‘Damn it…
Wasn’t she just leaving?
What’s up with her suddenly popping back in?’
Lisette leaned halfway against the doorframe without stepping inside, wearing a cold smirk.
“Oh, one more thing.
Everything I gave you guys before?
Consider it gone for good.
I won’t be asking for it back.
But the money you owe me?
I want it in my account within three days.
Not a cent less.
Otherwise…
get ready to pick up your subpoenas at the school broadcast station.”
The three of them looked worse than a spilled paint palette.
Damn it!
Bella snapped, “Lisette, do you have to be this cruel?”
Giving them only three days was already pushing it, and now she wanted to publicly shame them?
Seriously?
“Cruel?” Lisette gazed at their panicked faces, and all she felt was disgust – for her past self.
Back then, she gave them everything – her time, her energy, her heart.
And what did she get in return?
A bunch of leeches.
These three mooched off her kindness, constantly asking for gifts and money with all kinds of excuses.
And even when they made it big, they never once thought about paying her back.
Now she’s asking for her own money back, and suddenly she’s the villain?
What kind of twisted logic is that?
Seriously, were their morals fertilized in a dumpster?
Trash.
Lisette had zero patience for trash people.
She wasn’t about to let them act like victims right in front of her.
Staring Bella down, she snapped, “It’s called paying what you owe.
Since when is asking for my money back considered evil?
If that makes me a bad guy, what does that make you?
Some kind of demon spawn who deserves eternal hell?”
Bella fell silent, face stiff.
Lisette gave a sneer, satisfied with their humiliated expressions, then turned and walked off without looking back.
Bella and her group looked like they’d been slapped.
They had borrowed a good chunk of cash from Lisette over the years, always using “temporary hardship” as an excuse.
She used to brush it off, never making a fuss, and over time, they came to take it for granted.
But now that she wanted it back, they were stuck.
“There’s no way we can come up with that much cash in three days.”
“What if we sell the gifts she gave us?”
“But I don’t wanna!”
“Then get ready for everyone to hear your name blasted over the school announcements.”
“Ugh!
Lisette is evil!”
*****
Tobias walked through the door at exactly 5:30 PM.
From the living room, soft piano music spilled out, catching his attention instantly.
He turned toward the sound and saw Lisette seated at the piano, her fingers dancing across the keys.
She didn’t notice him.
Tobias stood quietly, watching her.
Her sharp features looked even more delicate under the warm lights, glowing like porcelain under moonlight.
The tune she played matched her vibe – smooth and calm.
It felt like standing by a deep, quiet lake.
A dragonfly touched the surface, sending soft ripples through the still water.
And in those ripples, he could see only her reflection.
Tobias had been to countless concerts, but this was the first time a piano piece had struck him as-well, beautiful.
Not just the melody, but the vibe, the imagery.
It hit him hard.
His heartbeat, his breathing – everything synced to the rhythm.
His eyes didn’t move off her.
He was starting to zone out.
Then, all of a sudden – The tone shifted.
The melody surged, dramatic and bold.
The calm melted into something more intense.
Even Lisette’s aura shifted with it.
Her flawless features took on a fierce brilliance – like a rose in full bloom.
Striking and wild.
Gorgeous – but with a trace of heartbreak.
Tobias walked over almost without thinking, his fingers brushing the keys.
Thunk!
The sound cut off, and Lisette slowly looked up.
Her eyes were a little red, and her cheeks were flushed – definitely tipsy.
She tilted her chin up and gave a goofy smile, flashing eight perfect teeth.
“Did it sound good?”
The scent of alcohol hit Tobias the moment he got close.
He frowned and helped her up from the bench.
“You’ve been drinking.”
Lisette pouted, stubborn.
“But was it good or not?”
Avoiding the question, Tobias said, “Come on, I’ll take you upstairs.”
Lisette asked again, louder this time.
When he still didn’t answer, she shoved at him a bit.
“Hey!
Just tell me if it sounded good!”
“…It sounded good.”
She was clearly not just buzzed – she was plastered.
Couldn’t even stand straight.
Tobias had to steady her again.
Her mood shifted instantly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Then do you know what song I was playing?”
Tobias gave a quiet “Mm.”
“What song was it?” she pressed.
“Still-waters.”
Her grin widened.
“Bingo, you nailed it!”
When drunk, Lisette got super chatty.
“So tell me, if I play this at the holiday party, will it work?”
Tobias helped her along, replying without missing a beat, “Probably not.”
“Why not?” She stopped, frowning and making a fuss, clearly wanting a real answer.
He just told her straight.
Not really the right mood.”
“Then what should I play?”
“How about the Puppy Waltz?”
Lisette blinked…
then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, I like it!
They’re all like dogs anyway – hic – let’s go with that.”
Tobias caught something in her random rambling.
“Who ticked you off?”
Lisette furrowed her brows, clearly thinking hard.
“Umm…
a lot of people…
wait, that’s weird, can’t remember them right now…”
“…Right.”
Yeah.
She was totally wasted.
She mumbled a bit and stubbornly tried to take the stairs.
Tobias didn’t even hesitate-grabbed her and stuffed her into the elevator.
Climbing stairs like this?
No way.
Drunk Lisette was extra difficult.
She clung to the elevator doors, whining, “I don’t wanna stay in that tiny room.
I hate it.
I wanna leave!”
She looked so upset, like someone had just wronged her badly.
Left with no choice, Tobias sighed and hoisted her up into his arms, ready to take the stairs himself.
Lisette, now lounging comfortably in his arms, started grinning like a fool.
Tobias glanced down just a little – and there they were, her cherry-red lips, soft and shiny.
The second he realized his gaze lingered too long, he quickly looked away, feeling awkward.
In the year they’d been married, they’d kind of worked out a routine.
At the Hastings’ old estate, he’d take the couch, she the bed.
Out of town, they’d get separate rooms.
He stuck to that unspoken rule.
After all, boundaries, right?
Carrying Lisette into her room, Tobias placed her on the bed.
No sooner had she hit the covers than she started tugging at her clothes, mumbling, “Gotta take a shower before sleeping…”
And right there, in front of him, she yanked off her top.
Yep…
just pulled it off.
Tobias froze and immediately turned his head.
A moment later, he heard rustling behind him, then the door clicking shut, followed by the sound of running water.
He rubbed his temple with long fingers, clearly starting to feel the headache.
His clothes reeked of alcohol now.
He didn’t like drinking, and the smell was already getting on his nerves.
Thinking he’d better go change, he looked toward the bathroom without thinking – and stopped.
The door was slightly ajar, fog spilling out, and through the steam…
he saw her silhouette.
And…
her peach-pink bra?
Lying right there at the bathroom door, plain as day.