He had misunderstood. He thought Gemma was using the cryo–casket project as a subtle way to confess her feelings to him again.
“Uncle Murphy, if you don’t like it, I’ll change my design,” Gemma said quietly. “It’s just a summer project. Don’t be upset.”
Murphy’s expression remained cold and silent, but Evangeline chimed in with a smile to ease the tension, “Yes, change it. Coffins
are so morbid. You’re a young girl, so don’t involve yourself in such grim matters. Be more cheerful!”
Gemma gathered the scattered documents from the floor. Then, in front of Murphy, she threw them all into the trash. Only then did his expression soften slightly.
Late that night, once everyone was asleep, Gemma crept out of bed and retrieved the documents from the trash.
As she returned to her room, Evangeline stepped out of Murphy’s bedroom wearing a silk slip dress. Her shoulders and back bore unmistakable marks of intimacy. It was not hard to imagine what she and Murphy had been doing in that room.
Gemma forced herself to look away and silently reminded herself over and over, ‘Don’t look. Don’t think about it. She’s Uncle
Murphy’s fiancée. Whatever they do, it’s only natural.‘
Murphy loved her, and she could make him happy. That was all that mattered.
“Gemma, why won’t you look at me?” Evangeline’s eyes glinted with provocation, a stark contrast to her earlier derneanor. “Are you still unable to accept that Murphy loves me and not you?”
Gemma lowered her gaze. “No, I’ve accepted it.”
“Stop pretending. Do you think I can’t see through you?” Evangeline sneered. “The way you look at Murphy is not normal at all. Even though you call him Uncle Murphy, he raised you. Technically, he’s more like your foster father. And yet you’ve fallen in
Chapter 3
love with your foster father… Gemma, are you mentally unwell?”
Gemma bit her lip hard, refusing to respond.
Was she… truly broken?
+15 Bonus
It was no wonder Murphy had grown so disgusted with her after learning about her feelings. To the world, this love was nothing
but shameful.
“I heard the reason you’re an orphan is that your mother lost her mind, grabbed a knife in the middle of the night, and stabbed
your father over a hundred times–killing him on the spot.”
Evangeline stepped closer, her words deliberately cruel. “Well, it’s no wonder you’re mentally unstable. It’s hereditary. Your
mother was a deranged lunatic, and you’re just like her.”
Gemma could endure Evangeline’s insults toward her, but she could not tolerate anyone speaking ill of her deceased parents.
“Shut up!” she shouted, lunging forward and grabbing Evangeline by the throat. “You don’t know the whole story! You have no
right-”
Before she could finish, a cold, sharp voice cut through the air.
“Gemma, what are you doing?!”
Murphy had woken up at some point. He stood in the doorway, his face filled with fury as he glared at Gemma.
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