Chapter 22

Archie's two older brothers were born to his father's wife, while he himself was the son of the third mistress.

The Yoder matriarch- a fierce and ruthless woman- tolerated her husband's affairs but drew the line when it came to anyone threatening her sons' inheritance.

And so, after giving birth to Archie, his mother was frequently persecuted by her. The relentless torment eventually took its toll, causing her to suffer severe mental distress and instability.

Without his mother's protection, Archie's place within the Yoder family was precarious. His survival to this point had been nothing short of a miracle. From a young age, he learned to conceal his talents, playing the fool and projecting an image of incompetence to avoid Mrs. Yoder's wrath.

Calliope had been so infatuated with Gideon in the past that she never really noticed Archie's plight.

matter the trouble she found herself in, Archie was always there smiling, ready to help. Yet she had never realized just how

hardships. After taking control of

was scheming to force him into marrying into the Jansen family, trying to pair him with their rather

nothing more than a useless layabout, simply turned a

now, Calliope's heart ached for Archie. If only she had known sooner, perhaps his life wouldn't have

her grandfather's place in the countryside, and Archie was living

spoke, like a little mute. She would coax him out to catch frogs in the fields, fish in the creek, play all sorts of games, and share her favorite

older, their bond deepened, and Archie

happy

Archie just drifts around, lazing about

however, looked at Archie with a more

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