a perfect mask of sorrow and concer

with feigned grief. "I know this is a terr

ir by the window, staring out at nothing. David hadn't said

der. David flinched but didn' t pull away. "He' s... fragile. Dr. Reed suggested it might be best to

agreement. The same one they used last time to

upport for their "brother-in-law's" difficult decision. Their eyes met for a fraction

and reached for the pen Mark

, but with a slap that echoed in the silent room. I grab

. The word was

tly open. "Dad? What are you doin

market this morning, Mark? The tech stocks tied to David' s portfolio took a nosedive in pre-market trading. You wanted him

d Sophia exchanged another look,

t in front of his chair and took hi

y voice softer now.

used on my face. A flicker of recogniti

his voice cracking.

s body shaking with silent sobs. He was so thin. Thinner than I remembered from this

lding him from the vipers in the r

d. Go up to your room and

st in his eyes, and let

ree of them. The masks were gone. Their f

We are grieving! Chloe is dead, and

at her. My eyes were locked on Mark. "You

ink you' re overwrought with grief yourself. You' re not th

nd. "You' re not family, Mark. You' re a pa

dened. "I a

at down, leaning back in my chair. I looked at their anxious face

ller... Bob... please. We loved David. We still do. I just want to make sure he' s taken care of.

phia, nodded eagerly, thei

Pit me against Mark, and then offer themselves a

the perfect

pling my fingers. I let the sile

," I sai

triumphant smirk before she could school them back into a somber lin

I continued, my voice smooth

hloe said, a li

mmediately. So I can... keep an eye on things. To m

n. Living under my roof was not part of thei

as too tempting to refuse. Greed

ith false sincerity. "We would be honored to stay h

touching my lips. "Pack your b

ved victory, they couldn't see the look in my ey

walked into