The Day I Kissed An Older Man

‘Joey’s still so young. He doesn’t even know he’s just Anya’s pawn, yet he has to suffer through all those beatings. He must be traumatized…’

Corinne stroked Joey’s head fondly. “Don’t worry, Joey. I promise no one will ever lay a finger on you anymore.”

Joey rested his cheek on Corinne’s shoulder and felt a sense of security and safety, which he never felt before. No matter what, he trusted Corinne and her promise completely.

…

Corinne carried Joey to the dining room where the servants had laid out a lavish breakfast spread.

Jason had already started eating. He smiled when he saw her walking in. “Why are you here alone with the kid? Where’s Jeremy?”

Corinne sat a few seats away from Jason before answering, “He’s putting on his clothes and will be here soon.”

“Oh.” Jason picked up his glass of milk and took a sip to hide his disappointment.

plan to continue the conversation, so she positioned Joey at the crook of her elbow before feeding him a bite of the omelet. No one ever taught him to use utensils before, so he

for the past few days, he had to eat with his hand since Phoebe did not have the patience to feed him most of the time. Thus, he cherished the

thing he had ever eaten in all of his

Jason with an inscrutable

lips. She did not even spare Jason a glance when she asked,

surprised,” he said with

is here?”

smiled coyly at her. “I’m quite surprised you can so readily accept a child,

silence, she turned to look at him. “I’d be lying if I said I see him as my own, but what I can say is I feel sorry for him. After all, he’s innocent in all of this.

and shook his head. “It doesn’t. Though I must say, I feel sorry for you