Chapter 4

I sulked for days, ignoring Leo.

He started by sending dozens of messages a day. Then, seeing I never replied, he got angry too.

We began a long cold war.

Usually, I’d be the first to cave, but this time I managed to stop myself from reaching out to comfort him.

Then, tormented by frustration, I suffered from insomnia and overeating.

Until one afternoon, he suddenly knocked on Skylar’s door.

“Baby, I’ve missed you so much.” The moment he stepped in, he bypassed Skylar and pulled me into his arms.

As if we hadn’t been arguing at all recently.

“I’ve invited some friends over to our new place for a housewarming dinner tonight. Get ready, let’s go home.”

My words weren’t organized, but my body’s instinctive reaction was to push him away.

“What’s wrong?” Leo’s radiant face showed a hint of confusion.

Noticing my gaze lingering on his face, he smiled confidently.

“I specifically put together this outfit and did my hair for dinner tonight.”

My vision was obscured by my messy, three-day-unwashed hair. I touched the stress-induced pimples and dark circles around my eyes from sleepless nights, and a weariness I couldn’t name washed over me.

So, for the past few days, the only one tossing and turning, tormented by the cold war, was me.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the housewarming dinner when the time was set?”

I finally managed to painfully squeeze out a question from my throat.

“It’s because you wouldn’t reply to my messages, or cheer me up! I haven’t even gotten to you for throwing a fit out of nowhere.”

Leo sounded completely justified.

“I’ve given you an out. If you don’t take it, I’m really going to get mad.”

I was speechless, blocked. How did this become my fault again?

“Why didn’t you wait until dinner was over to tell Harper!”

Skylar directly bumped Leo aside with her shoulder, pointing him out the door.

“I really do have a surprise for Harper.”

Leo put on a pitiful expression, deliberately clinging to the doorframe, only revealing a goofy, smiling face.

“Baby, come home with me, please. Tell me slowly what I did wrong, okay?”

“My mom and dad, and your aunt and uncle are coming tonight too. Please, wife, just for appearances.”