Chapter 3 Totally Disappointed

Charlee's gaze lingered on Liam and Stacey's display of affection, her tone biting as she sneered, "You do realize this is on you, right?"

Liam's eyes darkened with fury, cutting toward her like a blade.

"You've crossed a line, Charlee. Stacey is your sister. She almost died, and you still feel the need to antagonize her?"

"Sister?" Charlee's laugh was as icy as her stare. "You mean the one who seduced her sister's fiance?"

"You..." Liam's anger simmered as he steadied Stacey, leading her toward the Sullivan estate. As they neared Charlee, he turned sharply and barked, "Wait for me at the door."

He spoke with the authority of someone who expected to be obeyed, confident in her usual compliance.

But instead, Charlee strode past him without a second glance, her red dress flowing behind her.

With her sleek black heels clicking against the pavement and her crimson lips curved in disdain, she exuded an untamed elegance, like a predator that couldn't be tamed.

"This is my house," she said coolly, throwing the words over her shoulder. "You don't get to dictate what I do."

Liam froze, startled by her defiance, his eyes glued to her retreating figure.

Something about her felt different-unfamiliar.

"Liam..." Stacey's soft, delicate voice rang out beside him, pulling him back to reality.

His voice grew gentler. "That's just her way. Don't mind her. I'll handle it later and make sure she doesn't trouble you again. Let's get you back to rest."

Stacey's eyes welled up as she gripped his arm tightly, unwilling to let go.

"You said you'd stay with me, Liam," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Her plea struck a chord deep within him.

He replied softly, "Of course, I will. You did all that because you cared so much for me. I'll stay by your side until you're well again."

Meanwhile, Charlee went upstairs, took a long shower, and changed before coming back to see Liam and Stacey finally entering the house together.

Standing on the balcony, she nearly choked at the sight of them embracing, their affection on full display near the doorway.

"Had enough of that yet?" she asked dryly, lounging on the sleek leather sofa, her legs elegantly crossed, exuding the air of a prowling feline.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from above.

"What's your problem, Charlee? You're becoming impossible!"

Her father, Keith Sullivan's stern expression darkened as he descended the stairs, trailed by Hannah Sullivan, his former wife.

Hannah had settled in here, officially taking the title of Mrs. Sullivan in the eyes of others.

Though dressed to impress, her harsh and hostile demeanor was impossible to miss. To Charlee, it was clear as day that, like Stacey, she was utterly hypocritical.

Charlee didn't bother with an argument. Instead, she pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and projected footage from the security camera onto the massive living room TV.

The screen revealed Stacey and Liam locked in an intimate embrace, their lips pressed together with a level of closeness that left nothing to the imagination.

"Why would you do this, Charlee?" Stacey wailed, covering her face as though humiliated, then dashed upstairs, her sobs echoing through the halls.

Anyone unaware of the full story might think Charlee had wronged her instead of exposing her.

"Stacey, don't do anything reckless!" Hannah shouted, quickly following after her in a show of concern, making sure everyone remembered that Stacey was delicate and must not be upset.

As expected, Keith lost his temper and stormed over to yank the TV's plug from the wall.

"Charlee, are you determined to destroy this household?" Keith barked furiously.

"Perhaps you should be asking Stacey that question," Charlee retorted, her disappointment cutting through her cold tone. She fixed him with an unyielding stare-one filled with bitterness, entirely void of warmth.

Since losing her mother, she had come to understand just how fragile family bonds could be.

For sixteen years, her mother had sacrificed everything to stand by Keith's side. Yet within a week of her passing, he had welcomed Hannah and Stacey into their home.

How could he be so cruel?