Quinn didnât go home until there was no sun in the sky. She'd sat on the tree root and thought
about everything over and over again until she was mentally drained and tired and hungry.
She thought going home would relieve her of all of that stress, but sadly, going home only
increased her anxiety... because she could smell Zayd's scent, that scent that always felt the need to
intoxicate her.
Sighing, she walked up onto the porch, opening the front door and walking inside. What could he
possibly want from her now? She'd been through enough emotional stress, and now he was here to
bestow even more upon her.
Her eyes searched the room, finding him seated on the couch with her father. He had a glass in
hand, and she knew it was beer that was inside, and he was laughing with Derrick as though he'd
known him for more than a year. âAnd then what happened?â
âI brought him down, son. I studied the game in the first two rounds and gave them a surprise
attack in the next.â
âNice one...it seems you lived out your youth, unlike me.â
âYou still have time left. You're in your twenties, aren't you? You can settle down with your mate, but
as a man, you can still have fun. I gambled until Kathrine threatened to reject me.â
And then she left without another word.
Quinn stood in her spot, not knowing what to do and how to react. In three years, her mother had
spoken to her first...
She didn't know the reason, but it lit a fire of joy in her heart. Was this her finally coming around like
dad said?
If so, then she was happy...at least one thing good was happening in her life.
Moving closer to the microwave, she heated her food before taking it out, walking through the
living room to her room door. She went inside, sitting down on her bed and silently eating her food.
The house was noisy, dad seemed happy to finally have some man company. It reminded her of
those times when Jeo would come over and they'd drink until they're drunk and fall asleep in the
living room.
And suddenly that distant thought had Quinn becoming sad again.
She placed her food on the bedside table and laid back against the bed, pulling the sheets over her.
She was a mess, she'd eaten...right now, she just needed some respite.
Closing her eyes, she tried to fall asleep, but couldnât...miserable thoughts cave her mind until the
once noisy house became silent. She'd heard when Kathrine came to drag dad out of the living
room, but what she hadn't expected to hear, was three knocks on her door a while after.
She peeked out from under her white sheets, looking towards the door. She knew exactly who was
there, and her heart started to beat in her ears. What must she do?
If she opened the door now, then she'd be caught in his web again, it was best to feign sleep...she
had no confidence to face him now.
Pulling the sheet over her head again, she closed her eyes, opening them when he knocked once
more. âI know you're not sleeping, Quinn...a minute, just give me one minute out of your time,
please.â
The desperation in his voice tore at Quinn's heart. It for one had her shuffling off the bed and
reluctantly walking towards the door. Her hand shakily settled over the knob for a while before she
finally twisted it open. She'd just give him that one minute he begged her for.