Chapter 2 - The Hunger Strike
Dinner was a battleground.
The massive mahogany dining table could seat twenty people, but tonight it held only five.
The private chef had prepared organic roasted chicken, garlic asparagus, and mashed potatoes.
The boys sat with their arms crossed.
None of them had touched their forks.
"We want pizza," Caleb demanded, kicking the leg of his chair.
"You had pizza yesterday," I replied, cutting a small piece of chicken for myself.
"We don't care," Evan snapped.
"The last nanny ordered us pizza whenever we wanted."
"And where is the last nanny?" I asked casually without looking up.
The table went completely silent.
"She went in an ambulance," Luke, the youngest, whispered.
I stopped chewing.
I put my fork down and looked directly at the six-year-old.
"Why did she go in an ambulance, Luke?"
Evan quickly reached out and grabbed his little brother's arm.
"Shut up, Luke," Evan hissed.
I stood up from my chair, the sudden movement making all four boys flinch.
That flinch told me a terrifying story.
These boys weren't just spoiled rich kids playing pranks.
They were hyper-vigilant.
They were waiting for someone to hit them.
"Evan, let go of his arm," I said, my voice dropping to a low, commanding register.
He glared at me, but slowly released his grip.
"Nobody is going to the hospital tonight," I said, sitting back down.
"And nobody is eating pizza."
I pulled four empty plates toward me and served the chicken and potatoes.
"You don't have to eat the asparagus," I offered, compromising.
"But you have to eat the protein."
Noah, the seven-year-old, tentatively picked up his fork.
"Is it poisoned?" Noah asked, looking at the mashed potatoes suspiciously.
My heart shattered a little.
"No, Noah," I said softly.
"It's just food."
He took a bite.
A second later, his eyes widened, and he began shoveling the food into his mouth.
Seeing this, Caleb and Luke immediately started eating too.
Evan was the only one left, glaring at his plate like it was the enemy.
"Your mother used to make chicken like this, didn't she?" I guessed quietly.
Evan's eyes snapped up to mine, filling with sudden, angry tears.
He didn't say a word.
May you like
He just picked up his fork and began to eat in total silence.
I had won the battle, but I knew the war had barely started.
