They were all playing UNO on the balcony, sitting around a square table. However, Mark was bothered by the thought of the honeymoon and couldn't focus on the game. He checked the time on his watch.
"I think it's late. We should go."
Caden suggested, "Why don't you guys stay here tonight?"
He looked at Lilly. She smiled and then glanced at Mark, hoping he would refuse.
Sara and Mark answered at the same time.
"Yes!" Sara said excitedly.
"No, I have work," Mark replied.
The three of them awkwardly looked at each other.
Caden looked at Lilly, silently asking what they should do. Lilly felt sorry for him.
Mark watched Lilly and Caden exchange a silent look, while Sara lowered her eyes to the table, unsure of what to do next.
"It's fine if you have work," Lilly said.
"We'll stay," Mark interrupted.
"Okay!" Caden replied happily.
He led them to a guest room.
"I'll get some clothes for you guys," Caden said before leaving.
The room fell silent.
Lilly glanced at Mark and quickly looked away.
"I'll go help Caden."
Without waiting for a response, she left.
Mark stood there for a second before walking into the bathroom.
Leaning against the sink, he closed his eyes.
Sharing a room with Sara suddenly felt more difficult than he had expected.
When he came out, he saw Caden talking to Sara. She was smiling brightly.
"You're so romantic," Sara said.
Caden noticed Mark standing at the door.
"You guys can rest now. Good night."
With that, he left and returned to his room.
Lilly was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed.
Caden sat down beside her.
"Did you like the surprise?"
"What surprise?"
"Inviting Sara."
Lilly looked at him and smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"They're joining us on the honeymoon too."
A small smile appeared on Lilly's face.
"I'm happy Sara will be there."
Seeing her smile, Caden felt relieved. He leaned closer and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
Lilly froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden affection.
When he pulled away, he simply smiled before lying down beside her.
Back in the guest room, Sara lay on the bed, watching Mark. He was sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone.
"Don't you want to sleep?" she asked.
"I have some work."
"Okay."
After waiting for him for some time, Sara eventually fell asleep. Mark glanced at her sleeping figure before quietly leaving the room and heading to the terrace, unable to quiet his thoughts.
To his surprise, Lilly was sitting alone on a bench.
"Why are you here at this time?" she asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"This is my house. I can go wherever I want."
"Yes, and I'm just your old lover."
Lilly looked at him in panic.
"Why do you have to talk like that?"
Mark sat on the bench, leaving enough space between them for two people to sit.
"I'm avoiding your sister."
"Why?"
"Are you okay with me sleeping beside her?"
"I'm married."
"I told you I would marry your sister. Then why did you marry Caden in such a hurry?"
"Because I wanted to cut all ties between us."
Mark smiled painfully.
"You're seriously the best sister."
"She's nicer than me. You'll like her."
"Like her?" he repeated sarcastically.
Suddenly, Sara woke up because of a power outage. Realizing Mark wasn't in the room, she went outside.
There she saw Caden.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't know. I'm going to check."
"I'll come help."
Meanwhile, Mark stared at Lilly. In the darkness, she looked beautiful.
Lilly sensed his gaze.
"I think we should go back."
She stood up nervously.
Mark grabbed her hand.
"Can't we even talk now?"
"Your wife and my husband are waiting for us."
"Do you ever think about how difficult it is for me to see you with someone else?"
Pain flashed across Lilly's face, but she quickly hid it.
"Let's go back."
She turned toward the stairs before he could say anything else.
Mark watched her for a second before quietly following her downstairs.
The house was dark, so they walked carefully.
They found Sara and Caden standing near the electrical panel.
"What are you doing?" Lilly asked.
"Nothing. We're trying to fix the electricity."
Sara was holding a flashlight, but she wasn't tall enough to shine it properly.
Mark took the flashlight from her.
"I'll do it."
Caden sighed.
"I'm calling an electrician. I don't think this will work."
"Let me take a look," Mark said.
Caden held the flashlight while Mark examined the panel.
"I'm hungry," Sara suddenly announced.
