The Scratch

We both turned our heads toward Thomas, who was now standing there, and I was taken by surprise by the look on his face. I had never seen Thomas angry before.

He was always the quiet one, the one who smiled, took instructions, and kept to himself. He never got involved in household matters. So seeing him like this was a shock, but it also made me pause.

He shut Rose down with a single look, his voice a little too cold.

"Know your place in this house."

Without another word, he walked toward me, opening the door to the back garden.

"Miss, they’re out there," he said quietly, gesturing toward where Emerson and Madeline were.

I could tell Thomas wanted a moment alone with Rose, so I shot her one last look and stepped outside, letting the door close behind me.

As I walked down the garden path, I tried to shake off the strange feeling from earlier, but something was still bothering me. The tension was high, not just from Rose’s words but from the whole atmosphere in this house. And yet,