Chapter 281

There was no answer from inside.

Latisha knocked again. The door finally opened to reveal Clifford, standing there, looking down at her with a cold, imposing gaze. She instinctively raised her hand and signed, "Dinner."

Clifford's eyes darkened as he stared at her fingers. Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

"I thought you could speak now."

Latisha stared at his face, so close to hers. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her speech was uncoordinated, even slower than her sign language, and she struggled to form a single complete word.

He watched her calmly, his fingers tracing the line of her cheek, then outlining her lips. "What in the world is going on in your head? I told you to come with me, but you refused. You ran off and jumped off a cliff. And now you're back here, cooking meals for me. What is the meaning of all this?"

Latisha bit her lip, her gaze fixed on him, unable to explain.

Clifford's voice was eerily calm, as if they were just having a casual chat. "Is being with me that unbearable for you?"

She shook her head frantically.

"Is it that anywhere is better than by my side? Even death?"

His flat tone was laced with a vague sense of disappointment and sorrow. Latisha's heart sank. She reached up, taking his hand in hers, and looked at him deeply. His eyes were empty of emotion, his gaze no different from any other day, yet a sense of panic began to stir within her. She wanted to show him how she felt, to prove her loyalty, so she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him—it was the only way she knew how.

He didn't move, allowing her clumsy kiss without responding.

His silence made her heart ache. A sour feeling welled up, stinging her eyes until a film of mist clouded her vision.

In the past, whenever she took the initiative, Clifford would always respond, whether he was angry or furious. It always worked. He had never been this dispassionately calm.

She raised her hand to unbutton his shirt. Suddenly, he seized her wrist. Latisha looked up and saw the

flicker of rage in his eyes. He

grabbed her by the waist, spnet

her

around, and pressed her against the waff.

"Is this your only move? Did you use it on Santino, too?" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. The words were quiet, but they felt like a thousand tiny needles piercing her heart. "Do you think every man falls for this little act of yours?"

The cool wall against her cheek did little to soothe the sting of his words. She shook her head desperately, forcing out a few broken sounds. "No... no..."

"No what?"

Her face flushed red as she struggled, still unable to form a complete sentence.

"Yes or no?"

"No..."

"No? If not, why were you so obedient to him?" Clifford's fingers tightened on her waist, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Or are you just that desperate for a man?"

Hearing his cruel words, she couldn't stop the tears from finally streaming down her face.

"Do you think I can't satisfy you?"

Latisha shook her head wildly, turning with difficulty to look at him with pleading eyes. "Din-... dinner..."

Clifford's lips curved into a mocking smirk. He released her and turned to walk downstairs. "Eat it yourself."

Latisha watched him go, then wiped the tears from her face. Just for a second, she had seen it—a fleeting look of disgust in his eyes. He was disgusted by her.

She should have realized it sooner. Last night in the cave, he had held back his usual ferocity and hadn't touched her. After learning she could speak perhaps there was a brief moment of curiosity or fascination, but it wasn't enough to erase her choice at the farm it

It couldn't erase the fact that she had abandoned him for Santino.