Page 41 of Taeja

Zain, I’m not going to feed your big ego.

Zain snickered.

This wasn’t as bad as it seemed… talking to someone, listening to them express their feelings. Now, he only hoped he didn’t ruin it. He tended to do that with these kinds of stuff.

He’d been closed off since he was a kid. And his time in the army made him colder.Most times, he didn’t mind it. Not feeling was better than reliving memories from his shitty childhood. But on rare occasions he allowed himself to feel something other than bitterness and anger, he realized emotions weren’t much of a bad thing at all.

Inhaling a breath, he sent a text and waited with a bated breath for her to answer.

Taeja didn’t answer.

But it didn’t drop his spirits because she opened the door.

His heart stilled when he saw her. He was sure he’d sound like his brother if he said this, but Zain had to admit it, anyway.

Taeja was beautiful.

Her eyes were watery, looking doe-like. Her lips looked fuller. She was at the highest peak of vulnerability, and he’d never been more attracted to a person.

But it wasn’t her outer beauty that had him feeling this way. No, it was her bravery that made her look this attractive. He’d never dared to make himself look this vulnerable around anyone. Ever.

But here she was.

Sitting across from him with nothing but the door separating them. Looking down at the folder in her hands and sighing heavily.

Finally, she broke the silence. “I haven’t seen my mom since I was eleven. Jerry says she’s not fit to be a parent. He was supposed to take care of me, but he didn’t. Nannies and private tutors raised me, and now he’s angry at me because I’m like this.”

Zain leaned his head against the wall. “That’s fucked up.”

Taeja chuckled sadly. “It is,” she admitted wiping a hand beneath her eyes. “I don’t know who Jerry wants me to be. I tried being what I thought was the perfect daughter, but that didn’t make him love me. I’m not proud of what I’m turning into, but he only gives me attention when I’m like this.”

“Like this?”

Taeja looked from the folder, her brows furrowing as her eyes met his. “What?”

“You keep sayinglike this.”

She returned her focus to the folder. “It’snothing…”

If he was anything, Zain was an expert at reading people. It was clear Taeja was hiding something. But he couldn’t manipulate or torture it out of her.

In fact, it didn’t even cross his mind.

Taeja greatly confused him.

He looked away from her and at the vibrant painting hanging on the wall in front of him. He glared at it, making a mental reminder to throw it away. Adelaide had picked it out for him. Just like she picked out everything else in this house — down to the faux potted plants and polka dot welcome mat.

His focus was ripped from the painting when he sensed movement out of the corner of his eye. Snapping his head in that direction, he saw Damon taking long strides toward them.

Damon stopped before Taeja, stooping before her. He held her face in his hands and asked softly, “Are you okay?” he asked, and Taeja shook her head. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Taeja glanced at Zain before she looked at Damon. “Can you just hold me?”

Damon nodded, stood to his full height, then helped Taeja off the floor. They walked into the bedroom, with Damon throwing his brother a look before he closed the door behind them.

With the slam of the door, Zain’s shoulders slumped.

Fuck, he was messing up with her already. Taeja wanted to be held while he was there talking to her. Earlier, she probably wanted him to hold her too, but he’d stupidly listened when she said she needed space.

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