She Mocked Me, I Dumped My Husband

Chapter 2 A Tense Stalemate

An icy stillness settled over every corner of the room the moment I finished speaking.

Bending slowly, Sally gathered the crumpled sheets and held them tight against her torso.

The playful glint faded from Samuel's face, replaced by a sharp scowl as he confronted me. "What is your problem now? Why are you flying off the handle again? We've told you her apartment is unlivable right now. We're just close friends—what harm could a short stay possibly do?"

Sally's shoulders slumped, and she put on a hurt, dejected expression. "I should have known I'd never be welcome here. Once a man marries, his old friends always get pushed aside. I even took the time to make clam chowder, hoping to cheer Alice up."

Teary-eyed, she shook her head. "Forget it. Don't argue over me. I'll just move to the guest room instead."

Grabbing her wrist before she could step away, Samuel acted out of sheer defiance toward me. "You're not leaving. You're staying right here."

A cold huff escaped my lips. "Fine. Then I'll leave. The two of you can have this place to yourselves."

Samuel reached for my luggage, his gaze darting nervously around the room. "Honey, that's not what I meant. She's just a buddy. Why do you keep picking on her? You never used to be this petty."

I nodded slowly. "I'm not petty at all. So this apartment is yours and your female buddy's now."

I put deliberate emphasis on the phrase "female buddy."

With neither side willing to back down, Sally stepped quietly out of the bedroom.

Pausing in the doorway, she said to Samuel, "Sam, don't keep arguing with Alice. I'll take the guest room. If I keep using the master bedroom after she's spoken her mind, she'll definitely get the wrong idea about us."

A look of blame crossed Samuel's face as he glanced my way.

Raising an eyebrow at Sally instead, I made my meaning clear. "I told you to move out entirely. Not just switch bedrooms. Do you understand?"