Chapter 43: The Past Triggered

[Juliette’s POV]

I arrived at the dining area for my breakfast, and, to my surprise, Ralph was at his usual seat reading off his iPad.

Don’t say anything, I told myself.

But, my mouth was never obedient.

“Why are you here?”

Without looking up, he replied in a tone that finds my question annoyingly stupid. “Last I heard, this is my mansion. So why do you act surprised to see me?”

I took my usual seat, which is beside his, and frowned, equally annoyed. “Agatha said you didn’t come home last night.”

I glanced down at the plate of baguette and warm soup laid on the table before me, and then back at the stone, cold face. “Naturally, that means you won’t be home for the next few days.” I sarcastically refer to his habit of taking off whenever he did something awful and shirking his responsibility.

To hit him where it hurts the most, I bluntly added with a careless shrug, “That’s what I learned during my time at the Virtus Mansion. And I am proud to say that I learned it well.”