Chapter 2:

Father’s Gaze

I made my way downstairs, still feeling the lingering electric spark from James’s fingers brushing mine. The house felt heavier than usual this morning, filled with the kind of silence that always preceded difficult conversations. My adopted father Jax was waiting in the dining room, seated at the head of the long wooden table with his newspaper spread out in front of him. He looked up the moment I entered, his eyes sharp and possessive sweeping over my body in a way that made me want to cross my arms over my chest.

“Evelyn,” he said, his voice deep and commanding. “Come sit down. You look...