Chapter 3

I crouched down without taking Frank's gift. Instead, I reached over and stroked Pipi's head, soothing him.

Frank lowered his brows. Whatever patience he had left was completely gone, and anger surged across his face.

“Willow, can you stop being so unreasonable?

“I'm a grown man. How would I know how to pick out a gift for a woman? Rachel went out of her way to help me choose it. She even said your fair skin would look great with a gold necklace!

“She did me such a huge favor. I gave her a thank-you gift as a friend, and somehow that still bothers you?

“Can you stop being so controlling?!

“I can accept you taking this animal that can't even talk and treating it like your own child. So why are you being so aggressive about the friends I make?”

After venting his anger, Frank grabbed Rachel and turned to leave.

I slowly crouched down and sat there in a daze beside Pipi for the rest of the night.

He knew perfectly well that Pipi wasn't just a cat to me. He was family.

He was the only thing my grandmother left me before she passed away, the one thing that kept her memory alive for me. Pipi meant everything to me.

A little after two in the morning, I received a message from Rachel saying they were safe.

In the video, Frank was drunk, his face flushed as he slumped in a booth. Under the dim lights, Rachel held his chin in her hand.

“Don't worry, Willow. I'll teach Frank a good lesson for you. I'll definitely bring him back tomorrow to apologize to you. I guarantee he'll never lose his temper with you again.”

As she spoke, Rachel patted Frank's face. Her tone was intimate yet commanding, as if she were the lady of the house.

“Are you sorry? Are you going to make Willow angry again?”

Frank mumbled, “I'm sorry” and “I won't.”

With every question and answer, my heart grew colder until it was completely numb.

Frank didn't come home until nearly evening the next day.

He was carrying the takeout shrimp from my favorite place, and his neck was covered with a few red rashes from a mild alcohol allergy.

Because of his allergy, I had never let him drink.

Apparently, last night, someone had been there to drink and go wild with him.

“Honey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you, and I shouldn't have said those things about Pipi.

“This is my peace offering for you and Pipi.”

Besides the shrimp, there was also a bag of the premium cat food Pipi usually ate.

My expression softened a little, and I was just about to speak when Rachel dragged a suitcase in behind him.

“Frank, did you tell Willow? At the bachelor farewell party last night, you drew from the blind box and lost to me!”

Rachel held up a pink, suggestive prank card.

Printed on it were the words: [Limited-Time Pre-Wedding Girlfriend Experience Card.]

“I've come to redeem this card!”

As she spoke, Rachel turned to look at me.

“Willow, this was just a joke we made between friends to have some fun and celebrate. You won't mind, right?

“Frank bragged yesterday that I'd be able to move in today, and that I could exercise ‘girlfriend privileges’ all the way until your wedding.

“Among our group of friends, this move-in is a way of bringing good vibes to the newlyweds’ home. It's our way of giving you our best wishes.

“No need to thank me, Willow!”

Rachel looked pleased with herself as she casually and confidently dragged her suitcase upstairs to the second floor.

I turned to Frank, my eyes frighteningly red.

“Willow, please don't misunderstand.

“It was just a blind-box game among friends. The box was supposed to be opened by one of the guys. Who knew Rachel would get so lucky?

“Besides, I've never thought of her as a woman. It's just a prank box. Nobody took it seriously.

“This is also a good chance for you to spend some time with Rachel and prove that we're really just friends. Nothing is going to happen.”

Frank hurriedly took my hand and explained. Before he could finish, Rachel's voice came from the stairs.

“Frank, what are you standing around downstairs for? Hurry up and come upstairs to make the bed for your limited-time girlfriend!”