Chapter 4

It was late by the time I checked the clock, likely past the hour when anyone in that house would still be awake. Funny how people treat you with endless kindness when they need something from you, but when the tables turn? Not even the courtesy of a call.

I pushed open the door to my room, only to be startled by a shrill scream.

"Ahhh! Johnny!"

The sudden outburst startled me, and I fumbled to turn on the light. What greeted me was a scene straight out of a melodrama: Kaley huddled in Johnny's arms, her eyes glistening with tears, a picture of delicate fragility.

The sight made my blood boil. Without a second thought, I stormed over and slapped her across the face.

Kaley froze for a moment, as if her mind was still catching up with what had just happened. Then, one tear after another began to roll down her cheeks, each one carefully timed for maximum effect.

"Lizzie, have you lost your mind?" Johnny snapped, leaping to her defense. "What is wrong with you? We were bored waiting for you, so we decided to watch a movie. How was I supposed to know it was a horror film? You barged in, scared her, and this is how you react?"

"Oh, I see," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Watching a movie in the dark somehow necessitates hugging each other. Should I assume that if I hadn't come back, you'd have moved on to sleeping together? Maybe we should ask others to weigh in—what do you think they'd say?"

Johnny's face flushed crimson, a mix of anger and embarrassment. "You… You're impossible! Acting like a madwoman over nothing!"

"Madwoman? Sure, call me that," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "Speaking of which, this madwoman is going to bed now. Unless, of course, the two of you plan on joining me?"

Kaley clutched her face, her head bowed low, letting the tears fall silently—a masterclass in pitiful theatrics.

Johnny, ever the gallant knight, bolted to the kitchen to grab an ice pack, presumably to soothe the swelling on her cheek.

Meanwhile, slammed the door shut, and crawled into bed. Tomorrow was bound to be another battle, and I needed my rest.

Later that night, when Johnny tried to sneak into bed, I kicked him right off. Without a word, he slunk out to the living room, defeated.

Morning came, and there he was, curled up on the couch like a scolded child. George noticed immediately, and his face darkened with fury.

"You let your husband sleep on the sofa? Do you have no sense of decency? What kind of a wife are you?" he barked at me. "For your information, I'm the one who insisted Kaley and Alex stay over last night. What's next—are you going to throw Marlene and I out of the house?"

Feigning innocence, I replied, "Oh, I was just giving Johnny and Kaley a chance to relive their childhood memories together. How was I supposed to know Kaley wouldn't let him into her room?"

"Lizzie, you're insane!" Johnny shot back. "We're married! How could you even suggest something like that?"

"Oh, I don't know," I said with a sly smile. "Maybe because you've been acting like you forgot you're married?"

Kaley, ever the martyr, stepped in with her usual trembling voice. "Lizzie, please don't be angry. It's all my fault. I'd never forgive myself if I came between you two. Please, don't let me ruin your marriage."

Marlene, sitting nearby, gave me a disapproving look, her brows furrowed in judgment. "Lizzie, honestly, how can you be so thoughtless? With George and me here, do you think anything inappropriate could happen between them? Besides, if Johnny really wanted to be with Kaley, do you think you'd even have a place in this house right now?"

From the corner of the room, Zack groaned, rubbing his eyes as he joined the scene. "Can you all keep it down? This constant bickering is so exhausting. Lizzie, you should learn a thing or two from Kaley about being a good wife and mother."

Kaley's lips curved into a faint smirk, her eyes glinting with triumph. The expression vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by her usual air of quiet grace.

"Alright," she said, breaking the tension, "we need to hurry if we're going to make our flight. Lizzie, don't forget to load the luggage into the car. See you at the beach!"

They left without so much as a second glance, dumping all the work on me as usual. But I wasn't about to let them get to me. I steadied my emotions, mustered a bright, cheerful smile, and said, "Of course. Have a safe trip!"