Chapter 2

Lydia's expression shifted from rage to total confusion. "What did you say? You're not going to stop us?"

I nodded calmly. "That's right. Why should I?"

"I only gave you advice before because I thought you should focus on graduating. I thought dating could wait until college."

"But if you're this passionate about him, I won't interfere. I won't force you to do anything."

"After all… it's hard to find someone who matches your energy so perfectly. If you let this one go, you might never find someone so similar again."

Lydia stared at me for a long time, searching for a trap. When she saw I was being serious, her suspicion turned into a smug grin.

She hopped down from the window sill and rolled her eyes at me. "Hmph. At least you finally grew a brain, you ancient fossil."

"Since you've realized how much I mean to you, stop nagging me! Don't try to control my life anymore. It's annoying!"

"I'm practically an adult. I don't need you breathing down my neck, got it?"

I replied softly, "Understood. I will never bother you again."

"If you want to skip class, go ahead. If you want to play games all night, do it. If you want to play house with your boyfriend, be my guest."

Lydia's face stiffened for a second. She seemed to sense something was off, but the thrill of her new freedom took over.

"Anyway, I'm not the only one who thinks Zane and I are perfect together! Lacey thinks so too!"

I caught the name immediately. "Who is Lacey?"

Lydia answered carelessly, "She's Dad's assistant at the office! She's been really supportive of my relationship."

"She said high school isn't too early to date. She told me all the good men are taken by the time you graduate college!"

"She's not like you, stuck in the Victorian era. Living with you is honestly soul-crushing."

"Dad probably feels the same way. That's why he's always laughing and talking when he eats with her, but has nothing to say to you! You should really look in the mirror."

I felt a chill of realization. "I see. That explains a lot."

In my past life, I suspected my husband was cheating, but I could never find proof.

His friends and colleagues always covered for him. Every time I asked, they told me I was being paranoid.

Now that I had a name, things would be much easier to track.

I was the breadwinner of the family, making double what my husband made. We had bought our house in the Seattle suburbs together.

My husband, Lance, didn't want to lose the lifestyle I provided. That was why he refused to divorce me even when we stopped sleeping in the same room.

In my previous life, after I was disfigured and lost my job, he divorced me instantly. He took half the house and married another woman within months.

At that time, I knew he'd been seeing someone.

But in my state of deep depression, I didn't have the strength to find out who the new bride was.

This time, I'm following the trail of the assistant. I'll make sure he leaves this marriage with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Lydia was still rambling, praising the assistant while tearing me down.

"Hey, old hag, do you even know Lacey? She's awesome. She's only six years older than me, so we actually have things in common."

"She even plays Overwatch with me! You're useless. All you do is talk about grades and breaking up with Zane."

"Man, I wish she was my mom. We'd be the happiest mother-daughter duo in the world."

"With Dad, we'd be the perfect family of three."

Her eyes sparkled as she talked about her fantasy future.

I looked at her and said, "Well, congratulations in advance."

Lydia looked puzzled. "Wait, what?"

I stared at her, my lips slowly curling into a cold smirk.