Chapter 44: What’s the relationship? Does keeping a mistress count?

What’s she doing with that pillow?

controlled me.
All these years, I…”

“I get it—you and your sister are tight, willing to sacrifice for each other.
Blood family doesn’t fight to the death.
But I’m an outsider.”

Charis sat up, advising Penny, who lowered her hands, puzzled by Charis’s clarity.

“You know your place?”
Penny sat on the bed, eyeing Charis’s slightly helpless face.

“My place isn’t high.
No designs on your sister, so relax—no need to guard me like a thief.”

“But what’s your deal with her?”

Penny pressed, and Charis found “pet” too embarrassing to admit, dodging it.

“I’m her frien—”

Bang.

The door burst open, and Ophelia rushed in, spotting Penny.

“Sister, where’d you run off to?
Why’re you in my room with Charis?”

“Sister, I want to sleep with you tonight.”
Penny stood, clutching her pillow tightly.

“She ran into me.”
Charis shrugged innocently.

“Penny, you’re not well yet—it’s safer to sleep alone.
What if I bump you at night?”

“But Sister, you slept with Miss Charis all night!
I haven’t slept with you in years!”
Penny shook her head, refusing to leave.

“Huh? Charis, what’d you tell her?”
Ophelia’s face reddened, turning to Charis.

“Just the truth about last night—she kept asking about us.”
Charis was blameless, truly.

“Sister, are you choosing Miss Charis over me?”

Penny’s pleading look stumped Ophelia, who felt she might be neglecting Charis’s feelings.

But that thought sparked another.

‘What do I see Charis as now?
Just a pet?
What’s this tangled feeling in my heart?’