Chapter 100
This was the most difficult meal I've ever had to get through.
Even worse than the time Jessa poisoned my food.
After dinner, Cleo was still showing off all the stuff she bought, asking Faye if it looked good.
Faye couldn't bear to watch. She tried to speak up several times, but my looks stopped her.
Out of sight, out of mind - we both decided to head back to our rooms.
I figured once it was bedtime, Jessa would naturally leave.
"Cleo, it's getting late. I should go. Let's hang out again tomorrow. I've found some amazing stores recently - we can check them out tomorrow."
I stopped in my tracks. Faye stopped too.
"Why leave? Just stay the night. It'll be more convenient to go out tomorrow anyway."
Cleo was asking her to stay here?
I turned around and looked at them.
Jessa glanced at me, then smiled at Cleo. "I should go home. It seems like I'm not really welcome here."
"Who says you're not welcome? My brother's place is huge; there are plenty of guest rooms. It's not like it affects her. Listen to me - stay."
Cleo didn't care about me at all. She was treating this place like it was hers.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Jessa glanced at me again.
"Stop being so wishy-washy. If I say you can stay, you can stay." Cleo's commanding tone made me very uncomfortable.
Faye nudged my arm. "Blair, Cleo has completely changed. She was spoiled when we were kids, but she was never this bossy."
"Would it even work if you kicked her out now?"
I really didn't want Jessa staying here. It was basically like someone taking a dump on my head.
"Blair, if I kick her out now, I think she'll just yell at me." Faye didn't want to upset Cleo either.
"I think so too."
I slowly walked down the stairs and forced a smile. "I won't see you out. Our house is small - we can't accommodate you."
I was being very direct. I just wasn't going to let her stay overnight in my house.
"Why are you being so petty? She can just stay in the guest room next to mine." Cleo glared at me and continued packing up her things.
"She's not my guest, so she can't stay in my guest room."
I wasn't going to give them any face. Letting her stay for dinner had already pushed my limits. If Celestia hadn't told me to eat first, I would have lost it right then.
"Blair, what's your attitude? She's my friend."
"Then please take your friend and leave."
Cleo's expression changed instantly. "Are you kicking me out?"
"That wasn't my intention, but if you're going to let her stay, I definitely won't agree to it. So you can both leave together."
No normal person could stand having their husband's ex staying overnight, especially after all the unpleasant things that happened between us.
I wasn't going to keep someone with evil intentions in my house.
"Cleo, don't fight. I'll just leave." Jessa was playing the good guy again.
Cleo grabbed her arm. "You're not going anywhere today. You're staying right here. Let's see what she can do about it!"
Faye walked behind me. "Blair, maybe just ignore them. Pretend they're not there."
"I can't do that."
I couldn't just act like nothing was happening. Just thinking about Jessa being in my house made me uneasy. I wouldn't be able to sleep.
"Jessa, if you don't want to go home, why don't I book you a hotel nearby? That way it'll be convenient for your shopping tomorrow too."
Faye came up with this idea, which made Jessa lose face.
"No need to trouble yourself. It's easy for me to drive home."
Jessa smiled at Cleo. "Cleo, let's not make this difficult. I'll head back, and we can meet up tomorrow."
"No way!"
Cleo was deliberately opposing me. I could see it now - she was purposely trying to make my life miserable.
"She doesn't get to decide in this house."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Then who does?"
"My brother."
Cleo picked up her phone and called Levi. I had a feeling she was going to complain about me first.
"Hey, your wife is trying to kick me out. What are you going to do about it?"
Just as I expected, as soon as the call connected, she accused me.
I said if she wanted to let Jessa stay, then they should both leave. I never said I wanted to kick her out.
"I don't know what kind of person you married. I'm your real sister, and this is how she treats me. Plus, I just got divorced - where am I supposed to go? You're partly responsible for my divorce, too."
Cleo was using the same old lines. What did her divorce have to do with Levi? If anything, it started with clearing Jessa's name, and while investigating that, they found out who Michael was really cheating with.
And now look - she and Jessa were hanging out together again. Had she already forgotten how they were at each other's throats?
"You talk to her!"
Cleo walked over and shoved the phone into my hand, then went back to the sofa, humming a tune while organizing her stuff.
"Hello."
I heard my own voice trembling, suppressing my anger.
"Is what my sister said true?"
"What do you think?"
I knew Levi would turn it back on me. His first reaction definitely wouldn't be to believe me.
"She just got divorced. Try to be understanding."
Levi was asking me to be understanding of her. But who was going to understand me?
"She brought Jessa here and wants her to stay overnight."
I told Levi everything. I needed him to know this had crossed my line.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. Then Cleo spoke up again.
"You're tattling to my brother? Will he even believe you? He'll definitely take my side."
I was about to hang up when he spoke again.
"Think of it this way - if someone's talking to her, she won't bother you."
What kind of logic was that? Sure, Jessa's presence would give Cleo someone to talk to, but they'd both be annoying me together.
One of them was already driving me crazy, and now there was another one added to the mix.
"I'll be home soon. When I get back, I'll find them a new place."
"I'm not saying she can't stay, I..."
I just didn't want Jessa here. Why didn't Levi understand? Didn't he think it was inappropriate for Jessa to stay in my house?
"Maybe she'll leave tomorrow..."
I hung up on Levi. I didn't want to hear him talk. Maybe she'll leave tomorrow - why should I give someone else control?
Couldn't I even have a say in my own home?
I tossed the phone on the table and headed straight for the bedroom. Nothing I said or did seemed to matter. If they liked being here so much, then I'd leave.
I closed the bedroom door and walked to the window. As I was about to pull the curtains, I saw Cleo and Jessa arm in arm, laughing and chatting.
I was about to lose my mind. I quickly yanked the curtains shut and collapsed onto the bed.
"Always like this, always like this, always like this..."
I pounded Levi's pillow in frustration. He always believed other people. Why couldn't he just be on my side?
Why did I always have to compromise...