"Do you believe her?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I feel like the apology was more for your father than anyone else in that room." Kali sighed, shuffling to get comfortable as she adjusted her body beneath his jacket. "Giovanna loves and respects him. She probably sees him as an innocent party in the game she is trying to uncover."

"I just hope she doesn't get any ideas and tries something else later."

"She might. I am willing to bet she will watch me like a hawk from now on. Probably waiting for a slip that proves she was right all along."

"Unless my mother says something, she will never find the proof. We didn't sign any contracts she can accidentally stumble upon if she wanted to snoop around."

"She wouldn't have to snoop for papers. Your mother has a nasty habit of pulling me aside whenever she wants to discuss our little arrangement. I wouldn't be surprised if Giovanna starts hanging behind doors with her ears pressed to the wood."

Samuel chuckled. "I can see that happening. I only hope she keeps it to herself this time. You might be right about my grandfather. If he gets a whiff of what Giovanna is cooking, he will be the one person to lend her the ear she wants."

Kali touched his arm, and he spared her a glance. "Are you sure we don't want this?"

"Want what?"

"For more people to ask questions. I know you are considering your mother's reaction, but if everyone turns against her?"

"She still has herself. My mother has her ways, and even with the world against her, she would find a way to come out on top."

"Resourceful." Kali sighed. "She is resourceful. Is it wrong to say I don't know what your father sees in her?"

"In truth, neither do I. But, after years of watching them, I came to the conclusion that he loves her more than himself. I think the only people he loves even more are us."

Kali didn't say anything. She stared at the dashboard absently. Samuel knew how much the party had stressed her. He didn't forget their conversation in the bathroom, but he didn't want to make her relieve any emotion she wasn't ready to address. A lot happened in such a short period of time, first his grandfather, Kali's mini-breakdown, and then Giovanna's half-baked apology.

Samuel was sad for Kali. If tonight proved anything, it was how much she needed to keep up appearances. No one came and asked him to defend his relationship with her. No one accused him of being a bad influence and leaving one woman to marry another in such a short time. All the blame and judgment fell at her feet, like hail crashing during the storms. Between the both of them, she carried the most weight.

"Your family can be beautiful," Kali whispered. She hadn't turned to him. Her eyes remained on an unknown object on the windshield. "At the dinner, I thought, if I took your mother out of the picture, forgot Giovanna's attitude, and your grandfather's cruel words, you looked beautiful."

There was a lot wrong with his family than that, but he got her point. "Sometimes it's easy to fight and forget why we love each other. When we take a break from the fighting, my heart forgets, and I enjoy myself too."

"It was physically uncomfortable to watch all of you today. The laughing, the teasing and the playful banter. I thought I was going to throw up at some point."

"Was it that bad for you? You can't possibly enjoy watching us fight all the time."

"I don't watch you fight. What usually happens is I get verbally attacked, and I defend myself. This time, no one tried to get one over on me. Everyone was...happy." Her breath shivered out, and she looked at her fingers.

"I am sorry."

"You have nothing to apologise for."

"I do, especially when it comes to Giovanna. I have never defended you."

There were times when Giovanna stepped out of line, but instead of putting her in her place, he cajoled Kali to keep her cool. Giovanna had antagonised her from the start, and he did very little to stop his sister's callous behaviour. In a way, he was to blame for the argument that finally occurred days ago.

"I am sorry." He repeated.

Kali shook her head. "I have never blamed you, so you have nothing to apologise for."

Samuel smiled. "Would you like to eat when we get back? You barely had anything at the mansion."

"My stomach is in knots. I wouldn't be able to keep anything down."

"Are you sure?"

She didn't reply. When he looked at her, he noticed her lower lip tremble. She stared hard at the windshield, her fingers twisting into his jacket.

"I don't know what I would give to have my mother scold me again." A solitary tear slipped down her cheeks. Samuel frowned, understanding her mind was wandering again. "To argue with her on silly things and beg for forgiveness later. I don't know what I would give to see my father sit across the table from me. To hear him shout as he tried to separate June and me when we would clash."

"You were a stubborn child?"

"Sometimes." She humphed. "Oh, but I grew up. Now I don't remember what it means to sit with a family, to be scolded or disciplined. My aunt and sister lived without me for so long, but I didn't realise I also lived without them."

