JORDAN’S POVThe dining room of our home was designed for elegance, but tonight, it felt like a pressurized chamber. The clink of silver against fine china sounded like a ticking clock, and the scent of the roasted lamb was nauseating, masked by the heavy, invisible cloud of what had happened only hours ago in my study.I sat at the head of the table, the seat of the patriarch, but my skin felt as though it were vibrating. Every time I shifted, the fabric of my shirt brushed against my chest, reminding me of the heat, the frantic gasps, and the way Emma had looked—shattered and reborn—on my desk.Ruth sat to my right, her posture perfect, but her face was a mask of pale porcelain. Across from her, Emma was picking at a salad she hadn't touched. Her eyes were fixed on her plate, her blonde hair falling forward like a curtain to hide the marks I knew were hidden beneath her collar.I reached for my wine glass, and to my horror, my fingers trembled. I had to grip the stem with a white-kn
Last Updated : 2026-04-07 Read more