Chapter 3

3

Jude walked out with the last dish just as I was finishing my bowl of rice.

Vivi stood there in her apron, her forehead creased in a frown.

She was wearing one of Jude's oversized hoodies.

When she saw Jude enter, she suddenly acted like she had a protector.

"How could you start without us?" she snapped.

I paused my fork and looked her dead in the eye.

"Are you the owner of this house, or am I?"

"Also, that hoodie isn't yours, is it?"

Vivi's hand trembled as she pointed at me.

"You! Why are you being so difficult?"

"My clothes got dirty, and Jude just gave me this to wear."

"We worked so hard on this meal. How could you be so rude?"

I felt a surge of annoyance.

They were being so bold right under my roof.

Jude frowned at her words but didn't say anything at first.

Not until I made my move.

I twisted my expression, making myself look deeply hurt.

"Jude, Vivi... I'm just so overwhelmed. Please don't be mad at me."

"That woman called me. She wants two-thirds of my father's estate."

"She said she loved him and wanted his last memories. I believed her."

"She's my mother, after all. So I gave it all to her."

Jude froze. He looked like he had been struck by lightning.

"You... what did you say?"

I blinked innocently. "Jude, what's wrong?"

He realized he was losing his cool and tried to mask it.

He couldn't tell if I was lying or not.

Vivi didn't care about the money; she was still focused on the dinner.

"It doesn't matter! You were still disrespectful!" she yelled.

I laughed internally. She really thought she ran the place.

Before I could speak, Jude cut me off.

"Vivi is right, Jocelyn. You went too far this time."

Hearing him take her side was the final push I needed.

I acted out, losing control and flipping the dining table.

Dishes shattered against the floor.

Gravy and sauce splashed all over Jude's expensive shirt.

"Jude, why are you attacking me too?" I sobbed.

He let out a loud, frustrated groan.

Looking at the mess, he finally snapped.

"Jocelyn, what is wrong with you? Are you insane?"

"We spent three hours on this! You ruin everything!"

His face was contorted with rage.

I finally saw the real him.

He had played the gentleman for years.

I used to think he was just emotionally stable.

Now I knew it was just an act of extreme endurance.

Vivi saw the mess on his shirt and rushed to our bedroom.

She grabbed a fresh shirt for him like she lived there.

I stood there, silent, watching her dress him.

Jude glared at me one last time.

"Think about what you've done," he spat.

He grabbed Vivi's hand and walked out the door.

Vivi looked back at me with a triumphant smirk.

She wanted me to know she was more important.

I just curled my lip. I didn't care anymore.

Once they were gone, I started packing his things.

I sent him a breakup text.

He replied instantly, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum.

"What is the reason? You're the one who messed up. Stop acting out."