The Wrong Woman

"Are you not interested in him?" Josie asked.

"We're not in the kind of relationship you're imagining," Candice explained.

Josie simply smiled and remained silent.

After entering the villa, she handed the basket of strawberries to the maid before settling on the couch with Candice. While Candice sat upright with formal poise, Josie lounged with ease as if she owned the place.

"My dad and Mr. Morrison have been close friends for years. I practically grew up here, running around as a kid," Josie said casually.

Candice looked puzzled. "With Uncle Nathan and Aunt Chubs so often away, how did you manage to visit?"

"Leo brought me here," Josie explained with a hint of pride. "He always tried to escape his parents' strict rules. He'd stay here for a few days whenever he felt suffocated at home."

She pointed at one of the rooms on the upper floor and added, "See that room up there? That's our secret hideout."

would immediately grasp the implication of a room being called

smile through her conflicting feelings of envy and discomfort. "So, you and Leo have been close since childhood," she commented, trying

then, Josie turned and noticed Elio was coming in. Seizing the moment, she said, "Isn't it similar to you and Mervyn? Your fathers were both comrades and colleagues. You practically

Candice nodded in agreement.

has feelings for you, too,"

mulled over Josie's words, puzzled. Why had Josie suddenly mentioned that? And why the word "too"? What

a moment before turning to ascend the stairs. All he wanted to do was to retreat to his room, shower, and change into

up the staircase, Candice turned to find him already returned. Just then, the maid arrived with a plate of freshly washed strawberries. She set

Josie urged, offering her a large strawberry. "They're

smile, Candice

remarked, "Feel free to

as she headed upstairs toward

in Candice's mouth turned inexplicably bitter. She lost her appetite and sank back into the

heart throbbed with pain, each wave more intense than the last. The agony grew unbearable as