~Alton's pov~

"Guys, lemon or orange soda ?" I asked, holding up two cans of soda for my friends to choose from.

"Lemon," Marcus said quickly, reaching out to grab the can from my hand. "Definitely Lemon,"

"Who the hell drinks lemon? Orange soda is clearly the superior choice," Carmi declared as she rolled her eyes at Marcus.

"Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one," I replied with a laugh as I handed Carmi the orange soda.

"It's all good, as long as we have something to drink while we play video games," Marcus added with a grin.

 As we settled in for our gaming session, the friendly debate over soda preferences faded into the background, replaced by the sounds of our controllers clicking and the cheers and groans of victory and defeat. 

Suddenly, a shrill chime pierced through the air, shattering the intense concentration of our game. 

We all looked at each other, wondering who could be at the door right now. 

I paused the game and got up to go answer it, hoping it wasn't someone trying to sell us something. 

As I peeped into the eye hole of the door, I saw Verena standing on the other side. Chills ran down my spine.

Fuck, what's she doing here in London? Fuck, fuck, fuck!!

"Alton? Who is it?" Carmi called from the living room, her curiosity evident in her voice.

I turned to face them both as I mouthed, " My sister-in-law."

They both exchanged horrified looks before Carmi gestured for me to open the door.

I shook my head silently as I mouthed, "I don't want to."

They both gestured for me to open the door , but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

 Verena was the last person I wanted to see, especially here in London, where I thought I could escape her presence. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to figure out what to do next.

I took a deep breath and slowly opened the door , knowing that there was no way to avoid the inevitable confrontation. 

As the door swung open, Verena's startled face met mine, and I could see the same mixture of surprise and discomfort reflected in her eyes. 

Despite my initial reluctance, I knew that I couldn't ignore her presence any longer. It was time to face whatever awkward conversation or confrontation awaited us.

"Alton." She said, her voice tight with tension as she narrowed her eyes at me. I squared my shoulders and met her gaze, ready to finally address the elephant in the room.

"Um Hi? Do I know you?" I asked , keeping up my act of not remembering her.

"I'm Verena Kaiser; nice to meet you ." Her voice was cool and controlled, but I could detect the underlying tension in her words.

"Hi, um Verena Nice to meet you too, but may I ask how you know my name before I officially introduce myself to you?" I inquired, trying to keep the conversation light despite the obvious tension between us.

Verena's eyes narrowed even further as she responded, " I'm...well...Valeria's older sister . I've heard a lot about you from her."

"Oh! That's nice; well, I didn't know that Valeria had a sister-"

She suddenly cut me off.

"Sisters. She has 4."

"That's interesting," I replied with a forced smile. "Well, it's nice to meet you, all of Valeria's sisters, even though they're not here. I hope she's spoken positively about me," I added, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.

"Can I come in?" She asked me all of a sudden.

"Of course," I said, stepping aside to let Verena into the house.

As she passed by me, she asked again with a flick of her long black hair, "So, what is it that you do for a living?"

My heart raced at her directness, but I managed to reply smoothly, "I'm a math teacher. Hasn't Valeria told you? She is my co-worker at the school where we both teach."

Verena arched an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her features at this unexpected revelation. 

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I led her into the living room, wondering what Valeria had actually told her sister about me.

Marcus and Carmi were still sitting on the couch, engrossed in conversation, before I introduced Verena to them, noticing the way her eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail. 

As we all settled in, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her curiosity about my profession than just making conversation.

"What's your name?" She asked Carmi , her tone polite but with a hint of suspicion.

 Carmi, caught off guard by the abrupt question, hesitated for a moment before responding with a smile, "I'm Carmi; nice to meet you."

Verena nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was digging for more information than just names.

"So, Carmi ," Verena began, her voice calm but insistent, asking, "What exactly do you teach at the school?"

Carmi hesitated for a moment before responding, choosing her words carefully. "I teach biology," she finally said, a slight smile playing on her lips.

 Verena's eyes lit up with interest, and I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking.

"Oh, that's nice, and may I ask how you are related to Mr. Alton here?" Verena pointed at me, indicating that her curiosity was not just about casual conversation. 

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, wondering what she wanted to know.

"Ms. Kaiser, I still don't know the reason why you're here. Did Valeria send you here for a specific purpose?" I asked cautiously, trying to gauge her intentions.

