Chapter 2

Viola's POV

Lynn's face flushed crimson.

"We grew up together," Joshua said. "We might not be related by blood, but we're closer than family."

I nodded. He was right. Lynn was certainly more like family to him than I was.

Even with a 104-degree fever, I couldn't make him stay. He'd still left to comfort Lynn, who had gone through yet another breakup.

I smiled. "God really dropped the ball, didn't He? Why didn't He make Lynn your actual sister?"

Joshua shot me a warning look. "That's enough. You're crossing a line."

Ignoring him, I rose to my feet and headed to the bathroom to rinse my mouth.

My toothpaste and facial cleanser had been casually tossed aside. I had always been a stickler for neatness. I would never leave my things lying around like that.

Lynn noticed them as well. Looking at Joshua sheepishly, she said, "Don't be mad, Viola. I'm the one who used your toiletries. I had too much to drink last night, and Josh was worried something might happen to me if I was all alone, so he brought me here."

I arched my eyebrow and looked at him.

Joshua explained, "I didn't want to wake you last night, so I had Lynnie stay in the guest room and took the couch."

I magnanimously inquired, "Why'd you arrange for her to stay in the guest room? You're family, aren't you? There's no need to avoid suspicion. I wouldn't have minded if you slept together."

With that, I slammed the door shut.

I could tell Joshua was displeased with my attitude, but I was done catering to him. I had had more than enough after all these years.

I casually tossed the mushy, congealed seafood risotto into the trash can. The gooey mess stuck to the bottom of the can, making me feel inexplicably nauseous, much like all these years between Joshua and me.

…

I took a short nap in the afternoon. When I woke up, the space beside me was still empty. I was already used to it.

I pulled out my phone, intending to reply to some messages. The very first post on my feed was a nine-photo collage of Lynn and Joshua. The caption read, "Got my heart broken, but thankfully I have my best friend to eat, drink, and have fun with!"

Their mutual childhood friends flooded the comments, teasing them.

"Hold on, are my eyes playing tricks on me? Joshua isn't at his office on a workday?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Only Lynnnie could pull this off, getting a workaholic to drop his precious work just to take her to the zoo!"

Joshua and I had been together for five years, yet he had never spent a single holiday with me, let alone take me on a fun trip.

He was a workaholic who only took time off exactly twice a year—once for Christmas and the other for Lynn's birthday. He would plan out elaborate birthday parties for Lynn and stand beside her as she cut the cake.

When it came to me, everything was reduced to a routine formula. He would gift me a handbag for my birthday, a necklace for our anniversary, and a gift box for the holidays.

I was less like his girlfriend and more like a long-term client whose relationship he needed to maintain. I was someone he would send greetings to on holidays and special occasions to remind me how "good" he was to me.

I liked her post, closed the app, and found my chat with my HR manager. "Hi, Lillian. Sign me up for that overseas assignment you mentioned last time."

…

Joshua and Lynn didn't return home until the evening. Both of them were wearing matching plush koala hats.

Lynn's cheeks were flushed from a day out in the sun. Joshua pulled out a napkin to wipe her forehead. Her favorite blue scrunchie was wrapped around his wrist.

When I came out to pour myself a glass of water to take my medicine, Lynn walked over with a sweet smile. After rummaging through her bag for a bit, she handed me a koala phone charm.

"Josh and I picked this out just for you, Viola!" she chirped. "Consider it an apology for intruding on you the last couple of days."

By the looks of things, she wasn't planning on leaving anytime soon.

I glanced at it and casually asked, "How much was it?"

Lynn's face turned scarlet.

That was all I needed to know. It couldn't have cost more than five dollars.

Joshua jumped to her defense. "It's not about the price tag, Vee! It's the thought that counts!"

I took a big gulp of water, washing away the bitter taste of the medicine lingering in my throat. "Right. I appreciate the thought. So, you can keep it."

Tears welled up in Lynn's eyes as she looked at Joshua cautiously, as if she was pleading for help.

"Viola Chapman!" Joshua seethed. "What on earth are you upset about now? Why are you giving us attitude? Are you going back to your old ways again?"

The "old ways" he referred to were the times when I got mad at him because of Lynn.

I gave him a bewildered look. I had stopped getting angry with him a long time ago. After all, it was a complete waste of energy.