"Lily, you just said you know how much I care about Cheese," I said flatly.

"She's my bottom line. Touch her again, and I'll make you regret it."

Lily burst into tears.

Alex stepped in front of her like a shield, frowning. "Serena, Salad almost died. Lily's been through enough. Don't make this harder for her."

I stared at the man in front of me—the one who couldn't tell right from wrong—and tried to pinpoint when he'd changed.

It started when I heard our boss was promoting him.

After that, he stopped hiding his history with Lily. He even used his new position to get her an internship at the company.

The signs had been there all along.

I placed Cheese in the carrier and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Alex blocked my path.

I ignored him and changed direction.

He grabbed my hand, his expression strained. "Alright, Serena, it was wrong of me to bring Cheese here without telling you. I won't do it again. If I do, you can beat me to death."

He took my hand and made it pound against his chest.

He used to say things like this back when we were good—back when I'd playfully raise my fist and pretend to hit him.

Now I just shook him off.

Alex frowned. "Lily and I both apologized. You should be satisfied now, right, princess? It's hard to get a car right now, and most drivers won't take pets. I'll drive you back."

I checked the ride-hailing app—orders were backed up for miles. In the end, I got in his car.

But just as Alex opened the front passenger door, Lily slid in ahead of me.

"Serena, I get carsick. You don't mind if I sit up front, right?"

Watching how natural she looked, I thought of yesterday—how the front seat had already been adjusted when I sat there.

Then I looked at the four words stuck to the dashboard: Wife's Exclusive Seat.

Back when I helped Alex buy this car, he'd put that sign there himself. Promised me no one else would ever sit in that seat.

He'd probably forgotten all about it.

"Serena, it's not convenient for you anyway," Lily added. "Sitting in back is perfect—you can look after Cheese."

I ignored her and spoke only to Alex. "Drop me and Cheese off first. She's stressed."

Alex grunted in acknowledgment, but halfway there, Lily suddenly asked him to pull over.

"Alex, the doctor said Salad's not doing well. Let me off—I need to go check on her. I won't be able to relax otherwise."

Alex sighed and eased the car to the curb.