Semua Bab Daddy's Fight Club Rules: Stand Your Ground: Bab 1 - Bab 8

My older brother, Callum Mercer, lowered the wet towel in his hand. Water dripped onto the marble floor. He looked down, not at the floor, but to avoid looking at Lyra Mercer. My mother, Katherine Vane, was rooted to the spot. Her lips parted and closed. Then, she chased after me. "Dinner isn't ready yet. Why don't you go rest in your room first?" Her voice was noticeably gentler than it had been just a moment ago.Harrison Reyes, the butler, took one look at Katherine's expression before guiding me upstairs. He led me to a room at the end of the hallway that faced north, with thin curtains and an empty wardrobe. The mattress was unmade, and in the corner, a water stain snaked down the wall from the ceiling to the baseboard. As we walked down the hall, a young housekeeper walked past us with a tray. Harrison lowered his voice and said, "Ms. Lyra said this room is quiet and suits her best."I rummaged through my canvas bag. I had two T-shirts, a pair of jeans, and a pair of ca

Cedric's 50th birthday banquet was held in the grand hall of the Mercer residence. I didn't touch that gown. Instead, I dug out my own old clothes—an old dress—from my canvas bag. Then, I went downstairs.The main hall was filled with guests. Dressed in a custom navy-blue gown, Lyra accompanied Cedric as he walked around to exchange toasts with the guests. She was a sweet talker, and she managed to make several of the ladies laugh. Spotting me descend the stairs, she walked over with a champagne flute before sizing me up. "Kendra, didn't we have a new gown made for you?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the guests nearby to hear. "Why did you wear this? Are you just not used to dressing properly, or do you simply not know how to wear it?"The two ladies beside her exchanged a look.Callum squeezed his way through the crowd. He glanced at the old dress I was wearing, and his expression instantly darkened. "Where's your new gown? The housekeeper said she had del

I walked out of the banquet hall, and the silence behind me felt like a stone sinking into the water. That night, I didn't go downstairs for dinner. Later, three knocks sounded on my door. Cedric stood in the hallway. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and there was a crease across the back of his shirt. "Kendra." His voice was hoarser than usual. "I'd like to talk to you.""There's no need to apologize. Those of us who train in martial arts believe actions speak louder than words."…The next morning at breakfast, Cedric did something he had never done before—he put some food onto my plate. His hand froze in midair for a second before setting it down. He didn't say a word, though.Callum took the seat beside me, instead of Lyra. He pulled his chair out half an inch farther away, putting a little more distance between us, but he sat down nonetheless. Lyra kept her head down as she ate. She never looked up the entire time.Katherine cautiously asked me, "Kendra, that

In the week that followed, the Mercer residence was incredibly quiet. One day, Cedric knocked on my bedroom door. He was carrying a small bag. It was a tube of cream and the medication the hospital had prescribed. "Mr. Brown told me you got a few stitches on your arm," he said. "This is to remove the scar."I took the bag and set it on my nightstand. "Thanks."He remained rooted to the spot. His gaze drifted to the window in my room. It was still the north-facing bedroom. Harrison had offered to switch rooms for me, but I hadn't accepted his offer."You're not changing rooms?" he asked. "I'm used to it."He fell silent for a moment. "Kendra, I know some things can't be made up for with a few gifts or a different room, but if there's anything you need—" "I don't need you to make up for anything." I paused for a beat. "You abandoned me for 18 years. That's not something you can make up for." He didn't argue. His hand rested against the doorframe, and he stood there for what