I didn't answer. I stood on the stairs, my grip tightening on the railing as I quietly observed the scene before me. Chris, his parents and Hailey looked like a close-knit family, while I felt like an outsider in my own home. The resentment bubbled up inside me, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of an outburst.
"Yasmine won't be really angry, right?" Hailey asked, her tone a mix of innocence and provocation. She looked at me with those calculating eyes, fully aware of the chaos she was stirring.
I took a deep breath, holding her gaze for a long moment. The silence was thick with unspoken tension. Finally, I allowed a sneer to curl my lips. "Just eat, okay," I replied, my voice dripping with cold amusement.
I forced a smile as I descended the stairs, determined to keep my composure. Every step felt like a deliberate act of defiance. I was resolved to maintain control, no matter what tricks Hailey had up her sleeve. If they thought they could undermine me in my own home, they were sorely mistaken. I was ready for whatever games this so-called sensible woman planned to play.