situation has changed, Althea," he says, his voice a low, flat rasp. "My father needs me here. The Reynolds business is in a delicate state, and with my stepmother’s health being tampered with, I can’t leave the estate.""Stepmother’s health?" Althea lets out a sharp, incredulous laugh. She walks up to him, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Ethan, you’re her stepson, no
Last Updated : 2026-02-07 Read more