Julian’s Stand-In Wife

Fanny walked into the washroom for a shower.

By the time she was done, Master Channing had left.

“It wasn’t appropriate for Dad to be around while you were showering,” Oliver

said.

Fanny nodded as she blow-dried her hair.

“So?” she pressed. “What wrong did he do to me? What did he do that made it

worth for you, the son he was most pleased with, to make amends to me with

your entire life?”

“Your hair is still wet,” Oliver said, not replying to Fanny’s question directly.

He even blew her hair dry for her for the first time, just to avoid answering her

question.

He didn’t even know how to do it properly.

Blow-drying someone’s hair had to be done slowly, from the front to the back.

Alternatively, one could hold the ends of the hair and slowly dry it. However,

Oliver flipped Fanny’s hair over and blew at her scalp at the maximum heat.

Water dripped from the ends of Fanny’s hair that Oliver flipped over down her

face, which eventually dried up. The entire process left her at sixes and sevens,

just like how things felt like with Oliver.

open her mouth

when Oliver suddenly bent

kissed her.

“Fanny, don’t ask.”

If she asked…

wouldn’t be able to continue the marriage the way it

first time, Fanny relented, even though she really wanted

question out loud

the number they dialed to Julian and Diana went

was Diana, sounding as clear and vulnerable as

was just

in fact resilient on

a beautiful woman, indeed. Her beauty came

had always been confident about her looks,

who could surpass her

Fanny Smith

of an adjective used to describe someone who was

awestruck she

latter brought a chuckle to her

those people

thankful Diana never entered

that popular in

suddenly

casually.

“Hello.”

eyes made sorrow grow in Fanny’s

Oliver never understood her.

that she would flee hastily

In fact, Oliver thought that she should

Fanny

between a married couple, the priority