Inside the café, Alice Nakiri sat idly, scrolling on her phone.
"They're so slow! Why aren't Erina and the others home yet?" Alice huffed, utterly bored. Waiting in a café was the most tedious thing imaginable—worse than cooking. All she could do was stare at her phone.
"Hm?" As she scrolled, a photo suddenly caught her eye. It was of Erina and her family.
Family dinner?
Barbecue buffet?!
They left her waiting in a café just to go eat barbecue? And Erina actually went to a buffet?! The photo, of course, had been posted by Erina herself. Both Renz and Erina had Facebook accounts, and their history showed regular posts capturing snapshots of their daily life.
It had been about a week since their last update, so to maintain the illusion of normalcy, Erina had taken a few pictures during their family outing—particularly several close-ups of Rina.
Seeing those photos, Alice felt a sharp pang in her chest.
"Damn it… their relationship's still annoyingly perfect." She began to question if staying at Erina's place was really worth it. She just hoped those two wouldn't casually start tossing around "love grenades" again like before.
But... her expression darkened.
A year or two ago, during her last stay at Erina's house, she was constantly bombarded by public displays of affection. She remembered being so annoyed that she swore she'd find a partner just to spite them.
And now?
Still single.
Was she just forgetting the pain after the wound had healed?
Maybe she should just get a hotel this time.
As she sat immersed in thought, her phone suddenly rang.
"Alice, I'm home," came Erina's calm voice from the other end.
"Eh? Eh—! I'll be right there." Alice quickly recomposed herself. Let Erina flaunt her romance all she wanted; it didn't matter. She wasn't going over to bask in their love. Tonight, her only mission was to see the adorable little Rina. That was her real goal.
---
At the villa, Erina Nakiri and Renz quietly prepared for the arrival of their uninvited guest. Although mentally braced, they were still tense, worried that the slightest misstep might give away their secret.
The doorbell rang.
Renz walked over and opened the door.
Alice Nakiri stood there with a polite smile and waved.
"Good evening, Renz."
Her voice was pleasant, but her tone carried a cool aloofness—just distant enough to put people on guard. Renz gave her another look.
She wore a sharp black business suit with a pencil skirt that perfectly highlighted her figure. She was even more stunning in person than in photos. Her physique rivaled Erina's. With features hinting at Nordic heritage, silver-white short hair, and pale red, gem-like eyes—she looked like a character straight out of an anime.
Countless fans would fall for her instantly.
"Good evening," Renz replied calmly.
"So cold, Renz~ Don't you welcome me?" Alice replied with a teasing lilt. "I missed you a lot while I was in Denmark."
As she spoke, Alice threw a deliberately provocative glance at Erina.
Erina frowned slightly. Was Alice here to pick a fight? The way she spoke was certainly annoying. Clearly, Alice was venting her frustration over being abandoned in that café for over an hour. Erina, with her strong sense of possession, should have been infuriated by those remarks.
She wasn't?
Alice raised an eyebrow in surprise. But from the corner of her eye, she spotted Erina's faintly furrowed brow.
So, she was affected.
Good.
Time to escalate.
"Rina is so cute! I really want to be Rina's mom," Alice cooed, half-squatting down. "Look, Rina, Auntie brought you a present!"
"Oh—and Haruki, there's something for you too!"
Is there no law anymore?! She's ignoring me completely!
Playing with my daughter and son like that?!
Erina's mind snapped into high alert, scanning for weaknesses in Alice's defense. Then, she smirked coldly and struck where it hurt.
"Is there really someone who still doesn't have a boyfriend?"
Yes. Alice Nakiri was still very much single. Meanwhile, Erina already had children. That jab had to sting.
Renz stood there, dumbfounded. Women really were terrifying creatures. They could find a person's weakness, strike without mercy, and flip shame into pride—turning it into a strategic weapon. Truly, drama didn't require three women. Two were more than enough to put on a whole performance. Their passive-aggressive duel was like a silent swordfight, flashing blades behind every word.
But Renz knew one thing: in this fight, Erina was his partner.
His teammate.
Whose side to choose? Obvious.
"Wife, why don't you find something for Alice to eat?" Renz said. "She's traveled so far—she probably hasn't had dinner."
"She's been in that café for a while too. Must be starving, right?"
A perfect harmony. A duet in motion.
Erina immediately felt the presence of an ally.
"Oh, my dear," she replied sweetly, "I'm afraid my cooking won't suit her taste. Alice is used to Western cuisine, after all."
She smiled faintly.
"Please forgive our poor hospitality. I think there are still some ingredients left in the kitchen. Alice, I'm sure you can whip up something for yourself, right?"
It was the first time Erina had used such an intimate term in public—"my dear." And that tone—soft, yet sharp—cut right through Alice's defenses.
A husband-and-wife combo attack! Their synergy was terrifying. Hidden meanings laced every word: first, a subtle nod to their recent family dinner; next, a quiet assertion of Erina's authority as lady of the house. Their mutual rhythm and interaction declared a shared stance.
This damn lovebirds. What's wrong with annoying Erina a little?
"I'm not hungry," Alice said, internally disheartened by the dual assault but choosing to smile anyway. "I'll just take the same room as last time."
"Hmm, but tonight I want to sleep with Rina," Erina said sweetly. "Rina, tell Auntie—don't you want to sleep with Mommy tonight?"
If she couldn't beat the couple head-on, she'd steal their children instead. She'd hug Rina all night. Smother her with her scent. Let her reek of Alice Nakiri.
Rina's small face wavered with hesitation.
Alice's expression subtly shifted.
"Auntie only comes once a year—and I brought Rina a present," she pleaded gently.
"Won't you grant Auntie's selfish little request?"
---
Will Alice Nakiri succeed in charming little Rina and driving a wedge between the "perfect" couple?
And how will Renz and Erina tackle this emotional invasion into their carefully crafted family illusion?
Stay tuned.
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