When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Nathaniel offered no answer. He simply strode past Miranda, each measured step drawing him closer to Jonathan.

By then, Felix had already tugged the monkey mask free. The instant Jonathan's face came into view, shock rattled him. His hand jerked, and the mask thudded to the floor like a dropped verdict.

Color drained from Felix's cheeks. The memory of Jonathan's earlier pummeling flashed behind his eyes, vivid as a bruise that never healed.

"J-Jon, it's you?" The words trembled out of him, thin as tissue paper.

"Pick up my mask," Jonathan said, each syllable clipped and cold, as though spoken through frost.

Felix dared not argue. He dropped to one knee and scooped the fallen monkey mask off the floor with the reverence of a servant retrieving his master's crown.

Miranda stared, stunned. That little brat is Jonathan Smith? Impossible! I didn't even recognize his voice! And why in heaven's name does my own son jump at every word he utters?

Felix hovered beside Jon now, toy mask in hand, looking every bit the dutiful lackey.

Adrian was already spineless around Nathaniel, and now Miranda discovered her son was also as cowardly.

Similar to how Adrian was scared of Nathaniel, Felix was frightened by Jonathan.

Miranda forced a brittle laugh. "Why didn't you tell me

son's sycophantic bowing, but not even she dared expose the irritation in front

like steel. "Do

twitched. He shook

don't like the mask I bought?" The chill in

like it. I swear I

then wear it," he said, his small hands telaxed at his sides as

s

slipped

silent. Every clerk, shopper, and

who had been pinning Jonathan's wrists abruptly let go, as though the boy's

walked toward

slow, deliberate, like a knight approaching a skittish colt. He plucked the monkey

"I've already

brand-new mask. You can keep that

it again, the yes and the no

Jonathan simply nodded as if the matter were

could you run downstairs and buy me another mask, the same one Elliot