81. Clarissa

I stepped outside and the tension was palpable. Jalen, Cade, and Jaela were huddled together in a hushed conversation, their body language radiating unease. I approached them, my instincts telling me that something was off.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

Jalen shot me a fake smile. "Nothing," he lied, but I could tell he was hiding something.

Determined to get to the bottom of it, I decided to bide my time. I retreated to the kitchen where I spent hours working on my laptop, replying to emails, and updating my company's website. Exhausted, I reached for the orange juice and poured myself a glass.

Just as I took a sip, Jalen's mum stormed into the room, dressed in black, her face contorted with anger. "How dare you use my husband's cup?" she snapped at me, her voice echoing through the room.

I apologized, feeling my face flush with embarrassment, and quickly rinsed out the glass. "I'm sorry," I said, trying to make peace. "I've tried to mak