Thalassa turned down Joshua's kindness, locking her heart away to keep from setting herself up for another letdown.
Once, she had thought Bruce was her dad. She had longed for a father's love even amid Bruce's true colors as a scoundrel. But Bruce was rotten to the core, wounding her over and over again, leaving scars that ran deep.
She had becutterly disenchanted with the idea of a father. She couldn't dare to let herself be vulnerable to that kind of disappointment again.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtJoshua tried to lighten the mood, offering her a piece of fried chicken with a smile, "Here, have sof this, it's full of protein." Thalassa was about to respond when Rosalind interjected with a forced smile, "Thalassa, look how much Daddy cares for you. You should eat what he's given you. Otherwise, he'll be so disappointed. At hit's always us serving him, and he's never once served us. You're getting the royal treatment." As she spoke, Rosalind shot a look across the table at Joshua. Her eyes were heavy with unspoken grievances, but she masked them well.
"Exactly, Thalassa, eat up," Joshua chimed in. "I didn't know about you before, and I missed out on your growing up. I owe you over twenty years of a father's love. I'm sorry, and I hope you can gradually accept my care." Joshua was no fool; he could tell Thalassa held her distance, her heart sealed off, unwilling to blend into the Reed family.
Her constant vigilance made Joshua's heart ache.
Thalassa was his daughter, and he wanted to make amends, but she wouldn't accept his attempts at generosity. Search The Find_Nøvelwebsite on Gøøgle to access chapters of early and in the highest quality.
Ever since acknowledging Thalassa as his own, Joshua had tried to provide for her financially, but she had turned down every offer.
Rosalind had somehow caught wind that he'd been trying to give Thalassa money for years and had just confronted him about it earlier.
NOW PLAY YOUR FAVOURITE GAMES ON Thalassa didn't want to hear any more of this. Picking up her fork, she took a bite of her salad and said, "Thanks, but I can serve myself. I'll just take what I fancy." She wanted Joshua to stop serving her, to avoid stoking Rosalind's jealousy.
Rosalind had been the Whitman family's darling girl, pampered by her brother and adored by her parents. The sudden appearance of Thalassa, a stranger laying claim to a share of their father's affection, was bound to stir discomfort.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmEspecially with Joshua showering Thalassa with attention in front of Rosalind, it was an invitation for resentment. Thalassa didn't need another adversary.
"Alright, serve yourself," Joshua conceded. Just seeing Thalassa accept the piece he offered was enough to make him content. The meal proceeded quietly, with Thalassa eager to finish and leave.
Joshua's intention was for her to integrate into the Whitman family, to becfamiliar with them, which is why he had invited her to dinner. But Thalassa knew she could never truly be a part of the Whitman family. All their pleasantries were merely for show.
Midway through the meal, Matilda elegantly set down her utensils, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and said, "Joshua, when willyo& introduce Rosalind to Lysander? Three years ago, Zephyr discussed the marriage between Rosalind and Lysander. Because of Zephyr's suggestion, Rosalind has been waiting for three years." At these words, Thalassa's grip on her fork tightened involuntarily.