“Lillian, why are you speaking like that? Hannah and I aren’t…”
“I’m not thinking anything! You’re college friends and kindred spirits. If you wanted to be together, what does it have to do with me?”
“I don’t care. Do whatever you want!”
“I’ve got an injured arm and can’t sleep well. From now on, I’m sleeping in the guest room!”
“Get some rest. Good night!”
Without waiting for a response, I closed the guest room door behind me.
I heard the sound of a door slamming outside. Scott was angry again.
He probably thought I was ungrateful for not playing along with his game.
In his eyes, I must have been a walking mistake.
Whether I was hysterical or composed, it didn’t make a difference to him.
The next day, I was deeply focused on reviewing old cases when I heard a female voice outside the door.
“Scott, today I have to see your legendary studio!”
“Come on in any time! You’re always welcome here!”
I couldn’t help but smirk at his hypocrisy. He had always had this double standard.
I remembered a time when I had brought a friend home while we were going to a business trip. When Scott returned that night, he had scolded me sternly. “Lillian, don’t bring strangers into the house without my permission.”
Now, without a word to me, he was bringing Hannah into our home.
I wasn’t interested in dealing with them.
But then the door swung open, and Hannah gasped in surprise.
“Ah… Lillian, you’re here too!”
She was younger than both Scott and me, and the first time we met, she had called me “Lillian” with such condescension, as if I were just a junior.
“Why are you hiding in here? It’s so rude not to come out and say hello!”
Scott’s face darkened with clear irritation.
“Scott, am I bothering Lillian? Is she not welcoming? Should I just leave…”
Before she could finish, Scott hurried over to reassure her, patting her shoulder.
“Not at all, make yourself at home!”
I watched them interact with a sense of resignation, feeling completely indifferent.
Hannah suddenly stepped closer, staring at my cast with wide-eyed exaggeration.
“Lillian, your arm is injured. Scott said you were just faking it to get sympathy…”
She quickly realized she’d let something slip and clamped her hand over her mouth.
“But Lillian, you’re so brave! It was so dark and dangerous out there. Were you scared?”
Her overly dramatic manner brought back the memories of that night.