Things settled down a tad bit after Grandpa August’s definitive announcement about the adoption—at least during meal times, where August’s thunderous presence was usually enough to enforce a fragile, silent ceasefire. The rest of the time, however, the mansion felt like a swamp.
Every time I bumped into Valerie or one of her silent supporters—mostly Olivia and Silas, whose hatred for Luther was now channeled directly through his vengeful ex-wife—I had to meet nasty glares and endure barely audible, contemptuous snide comments.
I treated them exactly like the nuisance they were. I ignored their existence like a normal human ignores an unpleasant smell, holding my breath and walking past them as if their very presence poisoned the air around me.
I tried to focus my energy on Lucy, knowi
