Supervillainess (Part One) Read Online Free PDF

on. I’ve dropped
ten pounds, and your father’s lost five,” she said.
    His gaze slid to the unmoving man in the
wheelchair behind her. Kimber released his stepmother and went to
his father, crouching down in front of him. As always, any
excitement he experienced seeing his father was stolen by the
condition his father was in. James Wellington had been confined to
a wheelchair or bed for three years. His head drooped, and his once
muscular body had turned frail with lack of use and age. Even so,
he was dressed in trendy clothing, and his eyes moved to find
Kimber when he knelt.
    From his work with the permanently disabled,
Kimber was able to recognize the amount of time and care it took to
keep his father appearing healthy. His stepmother, as much as he
didn’t like her, truly cared for her husband.
    “Hey, dad,” Kimber said and took his
father’s hand. He squeezed it. “Looking good!”
    His father blinked. For his sake, Kimber
smiled, troubled at his father’s appearance but genuinely pleased
by the visit.
    “Kimmy, show us your new place,” Julian
said.
    Kimber rose and stepped behind his father’s
wheelchair, pushing him into the apartment. “Come on in,” he
said.
    Julian followed. She was unusually quiet, a
sign she was trying not to reveal her true thoughts.
    “It’s, uh, well … temporary,” Kimber said,
embarrassed by the condition of his sparse apartment. Before
Keladry’s comment about it being a shit hole, he hadn’t paid much
attention to the condition of his place. He looked around anew,
imagining what his parents saw. The paint was peeling in places,
and water damage marred one corner of the living room. The windows
were small, the carpet older than he was, and cracks extended from
the ceiling towards the floor in almost every room. None of the
lights managed to illuminate the corners or ceiling completely, and
since the skies were constantly cloud covered, natural light did
nothing to help. It was dark and dingy.
    “It’s nice,” Julian managed.
    It wasn’t, but he didn’t object to her
attempt at being pleasant. Kimber wheeled his father in to the
living room and the window overlooking the street.
    “Are you unpacking or repacking?” Julian
asked from the kitchen. She was peering into the box of glassware
on the table.
    “Oh, um … reorganizing,” he said. He joined
her. “How’s Dad doing?”
    “No change, really,” she replied with a
meaningful look towards her husband. “He’s having more trouble
lately and the doctors are worried. But, Kimmy,” she gave him a
warm smile, “I’ll take care of him. You’ve got a lot to deal with
on your own.”
    Kimber’s cheeks felt warm. Julian turned
away and went to the living room. He put on a kettle for tea and
mentally prepared himself for the conversation certain to come. He
would never feel ready for it. Just as he left the kitchen, the
front door opened.
    “Knock, knock!” someone called
cheerfully.
    Kimber’s stomach twisted into knots. He
faced the pretty woman walking through the door and glanced towards
his stepmother.
    “We’re not the only ones worried about you,”
Julian said with a wink. “Suzanne insisted on coming.”
    Kimber said nothing in response. His eyes
went to Suzanne’s left hand. He was almost surprised she no longer
wore the diamond.
    “Hey,” said the pretty woman, stopping in
front of him.
    “Hey,” he replied and cleared his
throat.
    “Julian said they were coming to visit, so I
decided to tag along,” Suzanne said and studied him. Her lips were
smiling – but her eyes weren’t. “Hope that’s all right?”
    Not really. Kimber wasn’t ready for everyone from his past to
confront him at once, but neither was he going to re-injure the
feelings of the woman he had already caused so much pain. “Sure.”
His response sounded forced, even to his ears.
    “Of course you’re welcome, Suzanne,” Julian
said. “I’m dying to hear about this new job of yours, Kimber. It’s
a charity