DionneSoup was served, with steam wisps writhing thin and tauntingly between us. Our conversation was skeletal, borne almost entirely by Mother, who offered ridiculous explanations of redecoration choices and party attendees, and by Robert, who grunted or offered monosyllabic retorts to Mother’s monologue while sending dark, knowing glances my way that twisted my stomach into a knot. Then, beneath the guise of the tablecloth, I felt it.His foot lightly tapped my ankle. My breath caught; my spoon stopped an inch from my lips, quivering. He didn’t look at me; he was nodding along, as always, to Mother’s every detail about the ball party arrangements.His foot drifted up, caressing the smooth expanse of my calf. It felt like a brand, deliberate, slow, and agonizing. I sucked in a breath, holding it tight in the back of my throat as I stared into my bowl, my face flushing a violent, painful pink that was at odds with the cool, spacious dining room.“Fuckkkk you, Robert!” I breathed th
Last Updated : 2026-08-10 Read more