Chapter 2

"Natalie's been having some emotional issues these past few days. I was worried about her, so I brought her here to stay for a while," Josh explained to me when he noticed my silence.

I nodded and walked inside immediately. I had barely taken a few steps when something felt wrong. "Where's Milo?"

"I took him to the vet. He'll be staying there for a few days. Natalie's allergic to cats," Josh said.

I stopped and stared at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Josh pretended that it didn't matter and gave me an easy smile. "You were busy. I didn't want to bother you."

But he wasn't worried about bothering me when he called about making the fruit wine for Natalie? I didn't ask him that question, because I knew he had a hundred excuses ready.

I turned away, but my head spun and my vision dimmed as I felt blood rushing into my head. I hadn't eaten because of my motion sickness, and my blood sugar had dropped.

A cake sat in an open box on the table. I picked up a knife and cut myself a slice.

The next second, a furious shout exploded beside me.

"What are you doing?!"

Josh stormed out of the kitchen, irritation flashing across his face.

"I bought that for Natalie. How could you eat it without asking?"

I froze, humiliated.

Natalie quickly tried to calm him down. "It's not a big deal. It's just a cake. Rena can have as much as she wants."

Josh was still upset. "But I bought it especially for you. You hate it when someone else takes the first piece."

"How much was it? I'll pay you back."

I unlocked my phone, but I already saw that I had been charged. He had used my account and paid with my money.

I needed someone else's permission to eat one slice of cake bought using my member card, my money, and in my own home.

"Rena, why did you say that? I could never take your money." Natalie smiled readily.

The next second, Josh grabbed my phone and transferred fifty dollars from my account to hers.

Natalie looked at the notification and looked a little embarrassed. "This doesn't feel right..."

"She offered to pay you, so you might as well take it. Besides, this is about trust."

Josh spoke with a completely straight face.

I ignored him, sat at the table, and mechanically shoved cake into my mouth. A hundred dollars had bought me a cake that did not belong to me in the first place and branded me as untrustworthy. I swallowed a mouthful of cream, but all I tasted was bitterness.

When I finished, I stood and picked up my purse.

"Where are you going?" Josh looked up at me.

"To get Milo," I said.

"But Natalie hasn't left yet," Josh answered.

"Then when is she leaving?" I asked.

Josh's face darkened as he stared at me without answering.

Natalie's eyes became red, but she forced a smile. "Go get him, then. I'll leave soon, anyway. I've already stayed for a week. It's time for me to go home."

"Will you be alright alone?" Josh asked.

"Why wouldn't I be? I've lived alone for years," Natalie said.

Josh's eyes were filled with concern. When he spoke again, his voice was hard. "Rena, I'm begging you. This is a special situation. Can't you be a little more generous and understanding?"

I was exhausted. Suddenly, I no longer wanted to put up with any of this anymore. "What special situation?"

Josh froze, and his tone turned harsh. "Natalie's sick. Depression carries a high risk of suicide."

His face was filled with worry, and there was tenderness in his eyes that he had never shown me.

At that moment, I realized just how cruel he was. Why should someone who had just lost her baby and mother still be expected to accommodate another woman?

Before I could speak, Josh grabbed Natalie and stormed out.

"We'll get out of your sight. You can have the house to yourself!"

My lower abdomen slammed into the shoe rack, and I doubled over in pain. It took a long time before I could stand again.