Chapter 2

I took my still-crying son back to my mother's house.

Quinn watched us leave without movement or words.

Though the Hayes house was my parents' home, I felt incredibly out of place there.

Counting the days, I had lived at the Hayes house for less time than I'd lived at the Harper house.

Seeing me suddenly return, everyone in the Hayes family seemed at a loss.

In the past, I certainly would have had the sense to leave.

But the son in my arms was still whimpering, rain poured outside, and I needed a safe harbor.

I hadn't grown up with my parents. When my grandparents sent me back, they said, "Your parents will treat you well. They'll love you like we do."

I believed them, so I shamelessly stayed.

And the first person in this house to reach out to me was my sister, Aria Hayes.

"Aria, come in quickly. I'll find you some clothes. Go take a hot shower first."

Until my sister pulled me upstairs, my parents standing to the side never said a word.

At dinner, they finally seemed to remember to ask why I'd come home.

I couldn't explain. Whether it was the memorial tablet or the password, neither was appropriate to mention to them.

I could only respond dryly, "Quinn and I had a fight."

Mr. Hayes's face darkened. He put down his fork.

"Friction between husband and wife is normal. Running back to your parents' house over every little thing isn't appropriate."

Mrs. Hayes nodded beside him. "We know Quinn. He's not an unreasonable person. As a wife, you need to be more accommodating. Family harmony is most important."

The already unpalatable meal became even more tasteless.

I simply put down my bowl and fork, looking at my parents who were criticizing me.

"This is my first time coming home because of a fight. Where does 'every little thing' come from?"

"Quinn's not unreasonable, so does that mean I am? Why should I have to accommodate everything just because I'm the wife?"

Hearing my rebuttal, my parents froze in shock.

Since returning home, I had always been obedient and well-behaved around them.

Over time, even I had forgotten that abroad, I had been bold, unrestrained, and free-spirited.

Aria looked at me, then at our parents, smiling as she smoothed things over.

"Don't you know what kind of person Aria is? She must have been wronged to come back. We should back her up."

Aria's words calmed our parents down. Mom looked at me with some guilt.

Before she could speak, I stood up. "I'm going to check on the baby."

In the rare quiet of the room, I stared blankly at my son's sleeping face.

My mind was crammed with chaotic thoughts, pressing down until I couldn't breathe.

The door lock clicked. Aria walked in.

She carried a blanket and pillow, sitting beside me. "Aria, can we sleep together tonight?"

Though my conflict with Quinn involved Aria, I didn't want it to affect our sisterly relationship.

"Of course."

With my permission, Aria was as happy as a child.

We lay side by side in bed when an inappropriate question suddenly escaped my lips.

"Aria, what kind of person do you think Quinn is?"

She seemed surprised but still answered. "Someone excellent in every way."

It was high praise. An even more inappropriate question burst out.

"If someone like that loved you, would you accept him?"

She fell silent.

Just when I thought she wouldn't answer, I heard her response.

"No."

Rationality returned. I said nothing more.

The breathing beside me gradually became even. I still had no desire to sleep.

So when her phone vibrated, I heard the sound and glanced over.

[It's getting cold. Cover yourself with the blanket at night.]

I couldn't be more familiar with that contact name, yet such detailed care felt utterly foreign to me.