In the kitchen doorway, Janeth stood shaken, her fingers wringing the dish towel so tightly, as she stared at the succubus.
Across the living room, Rose laughed sweetly at things Alex's mother said, leaning her head against the older woman's shoulder with sunshiny warmth.
His mother beamed, patting Rose's cheek like she was the sweetest daughter-in-law in the world.
Rose's green eyes flicked toward the kitchen for a fraction of a second, catching Janeth's gaze, a tiny condescending tilt of her lips appeared for a split second before vanishing behind another innocent giggle.
Janeth's jaw tightened.
Rose walked into this house like a princess, wearing Alex's clothes while pouring on the sweet act, getting praised and pampered while Janeth had to fight her memories to just sleep.
An unacknowledged, burning resentment flared in Janeth's chest. Why did she get to sit beside him? Why was she getting treated like royalty after everything she'd done?
Turning sharply, Janeth's steps stiff as she retreated into the bathroom, pulling the door shut behind her.
Alex felt the sharp bitterness through their bond.
'Look after her.' Liza drawled in his head. 'She needs to feel seen as well.'
"I'm gonna wash my hands real quick." Alex told his mom smoothly.
Rose's playful eyes tracked him as he stood up, her playful smile faltering into a tiny, curious pout as he walked down the hall.
Luckily, the bathroom door was unlocked and Alex pushed it open quietly.
Janeth was leaning over the sink, staring at her reflection in the mirror with tense burning eyes.
The faucet was running cold, water splashing over the basin.
She didn't startle when he stepped inside.
"Your mother has no idea what she is..." Janeth said, her voice small, but unhesitatingly sharp. "She's sitting out there acting like a saint, and your mom is falling for every second of it."
Alex leaned against the doorframe, looking at her with a calm gaze. "Hiding in here isn't going to change anything."
Janeth turned sharply, her eyes dark with frustration. "Because watching her sit next to you, acting like she belongs here after what she did to me, is driving me crazy, and I can't even touch her."
Alex pushed himself off the doorframe, walking up beside her, reaching out and shutting the running tap off.
"She doesn't have the control you think she has. I do." Alex announced boldly, his expression remained flat, but with a hint of empathy towards the professor.
Stepping closer, his shadow falling over her as he looked down into her eyes. "You're doing your best, you even cooked dinner. But if you're letting her push you out of the house, that's on you."
Janeth stared at him, stiffening slightly.
"You can take whatever you want." Alex added, his voice soothing and turning he anger into calmness, leaving no room for argument.
Janeth's jaw set hard. The helpless anger in her face switched into something colder and sharper.
Looking at her beautiful face in the reflection in the mirror, she fixed her hair, smoothed her apron down, and straightened her shoulders.
"Yeah... I can't let that bitch take everything again." she said quietly.
Alex gave her a quiet grin. "Good."
The small dining table was set with steam rising from bowls of rice and chicken.
The mom and Rose sat on one side, while Alex and Janeth sat directly opposite them.
The cheeky succubus immediately took center stage, chatting brightly about campus life with wide innnocent eyes, despite it all being made up lies.
But thanks to her charm and outgoing personality, his mom ate it up, laughing and patting Rose's hand.
Rose leaned into the affection, all sweetness, but Alex felt her bare foot slide across the floor under the table, her toes brushing his ankle in a slow possessive stroke.
She was clearly not happy with him seating next to Janeth, and was trying to keep his attention on her.
Across from them, the professor sat quietly, not showing much emotions to the cheerful conversations, except a few faint smiles and nods
Watching Rose carefully, noticing the way she kept glancing at Alex after every sentence, looking for his reaction and affection.
A sudden sharp realization hit Janeth.
The succubus didn't care about Alex's mother love, nor cared about her presence, she was yearning for Alex only.
Everything she was doing, from the giggles to the physical touch and the charms was a desperate bid for his affection and approval.
She was totally desperate for him, dependent on his love and attention.
And at the moment, Rose had all of it.
"Janeth, honey, this is amazing!" Mom switched her attention briefly at Janeth, as she was eating silently the whole timee. "You really outdid yourself."
Janeth offered a polite smile. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."
She set her chopsticks down with a soft, distinct clink against the table.
Then, without a word of warning, Janeth leaned to her left and rested her head firmly on Alex's shoulder.
She didn't hesitate or looked shy, her cheek pressed right into his shirt, her body relaxing against his side as if she had done this a hundred times before.
With complete composure, she picked up her tea glass with her free hand, took a slow sip, and looked straight across the table into Rose's eyes.
The conversation at the table died instantly.
Mom blinked, her fork hovering halfway to her mouth. "Oh, my... Well, aren't you two cozy?"
Under the table, Rose's foot yanked back from Alex's ankle like she'd been burned.
Her chopsticks stopped dead in mid-air.
Her sweet angelic smile froze, cracking right at the edges as her green eyes locked onto Janeth, widening in pure shock.
Squeezing her chopsticks so hard the wood cracked slightly under the pressure.
But janeth didn't look away, but took another sip of her tea and smiled, her cheek warm against Alex's shoulder, her eyes completely calm.
"Yeah, he doesn't mind. Do you, Alex?" Janeth asked softly. She wasn't looking at Mom, she was gazing directly at Rose.
Alex felt the sudden wave of jealousy and shock radiating from the succubus, mixed with the bold claim Janeth was making at his side.
A quiet knowing smile touched the corner of his lips. He didn't pull away, nor did he push Rose down. Reaching up smoothly, he brushed a stray lock of hair away from Janeth's cheeks, his fingers lingering against her skin.
"Not at all. Plus, your cooking is amazing." Alex responded after a few seconds of silence.
Rose stifled a gasp, the sound dying in the quiet air, eyes fixed on her plate, she clenched her jaw behind a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
The mom giggled innocently at her son's claim, oblivious to the war happening across the table , waving her fork. "Well, look at that! You two are cute~ I had no idea you two were so close."
'Well, that took a turn! But I'm glad the professor found her way. Nothing beats a good territorial claim~' Liza hummed lazily in his head, chuckling softly. 'And I do love watching Rose lose it. She'll be fighting twice as hard for your dick now. Either way, you'd better enjoy the dinner table from now on~'
Alex kept eating his dinner, feeling Janeth warm against his left side and Rose fuming across from him.