Rhea’s lips quivered, disheartened by Marcus’ aloofness.
She dropped her gaze and replied, “Recently, you’ve been absent from home, and Mrs. Thomas is quite displeased. She wants you to return. She says it’s filthy and disordered outside.”
She recalled the dreadful incident with Millie at the last party. Her elegant back had been injured, though fortunately without lasting scars, but the pain had lingered for days.
Today, she had planned to inform Marcus about Millie’s actions.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut after seeing his demeanor, she found herself unable to speak.
“I understand,” Marcus responded, his voice devoid of emotion, as he headed towards the building. Rhea bit her lower lip in vexation, hastening to keep pace.
Millie’s influence was far too overwhelming.
Marcus seemed to have cast aside even his mother’s wishes. His stay in that run-down neighborhood was a blemish on his otherwise distinguished status.
How could he endure it?
“Marcus, are you mad at me?”
Rhea reached out to grasp Marcus’ arm, but his face altered, and he yanked her hand away with force. By unfortunate chance, she had gripped his wound.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, taken aback and feeling a flush of embarrassment at being so abruptly rebuffed.
Marcus answered impatiently, “I don’t have the tor inclination to engage in conversation with you now. Please go about your business.”
“Is your arm hurt?” Rhea inquired, noticing his reaction.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWithout further explanation, Marcus continued on his way towards the building, leaving Rhea to lower her eyelids in thought.
Turning on her heel, Rhea sought out Celeste.
“Mrs. Thomas, I encountered Marcus today and relayed your wish for him to return home, but he was quite impatient in his response,” she reported.
“Why does he insist on staying in that decrepit neighborhood instead of our beautiful villa?” Celeste grunted, her voice rising in anger.
“It’s all Millie’s doing. She must be the one forbidding Marcus to retum. She’s putting him in a position where he must choose between her and you. This woman has overstepped her bounds,” Rhea asserted.
A wave of discomfort washed over Celeste, and she couldn’t help but feel there was struth in Rhea’s words.
Millie was undoubtedly acting out of spite for her perceived wrongs over the fishbone incident.
“That Millie has no respect or decency. She’s clearly trying to undermine me.”