Chapter 3 The entire Foster family filled the dining room-aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole crew... One of the aunts clicked her tongue. "Poor Vanessa's still out there crying by the back steps. That girl's gonna starve herself if she doesn't come in and eat something." Carter served me some mashed potatoes and ladled gravy onto my plate without looking up. "Let her sulk," he said coldly. "She'll eat when she's hungry enough." An awkward silence fell over the table. The meal continued, awkward and cold-honestly not that different from my usual solitary dinners. Vanessa and I are the same age. She's been with the Fosters since she was four. Nobody says it out loud, but it's obvious they care more about her than they do about me. As dinner was ending, only three pieces of my favorite pot roast remained on the serving platter. Uncle Jim cleared his throat. "Maybe save some of that roast for Vanessa-you know how much she loves it." With a pointed look my way, he added, "Eleanor's already had her fair share, I think." Carter gave him an icy stare, then deliberately scraped all the remaining pot roast onto my plate. 'She's not a princess," he snapped. "Stop babying her." Despite his harsh tone, he kept glancing toward the back door after putting down his fork. When the housekeeper finished cleaning up and grabbed the trash bag to take outside, Carter suddenly ¿poke up. 'I'll take that out," he said, standing. The housekeeper looked surprised but handed him the bag. After Carter left, everyone broke into casual conversation, deliberately excluding me. No one seemed to know what to say to the long-lost daughter. Feeling like a stranger at my own family dinner, I slipped away for some air and found myself wandering to the backyard. That's when I heard them-Vanessa's soft sniffles and Carter's low, comforting voice. Chapter 3 From the steps, I watched as the season's first snow began to fall. Carter and Vanessa sat together on the bench, sharing a container of the exact same pot roast he'd just defended so fiercely at dinner. He reached up and gently brushed snowflakes from her hair. Vanessa pushed his shoulder with a pout, her eyes still puffy. "Why are you even out here with me? You're about to kick me out anyway!" Carter nearly lost his balance from her shove, but didn't seem to mind. His expression was genuinely tender-nothing like the stiff, forced kindness he showed me. "Don't be silly," he sighed, his voice full of affection. "You've been a Foster for twenty years. You know I would never make you leave." In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.