Hearts Collide (Lingorm)

Chapter 30

[The dinner]

It was dinner night, and Faye was on edge. The Armstrongs were due any minute, and the last thing she needed was this kind of reunion. 

Two shots of whiskey down, and she was still feeling tense. "For Yoko," she muttered to herself. "Do it for Yoko... or it's another night in the garden."

t had been over twelve years since Freen last stepped foot in this house. The thought of her returning now was enough to churn Faye's stomach. 

How dare she come back after everything?  Faye wasn't sure if she was more pissed or emotional about it, and that only made her feel worse.

The house was buzzing. Yoko, ever the perfectionist, had prepared a grand dinner, pulling out all the stops. For her, it was a "special night"—a family reunion. Faye? She was ready for disaster. Orm was downstairs, helping Elissa gather toys to play with Amelia, while the maids fussed over flowers like they were decorating for royalty.

Faye, meanwhile, sat on the couch, biting her nails as she pretended to watch TV.

Yoko appeared in the living room, armed with a flower from the table, and promptly smacked Faye's arm with it. "Stop biting your nails!"

Faye flinched, scowling like a kid who got caught. "You're always scolding me!"

Yoko's response was swift. She smacked Faye again, this time with a little more force. "You know I only scold you when you're being silly." She paused, eyeing Faye's bare feet. "And where are your socks? It's freezing in here."

Faye crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. "I don't need socks."

Yoko sighed like a mother tired of dealing with her child. "You're impossible." She turned to the nearest maid. "Could you please grab her socks from upstairs?"

Yoko, unfazed, She leaned down, kissing Faye's cheek, then teasingly nibbled on her ear. "Behave tonight, and maybe you'll get a reward later."

That got Faye's attention. Her mood shifted instantly as she pulled Yoko onto her lap with a firm tug, making her bounce slightly.

Yoko gasped, surprised, "Faye!" Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't have time to react further—because, of course, the doorbell rang. Faye groaned dramatically, letting her head fall back against the couch.

"Oh, perfect timing," she muttered. "Now, That's a valid reason to kill her."

The maid opened the door, and in walked Becky and her daughter, Amelia. Yoko, always the gracious hostess, immediately went to greet them with her usual warm cheer, kissing their cheeks.

Yoko greeted them warmly, pulling Becky in for a hug and kissing both of Amelia's cheeks. "So good to see you!" she beamed. "Ans Where's Freen?"

Becky's smile faltered for a split second before she signaled their driver to bring, very huge massive gift box . "She's... not feeling well. Couldn't make it tonight. But she sent this as an apology, I hope you can accept this"

Faye, who was still sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. Not feeling well? That was the best excuse Freen could come up with? Scared to face me, more like. She smirked bitterly to herself. There goes my whiskey for nothing.

Faye kept her attention to the tv, she barely glanced at Becky- 'her sister in law'. She knew Becky despise her so much, so she just kept her distance.