Chapter 4 Linsey, You've Really Changed

Joanna let out a shrill scream, the shock of the slap leaving her momentarily frozen.

Clutching her burning cheek, she glared at Linsey, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Linsey, how dare you slap me?" she spat, her voice trembling with fury.

Linsey's lips twisted into a cold, mocking smile, her eyes as frigid as her words. "Why wouldn't I dare? You asked for it. You wanted to apologize, didn't you? But one slap hardly satisfies my anger. Maybe a second one will."

With that, she raised her hand again, her gaze never leaving Joanna's face.

Felix, still reeling from the shock, finally snapped to attention. With a furious shout, he lunged forward, shoving Linsey aside. "That's enough! Linsey, don't go too far!"

As he wrapped his arms protectively around Joanna, his voice softened with concern as he murmured to her, trying to calm her.

Linsey staggered back, regaining her balance with ease, her face indifferent.

She regarded them both with a detached, almost clinical gaze, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This is going too far? Joanna herself said she wanted to apologize. Felix, are you deaf? If she really meant to apologize, she should just keep quiet and let me vent. All I did was slap her. How is that going too far? What I've done to her is nothing compared to what you two have done to me."

Her gaze turned bitter as she continued, "You're both nothing but despicable cheats. And one day, when the truth comes out, who will believe a word you say?"

Felix stood frozen, stunned by the barrage of accusations. He opened his mouth, but not a single word of defense came to him.

He held Joanna close, his arm wrapped protectively around her as his eyes narrowed at Linsey with a growing frustration. After a long, tense silence, he finally spoke, his voice laced with irritation. "Even if Joanna wanted to apologize, you shouldn't have slapped her. An apology is just that-an apology. You don't solve things with violence. You're acting like a wild animal!"

Linsey tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a frosty smile. She flexed her wrist nonchalantly, the gesture sharp and deliberate. "I'll take that as a compliment," she replied coolly, her eyes locking onto his. "Since you think so highly of me, should I slap her a few more times to really live up to your glowing praise?"

Felix's mouth hung open, his shock evident as he stared at her, utterly unprepared for her mocking reply.

For a moment, he wondered if the woman standing before him was even the Linsey he once knew.

Joanna, equally stunned, watched Linsey in disbelief, her mind struggling to process the situation. She had taunted Linsey countless times before, but this-this was different. Linsey had never fought back like this. Was she finally losing control?

The tension in the room thickened, and then Joanna's thoughts shifted, her gut telling her something wasn't right.

Could Linsey be doing this on purpose to get Felix's attention?

She shot a quick, anxious glance at Felix, only to find him completely absorbed in Linsey, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that sent a pang of jealousy through Joanna.

She had made great efforts to take him from Linsey. There was no way she would let Linsey get him back.

Panic flooded Joanna's chest, and her grip tightened on Felix's arm, pulling him back to her. With calculated sweetness, she said, "Felix, don't say that. Linsey's probably just upset. I don't mind. As long as she can stop being angry with us, I'll be fine with anything."

Felix's heart swelled with sympathy for Joanna, and her words only deepened his sense of irritation toward Linsey.

"Linsey, you've really changed," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "The Linsey I knew would never act this way. If you insist on behaving like this-"

Linsey cut him off before he could finish, her voice sharp and biting. "Of course I've changed. I must have been out of my mind before, putting up with you. But not anymore. I've wised up. Only an idiot would keep humiliating themselves like I did. Felix, let me make this crystal clear-we're done. Completely done!"

Without another word, Linsey grabbed her suitcase and turned away, her face set in stone.

Felix stood frozen, the finality in her words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He had never seen her like this before.

As she walked out of the room, dragging her suitcase behind her, an overwhelming sense of panic gripped his chest, suffocating him with its intensity.

For reasons he couldn't quite understand, a heavy feeling of impending loss weighed on him, as though the most important part of his life was slipping through his fingers.

"Linsey!" he called out, his voice desperate, moving instinctively as if to chase after her.

Joanna's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected Felix to react this way. Without thinking, she placed a hand over her cheek, letting out a soft, melodramatic sob. "Felix, my face... it hurts so much. Do you think it's bleeding?"

Felix froze, his heart tightening at the sound of her distress. He reluctantly turned back to her.

Joanna's cheek was marked with faint red streaks, a handprint visible beneath her skin, and Felix's chest ached at the sight.

"Joanna, don't cry," he murmured, his voice full of concern. "I'll take you to the hospital. We'll get you some ointment-it's going to be fine."

Joanna sniffled loudly, her tears almost theatrical. She hesitated for a moment, before her voice softened, laced with feigned concern. "Felix, Linsey's really leaving... maybe you should go after her instead of worrying about me. I'll be fine."

Felix bit down on his lip, his expression torn. "Linsey's crossed a line this time. I won't indulge her anymore. Let her stew for a bit-she'll come crawling back. When she does, I'll make her apologize to you."

Joanna's heart swelled with satisfaction, and she leaned into Felix's embrace, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Felix, you're so good to me."

Her plan was working perfectly.

The smugness bubbled within her as she felt in control. Linsey was nothing but a fool, thinking she could win Felix back.

But as Felix held her, the warmth of her affection did nothing to settle the unease gnawing at him. A strange discomfort tugged at his chest.

Why did he feel so unsettled?

He pushed the unease down, attempting to smile at Joanna with forced patience. But no matter how hard he tried, his gaze kept drifting toward the direction Linsey had gone.

Linsey had nowhere to go. She would be back eventually. He was sure of it.