chapter 3

By evening, I brought Juliet home from the amusement park.

At the entryway, I noticed a pair of canvas shoes that didn't belong to me.

In the living room, a woman was leaning over the coffee table, arranging a fruit platter—her movements smooth and confident, like she belonged there.

When she heard us come in, she looked up, her plain face breaking into a small, hesitant smile.

"Monica, you're home already?" Her voice was light and sweet.

I stopped walking, my eyes landing on her before turning toward Andrew, who had just stepped out of the kitchen.

A flicker of guilt and embarrassment flashed across Andrew's face.

He coughed lightly and said, "Oh, this is Elise Alexander. She came by to thank us for buying her watermelons."

Then he turned to Elise, and the panic in his expression softened. The corners of his lips lifted slightly.

"You haven't changed at all. Still as thoughtful and polite as ever. I told you not to worry, and yet you came all the way here."

Elise jumped in quickly, her smile growing even sweeter, all innocent charm. "You haven't changed either, Andrew—still so warm and thoughtful."

I watched them from across the room, my expression hard as marble, with a heaviness settling heavier and heavier in my chest.

"Oh, Monica!" Elise finally seemed to notice me.

"Andrew told me what happened earlier—I'm so sorry, it's all my fault. He mentioned how much he missed the taste of the watermelons from back home, so I brought him a truckload of fresh ones. I didn't realize it would cause trouble between you two."

As she spoke, she twisted her fingers nervously and glanced at me with a quick, careful look.

Seeing me standing there silently with a cold expression, she turned back to Andrew, her eyes full of hurt, almost on the verge of tears.

"It's fine," Andrew said quickly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're being considerate as always. Why would she blame you?"

But the moment he turned to me, his expression changed instantly. I even caught a hint of reproach in his voice.

"Monica, why the long face as soon as you walk in? Anyone would think you don't welcome Elise here."

"Andrew, please don't say that," Elise whispered. "It's my fault for causing this. Monica, I cut this watermelon myself. It's for you—please try some."

She held out the freshly arranged fruit platter toward me, the watermelon cut into small cubes, her eyes wide and pleading, full of innocent charm.

With that stance and tone, she looked just like the lady of the house.

And me?

I felt like the outsider who had to be coddled and appeased.

I didn't move.

Her hand froze in midair, the platter hovering, her smile disappearing. She lowered her eyes, her voice soft and wounded.

"Monica, do you… not like me? I know I'm clumsy… and I'm just from the countryside…"

Before I could respond, Juliet rushed forward, pushed Elise away, and shouted, "You're a bad woman! Who said you could come into our house? Go away!"

Elise let out a startled cry as she stumbled backward, losing her balance. The fruit platter in her hands crashed onto the carpet with a loud thud.

"Juliet!" Andrew's voice thundered across the room. He stepped forward in one quick stride, his tall frame shielding Elise.

He grabbed Juliet's arm tightly, his grip strong, glaring at her with a harshness and coldness I had never seen before.

"Where did you learn to be so rude? Apologize to Ms. Alexander right now!"

Juliet had never been disciplined so harshly in her life.

She froze in shock, then burst into tears. "She's a bad woman! She's stealing Dad! I don't want her! Dad's mean!"

I shoved Andrew aside, scooped Juliet into my arms, and shouted at him, my first words since getting home. "Andrew, are you insane? You'd treat your own daughter like this—for a stranger!"

"Enough already!" Andrew snapped, waving his hand in irritation.

But when he turned to Elise, his tone softened, and he spoke gently, trying to reassure her. "She's just a kid. Elise, don't take it personally. You should head home now—you've done enough for today."

I watched Andrew's profile in that moment.

As he spoke to Elise, the warmth in his eyes and the slight curve of his lips held the same tenderness I once knew so well.

It was the look he had given me when he was courting me, back in the early, passionate days of our love.

Now, that expression belonged to another woman.

Elise bit her lip, a few tears slipping down her cheeks as she tugged gently on Andrew's sleeve.

"Andrew… I should go now. Please… don't fight over me," she whispered, lowering her head, looking utterly pitiful, and hurried away as if the world had wronged her.