Verena's smile wavered for a moment, a hint of uncertainty clouding her expression, before she composed herself to reply.

"She did not send me here. I came on my own accord, out of concern for Valeria's well-being. As an older sister, I just wanted to know how my sweet little sister is at work, and who better to ask than her coworker," Verena replied with an unnerving smile. 

"I'm sure you understand the need to look out for family, don't you, Mr. Alton?"

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the intensity of her gaze. 

Despite her friendly tone, there was something unsettling about the way she looked at me with that smile.

"Of course, Ms. Kaiser , family is everything," I replied cautiously, trying to match her smile. "But I also believe in respecting boundaries and privacy."

Verena's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure.

"Oh, of course, Mr. Alton," she said smoothly. "I completely understand. Just show me the door when I make you feel uncomfortable ."

Verena's words sent a chill down my spine, solidifying my suspicions that she was not to be trusted. I knew I needed to keep my guard up and end the conversation as soon as possible.

As I shifted in my seat, trying to maintain a sense of control, Verena crossed one leg on top of the other, a subtle power move that did not go unnoticed.

 Despite her polite demeanor, there was an underlying sense of manipulation in her words that made me uneasy.

"So, anyway, before we continue, can you please answer my previous question, Ms. Carmi? If you don't mind, that is ," Verena asked with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Oh, I'm Alton's friend, and this is my husband Marcus. He teaches chemistry at our school," Carmi pointed at Marcus beside her, introducing him with a proud smile. 

Marcus nodded politely, his gaze fixed on Verena with a hint of caution as he assessed her carefully. 

There was something about Verena's demeanor that set off alarm bells in his mind. So I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed Verena's strange behavior.

Verena's smile widened as she flicked her hair back, a mischievous glint in her eye, and the faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you both," she said smoothly, her voice laced with confidence.

And then, unexpectedly, she turned her gaze to me. My heart skipped a beat as her piercing eyes locked onto mine, searching for something unknown.

 I quickly glanced away, feeling a mix of panic and fear at what her next move might be.

"Now back to you, Alton. How is my sister at work?" She asked with a soft smile.

"Oh, Verena is quite the go-getter at the office," I replied with a smile. "She's always focused, determined, and efficient. Everyone respects her for her hard work and dedication."

"What about her appearance? Does she look sad?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should reveal my true thoughts. But then I saw it—a slight downward turn of her lips, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"She looks... tired," I finally uttered, carefully choosing my words. "But she's managing well."

"Managing well?" she repeated, looking at me with concern.

"Yeah, for a new teacher like her, she's handling everything amazingly," I replied, trying to reassure her.

"What about you, Alton? Do you feel alright ?" She asked with a tilt of her head, almost like a fox assessing its prey.

 I could sense she was trying to read between the lines of my words, searching for any hint of hidden meaning.

 I fidgeted in my seat, the weight of her scrutinizing gaze bearing down on me, exposing the raw nerves I sought to keep hidden.

"I'm doing good . Just trying to keep up with all the lesson planning and grading," I responded, brushing off her suspicion with a forced smile.

"Are you sure, Alton? Are you sure you're not forgetting something or someone ?" She pressed further, her eyes narrowing as if she already knew the answer. 

I hesitated, a lump of unspoken truth lodging itself in my throat, choking back the words I dared not speak.

"I'm sure," I mumbled. But deep down, I knew I was lying. There was someone I had been neglecting, someone who meant everything to me.

"100%?"

"100%"

She leaned back on the couch and folded her arms, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

 I knew she could see right through me; she could see the guilt and longing in my eyes. I had neglected my wife, the woman who had always stood by my side.

"Ok then. Thank you for entertaining an unwelcome guest like me, and thank you for answering all my questions," she continued softly. 

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of my lies and betrayals heavy on my shoulders. 

As she stood to leave, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for the promises I had broken and the love I had taken for granted.

"And Mr. Alton, please treat my sister kindly. She has taken a certain liking to you, and I would hate to see her heartbroken." With those parting words, I watched as she walked out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the overwhelming guilt that consumed me.

Verena most definitely suspected me; I could see it in the way she looked at me, her eyes holding a mixture of disappointment and sadness, and whatever she told me right now wasn't a request. 

It was a warning.