Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

I stepped into the Bradlee family's grand foyer, where Olivia, with her apron tied neatly around her waist, emerged from the kitchen like the perfect homemaker, waving at me with a bright smile, "Allie, I've been looking forward to your visit. I'm just thrilled you could make it."

She then turned to Hannah, "And this must be..."

Without missing a beat, I introduced her, "My sister, Hannah."

"Miss Hannah, a pleasure. Welcome to our home. Allie and I are thick as thieves."

Hannah, ever the mischief-maker, chimed in, "Mrs. Bradlee, we've actually met before."

Olivia gave her another glance and chuckled, "Seems familiar indeed. My memory is like a sieve sometimes."

Then she turned back to me, "Allie, why have you brought so many gifts? This is too kind of you!"

"Well," I replied, "Sammy is a little boy, and I wasn't certain what he'd like, so I decided to bring a variety."

My eyes briefly rested on Sammy sprawled on the couch.

"Sammy, say thank you to Lady Wilburn." Olivia doted on Sammy, beckoning him with a wave of her hand.

"Thanks, Lady Wilburn." Sammy stretched out the words before snidely muttering under his breath, "So many ladies."

Just then, Nettie emerged from the washroom, and Olivia gave her a quick once-over before gasping in mock horror, "Nettie, what happened to you? How did you get..."

Nettie just laughed it off and patted her face, covering a small bloodstain on her blouse, "It's nothing, just a scratch."

Olivia's concern felt like a bit of an act as she rushed over to Nettie, looking her up and down with exaggerated worry. Yet, it was somehow more comforting than Irving's indifference.

"Is this blood? How could you say it's nothing? Did Sammy do this? Sammy, what have you done? Didn't you see you've hurt Nettie? Apologize right now."

Her face full of concern, she gently held Nettie's face to inspect the damage, "You are going too far, Sammy."

Irving interrupted with impatience, "It was an accident. Why make such a fuss when we have guests? Go upstairs, change your clothes, and come back down."

With a dismissive wave towards Nettie, Irving's annoyance was clear.

Nettie quickly assured Olivia with a smile, "I'm really fine. It was an accident, no hard feelings. I'll go change."

After sharing a glance with me, she turned and ascended the staircase.

Watching her slender figure retreat, I felt a pang of unease.

Olivia's gaze lingered on Nettie until she vanished upstairs, and then she turned to me with an apologetic smile, "Allie, sorry for the drama. Sammy is spoiled by Irving. Thankfully, Nettie is sensible, and never holds a grudge against him."

She affectionately tugged at my arm, "Take a seat, Allie. When it comes to children, daughters are just easier, so endearing and less trouble. Nettie, to be honest, is such a breeze compared to Sammy." Irving, though, wasn't pleased, "Son is important. What do you know? How dare you say he's not up to scratch."

Olivia wrapped her arm through mine, "Listen to him, always Sammy. He's got it bad." Irving shot a glance at Sammy, "Enough about my golden boy Sammy. Is dinner ready?" Olivia quickly replied, "It's been ready. We'll eat as soon as Nettie comes back down." Olivia was like the doting mother, and Irving was like the dispassionate stepfather.

I mused with a sly smile. Irving certainly did raise quite a "good" son.

My gaze was drawn to Sammy, lounging on the couch, playing with his darts. In one hand, he held a dartboard, in the other a dart, jabbing it upwards in a way.

He was really uneducated.

Education started in the cradle, and surely even Irving understood that basic principle.

We exchanged a few more words until the sound of footsteps descended the stairs, prompting me to look up instinctively.

No one expected Sammy, sprawled on the couch, to suddenly sit up and, in front of everyone, forcefully launch the dart in his hand at Nettie, who had just come downstairs. "Stop..." I cried out instinctively, as the dart sped towards Nettie's face.

But in the blink of an eye, Hannah moved swiftly, raising her hand to catch the dart mere inches from Nettie's face.

As we were about to breathe a sigh of relief, Hannah, without hesitation, flung the dart back towards Sammy with such speed that I didn't have time to react.

Both Olivia and Irving cried out in shock.