Chapter 5

Lily's tears came on cue: "Sister, I'm sorry for disturbing you two."

"We haven't found a place yet."

"If you really don't want me to stay here, I can go crash at a friend's place for a few days starting tomorrow."

Although Lily seemed to be talking to me, her eyes were on James.

I reminded her: "Okay, remember to pack all your things."

Lily glanced at James and started packing.

Her sobbing sounded particularly loud in the quiet room.

James grabbed Lily's hand: "Don't mind her."

Then he turned to look at me, frowning: "Emma, haven't you had enough?"

"It's been days, and you're still walking around with that sour face. Who are you trying to impress?"

"Why are you being so petty?"

"I've already explained everything to you nicely. Lily is like a sister to me. She just escaped from danger, can't she stay here for a few days until we find her a place? It's dangerous for a girl to be out there alone, who knows if she might get scammed again."

"Do you have to make everyone so uncomfortable?"

Originally, I just wanted to quietly sort out everything between us and then part ways gracefully.

But since James insisted on laying it all out like this, I'd play along.

I glared at James: "Sister, you say sister, right?"

"Giving her all the money we saved for seven years, being at her beck and call anytime, even running to her when I was sick, that kind of sister?"

"You two clearly have something going on, yet you hide behind the facade of being siblings, flirting ambiguously."

"Am I your backup plan? Or am I here to highlight how well-matched you two are, how in sync, how good your relationship is?"

Guilt, nervousness, and awkwardness intertwined on James's face.

He transformed these unmanageable emotions into a slap across my face.

It also completely shattered our seven years of relationship.