Undone by Francette Phal Read Free Book Online Page A

hungry."
    "A little advice, Nicholas...?" She stopped in front of him. "Understanding works so much better then anger, give him a chance." With a sympathetic pat to his cheek, she walked away.
    "I feel like the only sane one here," Nicholas remarked dryly, brushing his hand through his hair . He turned to the rest of his family. “And I take it you all think I should give him a chance too?”
    Bella approached him. "Sophie’s in love with him, Daddy." She shrugged. “For her sake, I think we should at least try to be cordial.”
    "Out of the mouths of babes ,” Maddie intoned. “Honestly, Nicholas, Belle’s right. Be happy that it’s only a ten year difference. Imagine if he'd been like forty or something."
    "I'd shoot him on sight ,” Nicholas humorlessly declared.
    "I think I'd help you ,” Brent added. His usual smile oddly absent.
    At that Nicholas smirked . "Didn't think you had it in you, Hayward."
    He shrugged. "What can I say, Grayson, you bring out the devil in me."
    At their shared grins, Madeline and Ellie rolled their eyes heavenward. "Care to join me for breakfast, Maddie?"
    Madeline walked away from Brent and laced her arm through Ellie’s . "I'd love to, Ellie."
    Perplexed Nicholas and Brent looked on as their lovers walked away. Purposely ignoring them, they made their exit, occupied by their own private conversation.
    "Did we say something?" Brent asked, mystified.
    "I don't think we need to say something to piss them off ,” Nicholas replied wryly.

Chapter 6
    The snow fell in earnest now, blanketing the grounds in a flurry of feathery whiteness, a crystal wonderland beckoning the children and their parents outside. Dina threw her dark head back and laughed at her son-in-law’s antics. From her seated position in the living room, she was able to see the activities outside and she was enjoying the show immensely. While the children busied themselves on sleds, sliding down the hill with whooping glees, the adults, namely Nicholas and a laughing Ellie, engaged themselves in a deadly snowball fight. She heard their laughter and their breathless banter, taunting each other into making a mistake.
    At the appearance of Bella at her side, Ellie’s attention veered from Nicholas and onto her daughter, giving Nicholas the opportunity to slink behind her. Indicating his daughter to stay quiet with a gloved finger to his lips, Nicholas brought into view a round, well-packed ball of snow and , with a roguish upturn of his lips, he shoved the offending cold ball of snow down Ellie’s sweater and ran away. Ellie’s reaction was immediate; she screeched and spun around, then back again as she heard her daughter's laughter from a distance.
    "You had better run, you two!" she threatened, shaking the snow from her sweater. "I'm going to get you both for this!"
    "You have to catch us first, Mom." Bella replied only to scream when Ellie gave chase. Winded, Ellie stooped over and took a moment to recuperate.
    "Come on, track star, is that the best you can do?" Nicholas taunted, his smile rivaling the sun in brightness, illuminating his face. He laughed at Ellie’s glower and took off running, his wife hot on his heels.
    "Here, Nanna, I brought you some jasmine tea." Sonya turned her gaze to her oldest grandchild and graciously accepted the lovely golden white mug she offered. Taking a sip, she smiled warmly before patting the seat next to her.
    "Thank you, Sophie. Please, sit with me." Taking her invitation, Sophie settled on the sofa beside her grandmother and turned to look outside, a wistful smile on her lips.
    She was like her mother in so many ways, Dina observed ; every time she saw her, Sophie had so much of her mother’s disposition. She wasn't as boisterous or as carefree as her brother and she was certainly not like the talkative, cheerful Bella. Sophie kept to herself mostly, reserved but never cold, never aloof, always introverted, but sweet and warmhearted. Of her three grandchildren, Dina felt Sophie