Cassidy wrapped her arms tightly around me. “Wait for me to come back, and we’ll have our wedding. Also, remember—whoever changes their mind is a little puppy.”
As I watched her figure fade into the distance, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
The mighty Cassidy, feared and respected in the business world... was she really this insecure?
The sky had already darkened by the time I headed home with the bouquet in my arms.
But the moment I opened the door, I was met with a scene I never expected.
Skyler and his son were inside.
Skyler was lounging on my couch, dressed in my pajamas, watching TV like he owned the place. And his son—still wearing his shoes—was jumping up and down on the custom-made sofa I’d carefully picked out. The one that cost over a hundred thousand dollars, now covered in dirty little footprints.
Rage instantly surged through me.
But before I could say a word, Veronica walked out of the kitchen and frowned.
“What are you doing here?”
My breath caught in my throat from anger, and it took me a moment to reply coldly, “This is my house, remember?”
The boy suddenly threw his toy at me and shouted, “This is my mommy’s house! This is our home! You get out!”
Skyler gave me a lazy, dismissive smile. “Don’t take it personally, Marvin. He’s just a kid—he doesn’t know any better.”
Then, without asking, he walked over and took the bouquet from my hands.
“Are these flowers for me and Veronica? That’s thoughtful of you—thanks for the blessing.”
I reached to take them back, but the little boy grabbed the bouquet and yanked it away.
He threw the flowers on the floor, stomped on them twice, and sneered, “Stop trying to please my mom. We don’t want your stupid flowers!”
My head pounded with fury. “You’d better pay for that bouquet!”
Veronica’s voice rose in irritation. “Marvin! He’s just a child. How can you be so petty and argue with him?”
“Go cook dinner already. Stop causing drama in front of the kid.”
She even handed me an apron.
I let out a sharp laugh. “Veronica, do you think I’m your housekeeper now? Why the hell should I cook for the three of you?”
She frowned deeply. “Can’t you just be a little more understanding? Ever since the Civil Affairs Bureau, you’ve been acting out like some drama queen. Things were peaceful until you started stirring everything up.”
“I’m giving you a way out—making dinner is your way to apologize to Skyler and the kid.”
I locked eyes with her. “Veronica, look me in the eye and tell me—do you really believe we don’t have a problem? Do you truly think I should be the one apologizing?”
Her gaze wavered.
But she quickly sighed and said, “Look, the kid is innocent, okay? Marvin, you’re an adult. So what if you suffer a little for now? I’ll make it up to you later, I promise.”
My heart turned cold. “Why should I be the one to suffer? Am I not innocent too?”
Just then, the boy came out of nowhere holding a dinner fork—and drove it hard into my thigh.
“Get out! Get out of my house!”
I shoved him away and said icily, “I bought this house. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you.”
The boy burst into tears and ran into Skyler’s arms.
This house really was mine—meant to be our marital home.
But now it was clear Veronica had completely forgotten that, already planning to play house with another man and his child under my roof.
Skyler’s eyes turned red. Holding the crying boy, he choked out, “This is our fault... we shouldn’t have come. We’ll leave right now.”
But Veronica quickly stopped him, clearly distressed.
She turned to me, clearly annoyed.
“It’s already dark. Skyler has a child with him—where are they supposed to go at this hour? Marvin, could you please be a little more generous?”
I nodded slowly. “Fine. They can stay tonight. But by tomorrow morning, they must leave—or I’m calling the police.”
Veronica scowled. “If you insist on kicking them out, then I’ll leave too.”
