However, Melanie's plans to quietly head to the kitchen were cut short the moment they stepped inside the house. Standing in the middle of the dining room, arranging plates on the table, was the last person Melanie wanted to see. The young woman turned, her radiant smile lighting up her face as her eyes landed on Spencer.
Spencer's entire demeanor shifted the moment he saw her. His arm dropped away from Melanie's waist as he took a step forward, his tone a mix of surprise and something Melanie couldn't quite place. "Halley? What are you doing here?"
The girl's smile widened as if she hadn't noticed the sharpness in his tone—or maybe she chose to ignore it. "I made breakfast," Halley said cheerfully, gesturing to the neatly arranged table. "I thought you'd be hungry. Over there, you always had breakfast around this time, so I figured I'd get something ready for you. Come on, Spency, let's eat."
Melanie froze for a moment, caught between disbelief and fury as she watched the exchange. Halley's tone was casual, even intimate, and the nickname—Spency—sounded grating to her ears. But what made her blood boil was the way Spencer didn't immediately refute it.
This time, Melanie refused to hold her tongue. Straightening as much as her sore foot would allow, she raised an eyebrow and limped further into the room. "Really?" she said, her voice sharp with sarcasm. "And did you serve him breakfast every day over there, too? Because judging by what Spencer just said to me outside, anyone would think he was starved for care the entire time he was away."
The room fell silent for a beat, the tension palpable. Spencer stiffened at her words, his jaw tightening as he avoided looking at her. Halley, on the other hand, blinked in surprise. The smile that had lit up her face just seconds ago faltered, fading into an awkward expression as she turned to Melanie.
"We didn't get a chance to meet yesterday," Halley said quickly, her tone polite but strained, as if she were trying to recover from the sudden confrontation. She stepped closer, offering what Melanie assumed was supposed to be a friendly smile. "I'm Halley. It's nice to meet you."
Melanie didn't return the smile. Instead, she crossed her arms, leaning slightly on her uninjured foot as she regarded the younger woman coolly. "I know who you are," she said simply, her tone clipped.
Halley hesitated, her gaze darting to Spencer for help, but he stayed silent, his discomfort clear. Melanie didn't miss the way his shoulders tensed, or how his eyes stayed fixed on the floor as if he couldn't decide who to side with.
"Well," Halley began after an awkward pause, her voice a little less confident, "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just thought I'd help out."
Melanie raised an eyebrow again, her lips curving into a tight smile. "Help out? That's thoughtful of you," she said, her words laced with irony. "But next time, maybe ask first. I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm neglecting my duties as a wife."
Halley's face flushed, and for a moment, it seemed like she was going to argue. But then she glanced at Spencer again, and whatever words she had died in her throat.
Melanie didn't wait for a response. With a pointed look at her husband, she turned and limped away.
As expected, Spencer did not follow her. However, as she raced up the stairs, she saw someone standing there, witness to her pain. And yet, she looked away and raced up, leaving him behind.
***
Sometimes actions spoke louder than words. As Melanie stood in front of the mirror getting ready to go to the office, Spencer returned to their room, angry and pulled at her elbow.
"How could you do this? Hallie is my guest and you humiliated her!
Melanie yanked her elbow free from Spencer's grip, her eyes blazing as she spun to face him. "I humiliated her?" she snapped. "You brought her into our home like she owns the place, cooking breakfast like she's the woman of the house, calling you 'Spency,' and I'm the one in the wrong?"
"She's a guest, Melanie," Spencer shot back, his tone sharp. "She was just trying to be helpful. You didn't have to make her feel unwelcome As for your home, this is MY HOME! Not yours. And she has the right to be here because I invited her."
Melanie let out a disbelieving laugh, bitter and cutting. She was the one who had spent the last five years keeping this home a home and suddenly it was His Home? She shook hie head," Well, then you can make her feel welcome! I don't need to! Don't blame me for calling it out when you're too spineless to set boundaries."
Spencer's jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Watch it, Melanie. You're making this into something it's not."
"Oh, really?" Melanie said, her arms crossed tightly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Then what exactly is it, Spencer?"
"Stop being so insecure, Melanie. Hallie is my best friend and she is going to be my assistant when I join the office. Of course, she is going to take care of my needs. And you were the one at fault first for not preparing my breakfast and going out to run. So do not try to cast blame on her and ruin everything with your petty jealousy."