❝ But this boy, this charming boy had laid sights upon her dead boredom and ripped it apart. She wasn't one for younger men, but there was a sort of aura that sucked the quivers of Josephine chest and flowed warmth between her legs...❞
〰️
Dante Vale...
Josephine's Father observed her with a side-glance to her mother. To which Josephine promptly ignored it. "Oh, don't stop on my account," Josephine said calmly, wanting to push away the scorn settled deep in his eyes.
She tried not to let any flicker of weakness arise prior when she first stepped onto the polished marble floor, the walls chillings it's icy temperature through the alabaster archways. Her parents had watched each step, her mother murmuring towards her father over this and that.
Rather than a bouquet of daisies occupying the space between that their plates, a shallow, circular pool was carved into the wood itself. Its dark water flowed like silk through streams of concrete, it's colors onyx and plum.
More wisteria twined around the dining room throughout it's space, along white silk set against the hard oak, bunches of wine-colored embroidery unfurling around their silken meal stitched in the tablecloth below. Between windows, platters of plants and statues had been place—besides the aura of food sickening Josephine's nose, the smell of daisies and peonies gazed the air.
Josephine was not the only ones to have dressed well. Watching her father's handsome face, elegantly groomed golden hair in a short manner in comparison to her mother's soft features. Deep hair like umber and sap that relevated off trees, styled neatly into a long braid.
"Even if you're careful, there's no hiding." Father said with no tone of amusement, a few seats away at the head of the table. "I won't tolerate another mistake, Josephine. Last year was enough."
Josephine drank deeply from her glass of wine before slicing the meat on her plate. She savored the breath of grilled meat and sweet jambalaya at bay with the tense silence as she consumed the meal before them.
But it was Mother who first tried to break the tension, offering a tepest smile as she reached for Josephine, wearing a lovely gown of chiffon with black embroidery. "Father is hard on you because he wants the best for you. Please remember that, darling."
Josephine said nothing.
Mother held Josephine's bare bands with ones wrapped in lace gloves and golden rings. Father matched her with a similar style on his suit. Her eyes glimmered. "I see you've worn the gown I've prepared for you. I'm sure your Father finds you fitting." He made no action of acknowledgement.
The phrase rang low and clad, dull and ignorant. Josephine knew she meant no harm, but she was too gullible. Gullible to this and that, thinking silks and velvet could buy her affection.
It was amusing how wealth could never fill the part of hearts that longed for soul and life. And yet her Mother always thought it did, and that it could.
Josephine ignored the hollowness that strummed her heart as her father spoke to her. "I've realized that a simple warning isn't enough to convince you. I've decided that until the time being that you've improved—" He slid those blue eyes to Josephine over entirely, foreign and furious. He tutted, looking away. Dismissal. Josephine's nerves rippled. "—I've taken into considering of letting Thomas hold the inheritance to the Williams residence."
Even Mother looked surprised. Josephine's hands slackened to her side. "My cousin? Thomas? You want stupid Thomas to inherit your estate?" Josephine scoffed. "You can't be serious."
Her Father gave her a look as if to say that he certainly was.
"Thomas didn't nearly expel himself," He said to Josephine. His tone sharp."and he certainly wasn't stupid enough to get caught. He didn't repeat another year, and at least he wasn't useless enough to embarrass this family."
Shame flushed Josephine's cheek.
Her mother concaved her shoulders, her gown harrowing under the velvet she clung onto to. But this time, instead of soothing poor Josephine, she pleaded towards Father. "I'm sure Josephine just had a rough year. She's a good child, you know this."
But all he said was, "If Josephine can't be bothered to obey rules, then she can't be given mercy for the consequences."
"Mercy?" Josephine said with a flicker of venom, ripping her nails into the dark wood. "I'm not a tool to be used. And I'm your daughter. I'm more of an heir and have more a brain than Thomas could ever have."
Her mother shifted in her seat, covered her mouth with her hands, and gaped.
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So. Much. Drama.
What do you guys think of Josephine's Father decision to not let her inherit his estate? Is it well justified?
What do you guys think of her parents? Which one do you like more?