"It is of little comfort, but you still have your memories. You knew the love of both a father and a mother. They raised you well, as best they could. They loved you. That counts for something."

"It counts for a lot." She smiled. "Growing up, I loved to eat, especially when I felt down or stressed out. I remember my dad cooking something to cheer me up when I felt bad. I miss having them around. Having the memories means remembering that I can't have those things anymore. I look at my life now, and it's so empty."

"But your sister would be back." He reminded her as a way to provide comfort. "She would be with you, and you wouldn't be so alone."

"Yes, I would." She sat straight in the chair. "I wouldn't be able to enjoy my moments with her because a part of my mind will always remind me that I am lying."

Samuel knew Kali was against telling the truth to her younger sister. He couldn't blame her because none of them knew how she would react. It was the same reason Samuel never said a word to Ember. She was his best friend, and he had trusted her with numerous secrets before, but this was something else. Something she wouldn't be able to sweep under their bond of secrecy.

"We have to find joy in the little things. After the dinner we hosted, my father hugged me. He told me how proud he was of the woman I found for myself. I felt sick. That's why I got angry at you after they left. In truth, I knew you were trying to provoke my mother during the dinner, and a part of me was enjoying it. A deep, dark part of me."

"Then you talked to your father."

"And I realised I was lying to a man who meant the world to me. I was disappointed with myself on his behalf. Still, I take joy in his happiness, even though I know it's for a lie."

"When I went to test the dress, you should have seen how happy June was. She didn't support the rushed wedding but was excited to see her big sister in a wedding dress. Your mother paid for her flight and used her presence to make me behave. I didn't want to see her hurt, so I smiled when I walked down the aisle and kissed you without hesitation."

"Quite the pair, aren't we."

"A pair of liars." She added.

The predicament was a sad one. It was tiring to fake happiness, day after day, which was why he wanted to change his life. Kali wasn't difficult to get along with when he wasn't finding ways to blame her for their situation. Of course, she was pigheaded, driven, wickedly ambitious, and provoking, but she was also kind-hearted and funny.

His mother would never suspect anything. Any tenderness he showed to Kali, she would perceive as part of their act. If she ever confronted him, he would stand by the lie that he was doing what she wished. He was proving to everyone that their marriage was sincere. Behind the scenes, they would have each other's back, support and help one another.

If he was honest, Kali was all he had. She was the only person in the world he could discuss his pain with and who would understand him. She was going through the same. Instead of suffering apart, they could try to be happy.

"Listen, we are in this together." He assured her, wiping her damp cheeks with the back of his hand. "If ever there is something you need to get off your chest, I am here for you. You can cry on my shoulder whenever you like."

"You mean that?"

"Of course I do. You are my best friend."

She raised a brow in question, then laughed when she realised the joke. Samuel chuckled, pinching her shoulder and ears to irk her further. Playfully, she tried to swat his hands away, slapping them gently.

"Are you five?" She chortled. "Stop. Stop it."

"There we go. Are you feeling better?"

"Strangely, yes, but I'll give credit to the tiredness I am feeling right now. To exhausted to process stressful emotions." As if to give proof, she yawned long and loud. "Sorry. My brain is shutting down right now."

Samuel looked at the time on the monitor. "We are still an hour away, but you can get some sleep. I'll wake you when we arrive."

"Okay." She accepted without protest.

Kali kicked off her heels and snuggled into the chair, folding herself into a ball. She was sound asleep when they got to the house. She didn't respond when he called her, and a slight shake of her shoulders only produced a sigh. Laughing, Samuel shut the car off and got down. He signalled the guard to come in and help him with the door while he tried to get Kali out.

Samuel opened the door, leaning over a drowsy Kali to unbuckle her seatbelt. He peeled his jacket off her and put it on before reaching in to pick her up.

"Hmm."

"Shh."

He lifted her into his arms, standing still to make sure the movement didn't jolt her awake. With the help of the guard, he got her upstairs to their bedroom and laid her down on the mattress. Diligently, he stripped off her shoes and jewellery before covering her with the blanket. He placed her ring in the box where she always put it and put the shoes and jewellery in their rightful places.

As the exhaustion worked its way into his muscles and brain, he stripped out of his clothes to prepare for bed. He washed his face and changed into his pyjamas. Before the lights went out, Samuel checked on Kali again, then climbed into his side of the bed. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.