A few of the aunts shot each other looks and started making snarkyments. "Ashley, men need their pride, you know. If you keep him so whipped that he can''t even get a bite of bell pepper at dinner, people are going to talk. No guy wants the whole neighborhood calling him henpecked."

Nathalie''s eyes lingered on the bell pepper. She took a crisp bite, but replied coolly, "It won''t happen again." All the while, she threw Morris a sharp, warning nce.

Morris got the message loud and clear: she definitely knew about his illness.

He remembered her crying helplessly when she was abroad, and a sudden ache twisted in his chest. Was she overseas because of him?

"How long were you gone?" he asked, voice low.

"A couple weeks, give or take," Nathalie replied, knowing she''d never outmaneuver Morris.

"So what''d you go out there for?"

She smirked. "Thought I''d channel Qin Shi Huang, see if I could find the secret to immortality."

Morris''s face drained of color. Two weeks ago—that was right after her hypnosis treatment. Had she really left town to chase some miracle cure? Not for herself... for him?

"You''re still young, you know," Morris mumbled. "Little early to be hunting for magic potions, isn''t it?"

Nathalie just stared at him, silent, before turning away, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

Greta, sitting right next to Nathalie, suddenly burst intoughter. "Immortality? Seriously? Who''s sick, huh? You''re so on edge, it must be something incurable, right? Otherwise, why go chasing fairy tales?"

She hadn''t even finished before Nathalie shot to her feet, stormed over, and yanked Greta''s hair, nearly mming her to the floor. She looked wild, almost unhinged. "Who said it''s incurable? Who asked for your bad luck?"

To everyone else, Nathalie just looked downright uncivilized.

Arthur jumped at the chance to pile on. "Ashley really is a country bumpkin. Can''t take her anywhere. Even her fighting style is one for the books."

Morris shot Arthur a cold re. "Shut it."

Arthur jumped up, lifting his chair like a weapon. "Who are you to boss me around?"fn4e85 Follow current nov?ls on find[?]ovel/fn4e85

Morris''s hand tightened on the wheelchair controls. "Don''t make me get up and show you how it''s done."

Arthur snapped, "Morris, I''ve put up with you long enough. You''re just a cripple If you''ve got any guts, let''s settle this right now, you and p me.  s

Morris couldn''t hold back anymore. He slid his hand across the wheelchair''s control panel. Suddenly a ck touchscreen slid forward, and a bear of blue light shot across the room. A crisp, mechanical voice chimed out.  s

"How can I help you, sir?"

Morris said, "Phoenix,e out."

Aser projection of a vibrant bird shot toward Arthur, shrieking as it flew.

"What the hell is that?" Arthur yelled, swatting at the air. Then he froze-a real

feather was pinched between his fingers.

Arthur went pale as a ghost.

"Oh my god, is that thing real?"

The bird chased Arthur around the

room as he scrambled, nearly

tripping over himself. The rest of the

Sharp family watched in stume silence, every one of them rattled.  s

The old matriarch, somehow still keeping her cool, hurried to plead, "Nathan, let your brother off this time, all right?"

Morris gestured, and the bird zipped back into the screen. The room fell silent again, everything seemingly normal.

Except for Arthur, who was sprawled on the floor, looking like he''d just seen a ghost.