Aster is a charming 19 year old, and Theo, a rugged and mysterious man, Aster's adopted uncle.
As Aster embarks on a twisted and passionate journey into adulthood, Theo finds himself drawn to Aster's innocent and captivating nature...
With a forbid...
Me and Scarlett sat in the backseat of Cassandra's car as Henry drove.
I mentally glared at Scarlett, not exactly excited about whom we were about to meet. She dismissed my complaints by practically dragging me along, and here we were, silently seated together.
Cassandra attempted to initiate conversations, but Scarlett answered all the questions, even those directed at me. I didn't mind, I wasn't in the mood to talk while in the car, especially since it could make me feel dizzy. I might just end up vomiting.
We had been driving for about twenty minutes when the car came to an abrupt halt. Out the window, I spotted black, imposing gates. Two men stood guard in front of the house, clearly tasked with protecting the property.
The house was huge and impressive, with a fancy mix of architecture and decorations. The garden had perfectly trimmed plants and flowers, guiding footsteps through a cobblestone path towards oak doors adorned with intricate ironwork. Soft light from wrought iron lamps led the way. Inside, tall windows with silk drapes hinted at a luxurious and lavish interior.
"Damn... I didn't realize they were that wealthy. " I murmured.
The guards opened the gates and the car drove in, with Henry parking the vehicle. We stepped out, following Cassandra as she led us toward the entrance. We trailed behind Cassandra and Henry, and I gave Scarlett's hair a slight tug. "If you were hungry, we could have just grabbed some fast food," I whispered.
She shrugged me off and smiled, saying, "Free food is good, you shouldn't reject such kindness," before swiftly gripping my wrist and leading me inside.
☆☆☆
Cassandra had managed to prepare dinner in less than thirty minutes, and when we asked how she had accomplished this feat, she explained that she had already started cooking beforehand, but needed additional ingredients. That explained why Henry had been carrying bags earlier.
"Come on, the dining room's this way," Cassandra said, leading us to follow her. The dining table was capacious, easily seating six people, with two individuals on each side and one at each end. Scarlett, being herself, took a seat at one of the head chairs. I settled myself on the left side of the table, with Henry taking the seat next to me.
Meanwhile, Cassandra was fixing a plate of food for Theo, who took his seat opposite Henry.
"I wasn't aware you two were joining us." Theo commented. Scarlett responded, saying, "Ms. Cassandra graciously invited us, so now we're here." Cassandra chuckled, smiling at Scarlett's response.
"No need to be so formal, just Cassandra is fine," she emphasized, her words directed at both me and Scarlett.
I observed as she brought the plate she was holding toward Theo, effectively giving him a clear view of her cleavage due to the low-cut nature of her shirt.
I averted my gaze to my plate, feeling strangely troubled. Why did it bother me? In my peripheral vision, I noticed Henry's hand clenching his fork, as if he was restraining himself from stabbing something, or someone, with it.
I glanced at Scarlett, and she was already looking at me. She sent me a questioning look, silently expressing, "What's his deal?" I gave a subtle shrug, trying not to draw any attention to our nonverbal communication. We commenced eating, and Cassandra took her seat while initiating a discussion about fashion, which quickly captured Scarlett's interest.
"I have this gorgeous red dress that's been gathering dust in my closet for weeks," she mentioned, pausing for a bite of her food. The taste of the short ribs was pretty good.
Henry proposed, "Why not give it to Aster? I think it would look good on her." He then winked at me, and once again, I felt a shudder run down my spine. Not the good kind. Henry wasn't necessarily creepy looking but he lacked what Theo has.
There was just something wrong about his presence.
I forced a laugh to conceal my discomposure, replying, "I already have plenty of dresses, and I don't think I need any more."
Cassandra supported Henry's suggestion, adding, "No, no, he's right, red would look wonderful on you. Perhaps you should try it on after we finish dinner."
"But-"
"No buts, you're trying it on."
☆☆☆
We found ourselves in Cassandra's spacious walk-in closet, and I fidgeted uncomfortably as she helped me into the dress. She pulled the fabric a bit too tight, causing me to grimace in discomfort.
"I can't breathe-" I said and Cassandra quickly loosened the dress, mumbling a sorry. When she was done, I turned around and looked in the mirror.
The dress is strapless with intricate lace and beadwork, it clung to my body in all the right places, the material hugging my curves. The floor-length skirt cascaded behind me with elegance, adding a touch of drama and femininity to my appearance.
"You look stunning!" Scarlett exclaimed, snapping a few pictures of me.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Henry's voice sounded from the hallway, "Are you ladies done?" He opened the door, peeking in without permission.
Theo.
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