Chapter 2

After deleting the photos, I started packing my toiletries for Sedona.

When I opened the bathroom cabinet, a bottle of perfume rolled out.

I recognized it.

It was the perfume Vanessa always wore.

Behind it were her cleansing oil, face masks, and contact lenses.

I had first discovered those things two years earlier, on the day I moved in.

I walked out of the bathroom holding Vanessa's pajamas.

"Why are Vanessa's things in the primary bedroom?"

Adrian barely glanced at them.

"She used to crash here after parties whenever she drank too much."

"She got tired of bringing everything back and forth, so she left a few things here."

I froze.

"Now that I've moved in, shouldn't she take them with her?"

Adrian frowned.

"They're just a few things. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

Vanessa somehow found out.

The next day, she showed up carrying a cardboard box.

Right in front of us, she began placing her clothes inside it one piece at a time.

Adrian frowned.

"Who told you to pack your things?"

Vanessa's eyes immediately turned red.

"Doesn't Lily mind?"

"She's the one living here with you now. I shouldn't make her uncomfortable."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Don't listen to her."

"There will always be room for you here."

Then he turned to me.

"Lily, Vanessa isn't an outsider. Stop making things difficult for her over something so small."

I was the one who apologized that day.

After that, her things only multiplied.

The top shelf of the refrigerator was always stocked with her favorite sparkling water.

Her dresses hung in the guest room closet.

There was a set of mugs I had wanted for my birthday but couldn't bring myself to buy.

When Adrian bought the set, he gave Vanessa the pink one.

"Vanessa likes pink."

I couldn't stop myself from saying:

"I like pink too."

Adrian was already losing patience.

"It's just a mug. Why do you have to compete with her over everything?"

Eventually, even Vanessa's cat seemed to become our shared responsibility.

Whenever she traveled, she dropped Milo off with us.

When his food ran out, she told me to buy more.

When the litter box needed cleaning, she had Adrian tell me to take care of it.

Once, I spent three straight days taking my mother to her preoperative appointments.

I changed Milo's water half a day later than usual.

Vanessa immediately posted in the group chat:

【Milo has barely touched his water today. Is anyone even looking after him?】

Adrian came home that night and lashed out at me.

"I asked you to take care of one cat. You can't even manage that?"

I was still clutching my mother's test results.

"Adrian, did you forget? My mother's surgery is tomorrow."

Only then did he fall silent.

A moment later, he pulled me into his arms.

"I haven't forgotten. I won't go anywhere tomorrow. I'll stay with you."

That night, for the first time in a long while, I slept soundly because of that promise.

The next morning, he arrived at the hospital early.

Before my mother was wheeled into the operating room, she smiled at him.

"You're not busy today, Adrian?"

Adrian held my hand.

"Nothing is more important than being here with Lily. Nobody is pulling me away today."

Then, twenty minutes before the surgery was scheduled to begin, Vanessa called.

Milo was missing.

"Adrian, I'm so scared."

"What if we can't find him?"

Adrian stood up almost immediately.

My heart dropped.

For the first time, I grabbed his hand and held on tightly.

"You just made me a promise."

"My mother is about to go into surgery."

The other end of the call went quiet.

A few seconds later, Vanessa sniffled.

"Adrian, don't come. Lily will be upset."

"It's only a cat, anyway."

The more she protested, the deeper Adrian's frown became.

"She's had Milo since he was a kitten. Do you have any idea how much he means to her?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"So what?"

"My mother is about to have surgery."

"Two people are already helping her look for Milo."

"Why do you still have to go?"

Adrian looked like I was testing his patience.

"Your mother is having a minor procedure. She has doctors, nurses, and you."

My eyes turned red.

"But I'm scared too."

He was silent for two seconds.

Then he pried my fingers from his sleeve.

"Lily, grow up."

"Vanessa needs me more right now."

He left.

When my mother was wheeled into surgery, I was the only one beside her.

Later, Vanessa posted an update on social media.

Milo had been found.

The caption contained only one line.

【I'm so lucky the three of you always show up for me.】