20. Loneliness

"Laura, let go." Ned pushed Laura away roughly.

Seeing Ned, Kathy immediately pretended to be weak and fell into his arms.

"Look, she's trying to kill me. I just said her strawberry shortcake was a bit unpalatable and suggested we skip it, that I'd buy her a better one. She got so angry, wanting my life."

Laura watched Kathy lie with a straight face and couldn't help but applaud her.

"Can't you stop pretending? Is that really what happened?"

"Look, she's still misunderstanding me."

Ned held Kathy close, "Enough, Laura. How can you be so cruel?"

"I'm cruel? Can't you see her true colors? Can't you see she's pretending to be weak? She insulted my mother first!"

"Enough. What I saw was you trying to kill her. How could you become like this?"

"Huh, I've become like this? You're such a good judge."<