Chapter 3The Silence of the Strings

My best friend Chloe knew I was having surgery and took time off to stay with me.

"Get the guest room ready and prepare to welcome your personal nurse!"

I laughed and said:

"I've cleaned the room twice and bought new linens for you. I guarantee you'll love—"

The moment I opened the door, my words stopped.

The brand-new linens I had prepared were bunched up on the floor.

The guest room was filled with strange belongings, and a half-human-sized teddy bear was sprawled on the bed.

It was a blatant declaration of ownership.

The sound of the front door opening rang out again.

Soft laughter floated in.

"Caleb, thank you for taking me to that restaurant. It was delicious."

"My bad mood from being ignored by my classmates is totally cured by that dessert!"

Caleb saw me and explained calmly.

"Lydia had a falling out with her roommates and can't stay in the dorm. She's planning to move out."

"She hasn't found a place yet, so she's staying in the guest room for now."

I sneered.

"Caleb, I told you a week ago that Chloe was coming to stay here."

Caleb paused.

The expression on his face at that moment said everything.

He had forgotten.

When I had asked him, his voice had been full of impatience:

"Decide that yourself. Don't ask me about every little thing. It's annoying."

Caleb pursed his lips, his voice dropping slightly. "Sorry..."

He lifted the dessert bag in his hand, his tone softening.

Like someone coaxing a cranky child:

"The restaurant we went to today is the type you like. I'll take you there this weekend."

I glanced at the logo on the bag.

It was a restaurant I had repeatedly begged Caleb to take me to.

He had always said he was too busy.

I took the bag and tossed it into the trash.

The breath Caleb was about to let out hitched again.

Lydia stepped forward, her voice thin and airy.

"Piper, it's all my fault. I can squeeze in with your friend. I don't mind."

I let out a cold laugh, grabbed Lydia’s sheets and her teddy bear, and kicked them out into the hallway.

Lydia froze, her eyes filling with tears.

"Piper, I need those for tonight. What am I going to do now?"

I glanced toward the master bedroom and smiled.

"You can squeeze in with Caleb. I don't mind."

Lydia’s face flushed.

"Piper! If you don't want me here, just say so! Why humiliate me like this?"

As if she had suffered a grand insult, her eyes turned red, and she ran off.

Caleb frowned at me, though he didn't chase after her.

"Piper, she’s just clumsy and a bit childish. She didn't mess up your things on purpose."

"If you don't want her staying here, just say so. I can book a hotel for her. There’s no need to target her twice in a row."

I stopped smiling.

"This is our home. Shouldn't you consult me before bringing an outsider back?"

Caleb’s frown deepened, as if I were being unreasonable.

"Lydia is being isolated at school; she’s very low right now. I thought you'd at least have some empathy, but your first reaction is to calculate whether I consulted you."

"Besides, it’s just for two days. Does a minor arrangement like that really need a formal consultation?"

"It's like Chloe coming to stay—you don't need to consult me for that, either."

The old me would have been impulsive enough to call a male friend to stay over that night just to see his reaction.

But now, I just nodded calmly.

"You're right. There really is no need to consult."

Tit for tat.

Then moving out of this city and breaking up with Caleb probably didn't need a consultation, either.