Chapter 2

2

I walked home with my head spinning.

As soon as I opened the door, the rich aroma of my favorite creamy wild mushroom soup wafted through the air.

My stepsister, Hazel, saw me and sneered. "She's making your favorite again. I'm so jealous I could die."

"Linnie, you're back! Wash your hands. The soup just finished simmering. It's perfect!"

Leila turned around and beamed at me the moment she saw me.

I gave a half-hearted hum and went to wash my hands, feeling distracted.

My mind was filled with Levi's disgusted face and those stinging chat records.

By the time I sat down, a steaming bowl of soup was already placed in front of me.

Leila took a spoon and carefully scooped out all the best mushrooms, piling them into my bowl.

"Mom, I want some of those too!" Hazel protested in a small voice.

"Your sister works hard. Let her have more to nourish her body," Leila said without looking up. She then added a large piece of tender chicken to my bowl. "Eat up, Linnie. You look like you've lost weight lately."

Hazel rolled her eyes but stopped complaining.

My dad sighed. "You're going to spoil her rotten sooner or later!"

Looking at the food in my bowl, much of my anger started to melt away.

Leila had been in our home for ten years, and she had always treated me incredibly well.

"Mom," I put down my spoon. "Today... things didn't work out with Levi."

Leila's hand stopped mid-air. "What happened, Linnie? I thought that boy seemed like a good catch. What went wrong?"

I felt frustrated and didn't know how to explain Levi's accusations. "It just wasn't a good fit. He's the one who called it off..."

"Hmph!" Leila tossed the ladle aside, looking indignant. "His family just deals with stinky fish all day. They don't deserve our Linnie! You're beautiful, you have a great job, and a wonderful personality. He's the one missing out!"

She got more upset the more she talked, acting as if I had been terribly wronged.

"Mom..." I was almost moved to laughter by how protective she was being.

"It's fine, it's fine!" Leila waved her hand. "If it's over, it's over! I'll pick an even better one for you next time. I'll make sure you're satisfied!"

She picked up my bowl again. "Here, have another bowl. Don't be upset over a man with no taste. He's not worth it!"

Seeing her loving face, my suspicions completely vanished.

Whatever. I wasn't that interested in Levi anyway.

There was no need to ruin the family peace over an outsider.