Chapter 3After That, the Rainy Season Never Ended

By the time I got home, Richard had already had dinner with Wendy.

He was curled up on the couch with her, watching a soap opera and even laughing as they discussed the plot.

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

Wendy giggled and leaned against Richard's shoulder. Then, almost casually, she glanced over at me standing in the entryway.

She said it with a pointed look. "Can't help it. The female lead is such a bitch! She just won't leave!"

Watching them, I felt like I had a lump in my throat.

I remembered that whenever I watched this show before, Richard would always make some snide remark, even if he was just passing by.

"Turn it down. Don't you know how loud that is?

"I seriously don't understand how you can sit through something this mindless. I could never get into it."

Looking back, maybe he didn't actually hate soap operas.

He just hated me.

And because I loved them, he hated them too.

When Richard heard the door open, he shot me a cold glance before looking away.

He didn't say a word.

He was still giving me the cold shoulder over the umbrella.

I pretended not to notice and went to the dining room to eat by myself.

But halfway through my meal, Wendy came in, drawn by the smell of food.

"Yoli, your food smells so good.

"Lucy, is there any left? Get me a plate."

Lucy Parker looked uneasy. "I'm sorry, but your meals and Mrs. Johnson's are specially prepared, so I only made one serving of each."

As soon as she finished speaking, Richard strode in. Without a word, he picked up the tray in front of me and carried it straight over to Wendy.

"It's just one meal, Wen. Go ahead and eat. It's not like I'm going to let you and the baby go hungry.

"Yoli, have Lucy make you something else later. Wendy rarely speaks up about what she wants to eat, and she's your elder. Just let her have this one."

I stared at him, my stomach aching with hunger.

All I could do was grip my fork so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

I still couldn't hold it in. I slammed my fork down and snapped.

"Is the Johnson family so broke you can't afford to feed yourselves? Do you actually have to take food right out of someone else's mouth?

"You're so good to your stepmother. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were marrying her tomorrow!"

Richard looked like I'd hit a nerve. He snapped, "Yolanda, what the hell are you talking about?

"You just got home and you're already throwing a tantrum. Who spoiled you rotten?"

Seeing this, Wendy immediately covered her face and burst into tears, her shoulders trembling with sobs.

Yet she was still putting on an act.

"No, no, that's not it. Yoli, please stop arguing with Richard.

"It's all my fault. I'm pregnant, so I've been craving everything in sight. I don't want this meal anymore. You can have it back, okay?

"You spent three years chasing Richard, and you finally got together with him. You're getting married tomorrow. Please don't let me ruin your wedding!"

The more she played the victim, the darker the anger in Richard's eyes became.

He wrapped an arm around her and tried to soothe her. "Wen, stop crying.

"Why are you apologizing to her? You haven't done anything wrong."

He turned to me and snapped, "Yolanda, if you hadn't spent three years chasing after me like a dog, do you really think I would've dated you or ever agreed to marry you? If you dare go after Wendy again, I swear I'll call off the wedding!"

Wendy clearly didn't want the situation to calm down.

She lifted her tear-streaked face and timidly tugged at Richard's sleeve.

"Richard, please, stop. Yoli only acted this way because she cares about you so much. She's afraid I'll take you away from her.

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

Richard cut her off sharply, his icy gaze stabbing into me.

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

"This house is mine, and the Johnson family is mine. Yolanda, pull this stunt again, and tomorrow's wedding is off. You're out of the Johnson family, too!

"Now, apologize to Wen!"