Three Days After My Mother Died My Father Brought His Bastard Daughter Home Chapter 2

"Poppy, go tell your brother it's time for dinner."

My father sat at the head of the long dining table, his tone gentle but firm.

I clutched my little bowl, glanced at him nervously, and shook my head.

I was afraid of Owen.

After his rampage, a doctor had come to the house. He said I had selective mutism. After many tests, he concluded it was a psychological issue.

My father’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Poppy, Owen is your brother. Your own flesh and blood. Where's the deep-seated hatred in that?"

He set down his chopsticks. "I have some business to attend to, so I won’t be home much for a while. You need to learn to get along with your brother."

My head drooped. I pushed myself off my chair, my body feeling heavy and numb.

I had been in this house for nearly a week. I’d learned a few things in that time. My mother and Owen’s mother weren’t the only women in our father’s life. There were countless other pretty ladies. Which meant he had countless other homes.

Holding a small bowl of soup, I shuffled to Owen’s bedroom door. My mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Dad told me to get along with him.

I sniffled and knocked softly on the door.

As expected, there was no answer.

I sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall with the soup in my lap, and waited for him to wake up. I hadn’t been sleeping well. The exhaustion was a heavy blanket, and sitting there in the quiet hallway, my eyes fluttered shut.

A shadow fell over me.

I rubbed my eyes and looked up. Owen was standing there, his hands shoved in his pockets, looking down at me with that same blank expression.

I scrambled to my feet and offered him the bowl of soup.

Owen. Dinner.

A cold smirk twisted his lips.

He slapped the bowl from my hands.

The clatter of shattering ceramic on the hardwood floor made my scalp tingle with fear. My lower lip trembled, and I wanted to cry, but I held it in.

I wanted to go home.

But I didn't know where home was anymore.