"There's a lot of ice cream in the refrigerator," Caden said.
"Seriously? Okay!" Sara replied excitedly.
"Wait. It's dark inside. Hold this flashlight for Mark. Lilly and I will bring some for you."
Sara held the flashlight, but her attention was fixed on Mark's face.
He noticed but ignored it.
"Where were you earlier?" Sara asked.
Mark didn't look at her.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
"If you have something on your mind, you can say it."
He just wanted to make sure she wasn't thinking about him and Lilly.
"I was just wondering if you're okay. It was dark inside."
"I'm fine."
A few minutes later, Caden and Lilly returned carrying bowls of ice cream.
As Caden and Lilly returned with the ice cream, Mark's attention drifted toward them.
He noticed the fond look in Caden's eyes whenever he looked at Lilly.
The sight made something tighten in his chest.
Distracted, he pushed the electrical meter cover closed.
The lights flashed back on.
At the same moment, Sara let out a startled scream.
Mark's head snapped toward her.
Sara was staring at her hand, her face twisted with pain.
Only then did he notice her fingers trapped between the metal cover and the edge of the box.
His stomach sank.
He quickly opened the cover again and reached for her hand.
"Let me see."
Before he could apologize, Lilly stepped in and took Sara's hand from him, immediately checking her injured fingers.
"Are you okay?"
Her voice sounded angry.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
Lilly led Sara inside.
Caden patted Mark's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's go inside."
Lilly was applying ointment to Sara's fingers.
Both Mark and Caden could sense her anger, so they sat silently.
"I'm really sorry," Mark said.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
Lilly didn't even look at him.
After finishing, she released Sara's hand.
"It's fine now. You should rest. I'm tired too."
"Sleep with me tonight," Lilly said.
"Lilly, I'm fine."
Trying to ease the tension, Caden stood up.
"You two talk. We'll come back later."
He took Mark outside.
Caden brought him to a convenience store near his house that stayed open twenty-four hours.
He grabbed a few cans of beer.
"Drink this. You'll feel better."
Mark took the can.
"I..."
He didn't know what to say.
"It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I know you feel bad."
"I didn't hurt her intentionally."
"I know. And I think Sara knows that too," Caden replied. "She has a pure heart."
"I know. Everyone says that."
"Don't mind Lilly. She cares about Sara, which is why she reacted like that."
"I know. In her eyes, I must be the villain by now."
Caden laughed.
"What are you talking about? She's just protective. She'll be fine once she knows her sister is safe."
"Yeah."
Still, Mark worried Lilly would never talk to him or even look at him again.
Mark had expected Sara to be asleep by the time he returned, but to his surprise, she was still awake.
Guilt washed over him when he saw her.
After washing his hands, he sat beside her and gently took her injured hand.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"I'm really sorry."
Sara looked into his eyes.
"I'm fine. You don't have to worry."
"If you need anything, tell me."
"I know you're feeling guilty, but it's okay. You didn't do it intentionally."
Even though he didn't love her, Mark never wanted to hurt her.
Sensing that he was still upset, Sara smiled softly.
"You don't have to worry about Lilly. I told her you'd never hurt me. She's not angry with you."
Mark nodded but still avoided looking directly at her.
Suddenly, Sara leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
He froze in surprise.
She smiled.
"Good night. I'm going to sleep now."
She pulled the blanket over herself.
Mark went into the bathroom for a shower.
When he returned, he intended to sleep on the couch, but he noticed Sara watching him from under the blanket.
Reluctantly, he lay down beside her.
At four in the morning, Mark was still awake.
Sara's face was close to his.
Your sister is angry with me because of you, and here you are sleeping so peacefully, he thought.
In her sleep, Sara draped one leg over his stomach.
As he carefully moved it away, he noticed several burn marks on her leg.
Curious, he hesitated before gently pulling up the fabric of her pajama leg to get a better look.
Before he could see much, Sara shifted and turned back onto her side.
Forget it, he thought.
His gaze drifted to her lips.
Then he touched the spot on his cheek where she had kissed him.
You are seriously stupid, he thought.