Chapter 2
As soon as I got home, I didn't even bother with dinner.
I grabbed my tablet and curled up in bed to watch drama.
I didn't even notice when Alvin got home.
Alvin quietly slipped over and watched me carefully.
"What's got you so hooked?" Alvin asked.
"Can't you see I'm busy? Don't bug me," I shot back.
Alvin was puzzled.
For a split second, I caught Alvin's feeling of being wounded.
I wasn't even upset yet, but Alvin was already feeling upset.
Alvin kept mumbling beside me, but honestly, I tuned him out completely.
He was being such a distraction that I couldn't even concentrate on my show.
"Go sleep somewhere else tonight," I snapped.
As soon as the words left my mouth, Alvin's expression instantly changed.
"Seriously, there's nothing going on between me and Fanny," Alvin insisted.
"Yeah, sure. Go play by yourself," I said.
*****
After a few days, I felt like a total love guru.
Getting Alvin to fall for me again? Please, I could do it in my sleep.
Once Alvin left for work, I headed straight to the kitchen.
I whipped up a homemade lunchbox for him.
Alvin would probably think I was prime wife material.
On my way to the office, even the air felt sweet.
But that all changed the moment I reached the office door.
As soon as I tuned into Alvin's feelings, I froze.
He had already eaten.
I pushed the door open and found Alvin wiping his mouth after finishing his meal.
Next to him, Fanny was tidying up a lunch container.
She'd been all smiles just a moment before but as soon as she spotted me, her smile vanished.
It was over in a flash, but I caught it all the same.
"Sorry, Mrs. Foley, I didn't know you were coming in today.
"You know Mr. Foley's got a sensitive stomach. Somebody needs to be extra careful with his meals," she added, shooting me a look that basically implied I was slacking off.
I couldn't help but snorted in fury at her meaning.
Seeing Fanny's provocative look, I walked straight up and slapped my homemade lunchbox right down in front of Alvin.
"Guess you didn't know Mr. Foley hates onions.
"Oh, and you dumped way too much salt in there today." I finished off with a dramatic eye roll.
Then, with zero chill, I pushed Fanny firmly out of the way.
Her mood soured in a split second.
"Mr. Foley ate it and didn't complain, did he?" Fanny shot back.
Everything she said reeked of contempt for me.
I snorted right back at her.
"He'd never show it. You wouldn't notice a hint if it slapped you," I snapped. "You may go now, Miss Barron."
Even with me standing right there, she still refused to budge.
She didn't even bother to hide her intentions before me.
It took Alvin finally telling her to leave before Fanny stalked out, looking thoroughly annoyed.
After Fanny left, awkwardness still lingered in the air.
"Sorry, I already ate," Alvin said, giving me an apologetic grin and scratching his head.
I shot him a cold look, totally unmoved by his apology.
"Eat. I don't care if you're already full—you're eating it anyway. Do you even realize how much effort I put into making this?" I insisted.
For a split second, I forgot what I'd even come here for.
I was completely obsessed with outshining Fanny in this showdown.
My cooking was definitely better than Fanny's.
Seeing Alvin looking all awkward, I wasn't about to let him off easy.
He had to force himself to finish every bite of the lunch I made.
At the end, he managed a strained smile. "It's delicious."
Alvin was in a rush to get to his meeting so I carried the lunchbox home all by myself.
There was no sense of victory on the way back.
All I felt was pure rage toward Fanny.
She was way more of a pain in the ass than I ever imagined.
Back then, Alvin's admirers were just a bunch of rich heiresses.
Their scheming were obvious, and if they had an issue with me, they'd just tell me to my face.
"Country bumpkin, don't bother trying to fit in here."
"I'm warning you—stay away from Alvin, or you'll regret it."
Girls who just blurted out their insults? Please, they were no match for me.
But Fanny was a whole different story.
She was totally two-faced.
She'd drop greet me sweetly like we were besties, but the moment my back was turned, she'd start crossing lines.
She made my skin crawl.
Just the thought of Fanny made me grind my teeth in annoyance.
It wasn't until a wave of searing pain crashed over me that I snapped out of my fury.
My stomach was killing me.
The pain was so bad I couldn't even stand up.
I had to lean against a lamppost, my hands shaking as I fumbled for my phone to call an ambulance.
In the emergency room, the pain was so bad I felt like I was about to pass out.
But when the test results came back, the doctors looked totally lost.
Everything was normal with me.
They eyed me like I was just faking it for attention.
As soon as I heard the results, I bolted upright from the hospital bed.
All of a sudden, my back stopped hurting and my hands stopped shaking.
If there was nothing wrong with me, then something was seriously wrong.
It meant I had been sensing Alvin's pain.
I tried calling Alvin, but no matter how many times I dialed, his phone just wouldn't connect.
All I could do was sit at home, freaking out with worry.
It wasn't until nearly eleven at night that Alvin finally dragged himself back home.
His face was ghostly pale—he couldn't even muster the strength to look up.
He went straight for the bedroom and buried himself under the comforter.
Seeing how miserable he was, I didn't need any psychic sense to know he was suffering.
All I could do was pull the blanket over him and sit by his side, watching over him.
But just then, the front door swung open.
I rushed out of the bedroom, only to see Fanny just walk right in like she lived here.
She was holding a bag, standing in the doorway swapping her shoes.
"Ever heard of a doorbell when you barge into someone else's home?" I snapped.
I wanted to tear into her, but with Alvin still resting, I held myself back.
But of course, Fanny just couldn't help but fan the flames.
She sauntered right up to me, shooting me a look of pure disdain.
"Mr. Foley gave me the code," she said.
"Oh, really? Did he also tell you that the code is my birthday?" I shot back.
Fanny retorted, "So what? You really think a country bumpkin like you can climb the ranks and marry rich? Keep dreaming."
The living room was thick with tension.
With Alvin gone, Fanny dropped the act completely.
Ambition was written all over her face.
"You honestly think that a childhood betrothal could ever lock Alvin down?" Fanny scoffed. "With me by his side, there's no way you'd ever marry Alvin."
She closed the gap between us as she spoke, so close I could feel her breath on my skin.
A minty scent flooded my senses.
That minty scent was exactly the same one Alvin always wore.
I'd admit, for a split second, my confidence faltered. But I wasn't about to let her see me sweat.
I lifted my chin and stared straight back into her defiant eyes.
"You really think you've got this all locked down?" I shot back.
"Obviously," Fanny replied.
She flicked her wrist, flashing me a mocking look.
"I know exactly why you're cozying up to Alvin," she sneered. "It's all for that 1 million dollar marriage gift, isn't it?
"Come on, don't make me say why out loud."