Chapter 3Rotten Love on Rainy Days

By the time I returned home, Willa had already had dinner with Hugo.

She was curled up on the couch with him while they watched a soap opera. She was even laughing and commenting on the plot with him.

"If I were the male lead, I'd just break up with her. Why drag it out like this?"

Hugo rested his head against her shoulder and casually glanced at me in the entryway.

He muttered with unclear intent, "It can't be helped. The male lead is such a loser. He just refuses to leave."

I watched the scene in front of me and felt a lump in my throat.

I remembered how, whenever I used to watch this show, Willa would complain even if she was only passing by.

"Turn it down. It's so loud. Can't you tell? I don't understand how you can watch something this pointless. I can never stand it."

Now that I thought about it, maybe Willa didn't hate soap operas. Maybe she just hated me.

Since she hated me, she hated everything I liked too, including soap operas.

When she heard the front door open, she merely gave me a cold glance before looking away.

She didn't say a word.

She was obviously still giving me the cold shoulder over the umbrella incident.

I pretended not to notice.

I went to the dining room and ate by myself.

Halfway through the meal, Hugo followed the smell of the food into the dining room.

"Stevie, your food smells so good.

"Wanda, do you have another serving? I'd like one."

Wanda looked embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. Since Mr. Santana has stomach complications, all his meals are specially prepared. So I only made one serving."

The moment she finished speaking, Willa walked into the dining room. Without saying a word, she took the tray right out from in front of me.

She carried it straight over to Hugo.

"It's just a meal. Let Hugo have it. It's not like you're going to starve.

"Stevie, just have Wanda make you something else later. Hugo rarely asks for something specific to eat. He's older than you, so just let him have this."

I stared at her. My empty stomach was already aching from hunger.

All I could do was grip the fork in my hand so tightly that my knuckles turned pale.

Wham.

I couldn't take it anymore. I slammed the fork onto the table and finally lost my temper.

"Is the Jenner family so broke that you have to steal food from someone else? You treat your lover so well. Anyone who didn't know better might think you were marrying him tomorrow!"

It seemed I had struck a nerve. Willa shouted furiously, "What the hell are you talking about? You just got home and you're already making a scene. Who spoiled you into acting like this?"

Hugo immediately covered his face and began crying. His shoulders were trembling too.

Yet even then, he kept up the act.

"No, no, it's not like that. Stevie, please stop arguing with Willa.

"This is all my fault. I was just being greedy. I want to eat everything I see. I don't want the food anymore. You can have it back, okay?

"You've chased after Willa for three years. You finally got together, and you're getting married tomorrow. Please don't let me ruin your wedding!"

The more submissive Hugo acted, the darker Willa's expression became.

She put an arm around him and comforted him.

"Hugo, stop crying.

"Why are you apologizing to him? You did nothing wrong."

She then turned to face me and yelled, "Stevie, if you hadn't followed me around for three years, do you think I would've dated you or agreed to marry you?

"If you dare pick on Hugo again, I'll cancel the wedding right now!"

Hugo was clearly afraid the situation might somehow be salvaged.

He lifted his tear-streaked face and tugged at Willa's sleeve.

"Willa, don't say that. Stevie only acts this way because he cares about you too much. He's afraid I'll take you away from him.

"I'll move out tomorrow. I don't want to be a third wheel anymore."

Willa quickly cut him off.

"Move out? If anyone's leaving, it's him!

"This house belongs to me. Everything in it belongs to me too. Stevie, if you pull this stunt again, the wedding is canceled, and you're getting kicked out of the Jenner family!

"Apologize to Hugo right now!"