As he rose slowly, Theodora noticed how his fists curled at his sides.
“I will not stay in the same house as you,” her mother said behind her.
The words struck the room like a thunderclap and seemed to slap her father across the face. His cheeks reddened and his beady eyes glanced at Theodora threateningly then.
Theodora’s breath stopped.
“What did you say?” her father frowned.
“You heard me, Benjamin!” Lady Dowell’s voice rose an octave.
Theodora slowly turned her gaze back to her mother and her heart broke when she saw the pain and betrayal in her green eyes.
Despite her emotions, Lady Dowell stepped fully into the room; chin lifted the way Theodora lifted hers before debating with someone. Unlike her father, her mother’s hands trembled at her sides.
“I said I will not stay in the same house as you,” she repeated haughtily.
“Have you lost your senses?” Lord Dowell roared.
“No,” Lady Dowell said steadily. “I have finally regained my sense.”
Theodora’s heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear them.
“Explain yourself, Diana.”
Lady Dowell’s gaze flicked briefly to Theodora, just for a heartbeat, and Theodora felt her mother’s gratefulness in that glance.
“I know what you have been doing, Benjamin.”
Lord Dowell’s expression shifted. Theodora was surprised to see him fearful before he masked it.
“You know nothing, Diana. You have gone mad!” he spat venomously at her.
“I know enough,” she said calmly. “And I will not tolerate it.”
“You will tolerate what I tell you to tolerate,” he retorted.
Lady Dowell flinched, but she did not back down. “No. I will not tolerateyouanymore. I will not tolerate being unhappy and pretending for another year that we are in love when clearly, I was the only one who loved at all!”
Her father slammed his hand on the table. “Enough! I am the man of this house. Iownthis house. I own everything in it, including you!”
Theodora’s stomach twisted with disgust.
“You truly believe that you own me or any of us?” Her mother laughed humorlessly.
“Yes,” he said confidently. “I own you, and I own her.” He pointed at Theodora without looking at her. “No one is leaving and no one is defying me. Now sit down, both of you. Our lives will continue as they always have.”
Her mother’s voice trembled. “You daughter and I refuse to live like this.”
“Both of you will do as you are told or I will ruin you.”
“Is that a threat?” Lady Dowell scoffed.
Theodora felt sick as her father turned slowly towards her. His eyes were cold and piercing. “This is your doing.”
Theodora’s breath caught. “What?”
“You,” he said, pointing at her again. “You have filled her head with nonsense. You have always been troublesome. Always questioning. Always meddling and calling it your silly little experiments. And now you have turned your own mother against your father.”
