"Look who came! I can't believe you invited her, Chanty." Disgust was prettily mixed with Angelica's voice.

Cassandra wasn't expecting her, but she couldn't turn around and leave. That wouldn't do for her. Two meetings and she was getting used to Angelica's glare and stupid remarks to care anyway. "Hello, I wasn't expecting you here, Angelica," she greeted as she neared their table outside the café.

"Hello, Cass," Chanty smiled, standing up to give her a kiss. It was weird how she handled the situation with her friend ready to rip her sister-in-law's skin. "Don't mind Angelica. She's just bitter." She then looked at her friend and said, "Stop that. You're giving her a really bad impression."

Angelica rolled her eyes and leaned back against her chair, crossing her arms across her chest. "Whatever," she muttered.

Cassandra smiled and sat down across them. "Where's Willie?"

"He's with his babysitter. I can't take him with me if I want to have progress with the party. Thank you for what you did last time, Cass. And he is walking!"

"I enjoyed it so no worries, Chanty."

"Where's your husband?" Angelica asked her.

"Home, working," she sighed as she said that. "He was acting weird this morning that's why I called." It just came out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Great, she was talking about her worries with her husband in front of his sister and the woman who seemed ready to steal him away.

Angelica laughed like she was enjoying it. "It looks like you're not making that much progress, Cassandra."

Chanty nudged her friend. "Hey, what did I tell you?"

Angelica raised her hands, feigning innocence, "Fine! Fine! I was just saying..."

"You might be right though," Cassandra told her.

Angelica raised her brows and said, "Yeah?"

Cassandra nodded, "Yes. I'm not a very good cook. But you can't tell that to anyone."

Chanty laughed, her blue eyes, like her brother's, glittering. "You're not alone in that. Ange and I are terrible cooks."

Angelica sighed and reached for her coffee. "Couldn't agree more," she said and looked at Cassandra. "You should learn though."

Cassandra was getting comfortable being around the red-haired beauty before her. She was not saying she was a great judge of character, but she could tell at that moment that Angelica might not be what she thought she was. Maybe Philip was right. She might just be having issues. And she was just plain tactless. "I'm trying."

"You should give me a call if you're tired of him though."

"Ange!" Chanty cried out in frustration.

"What? That's true. I would gladly take your brother if she won't have him."

Cassandra couldn't help but chuckle. "You really say and do what you want, don't you?"

"Of course," Angelica looked at her straight in the eyes. "I would still be trying to take Philip away from you if I didn't realize you'll be such a difficult opponent. But don't worry. As much as I hate your gut right now, I know I'll be wasting time."

Cassandra was startled. "What exactly are you saying?"

Angelica did not answer. She just shrugged and sipped her coffee.

"Philip gave her a call," Chanty explained.

"Don't tell her that," Angelica snapped at her friend.

"What did he say?" Cassandra asked curiously. "When did he call you?"

"Oh, shut up, Ange. It's not like it was the first time he told you to leave him alone," Chanty uttered to her friend.

Angelica made a horrified face. She actually looked more embarrassed than angry for having Cassandra hear about her misfortunes. "It's only the third time, okay?"

Okay, Cassandra couldn't hold her laughter for too long so she gave in, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

"Great, just freaking great, Chanty," Angelica said irritably, inching away from her friend. "Now I look like a fool."

"No," Cassandra said laughingly. "It's just that..." she couldn't stop laughing so she waited for it to subside before she continued, "I just realized you're not at all that serious."

Chanty and Angelica frowned at her, "What do you mean?" Angelica asked her.

"I mean, you're not that serious about stalking Philip. You're just in it for the chase, am I right?"

Chanty laughed, "You bet that's right."

"Whatever," Angelica rolled her eyes.

"I get it now," Cassandra uttered with relief. "You couldn't stop going after Philip because you never caught him."

"That's what I told her, but she wouldn't admit it," Chanty said with a laugh. "She is always saying she likes the thrill—especially when you came about—but she won't admit that she is giving up because she never got her goal."

"You know what? I think I'm leaving," Angelica started to stand up.

"No!" Chanty and Cassandra said in unison, their faces obviously amused.

"You're making fun of me," Angelica accused.

"I was just relieved to know you are not actually serious about chasing my husband," Cassandra told her.

"But I would still get him if he'll give me the chance," Angelica's gaze was challenging, but not alarming.

"Yeah, you could try that."

"You'll just get another call from him," Chanty laughed once more.

"I hate you. The two of you!" Angelica fumed, glaring at them.

"Don't worry, you might just get him," Cassandra said without thinking. Chanty's laughter stopped as she and Angelica stared at her, frozen in their spot. "I mean maybe he would want to get rid of me if I don't get to learn how to cook a freaking fried chicken properly the next time I try."

Chanty giggled. "You made me nervous back there, Cass."

"I was beginning to hope," Angelica sighed. "But don't get me wrong, Cassandra." She fixed her a serious look. "I'm not over yet. I'm just laying down low because I got my eye on someone else. You just as much as let Philip go, I'll be back on track and you won't be able to stop me."

"Wow..." Cassandra smirked, "that was one hell of a scary speech."

Angelica straightened on her seat and smiled proudly. "I'm scary, I know that."

"That's why guys don't go after you, Ange," Chanty pointed out.

"I'm too impulsive to care, you know that," she flipped her red hair back.

"So, who's this guy you're after at the moment?" Chanty asked her.

Angelica smiled wickedly. "You don't have to know that. That would be between me and him."

Cassandra smiled. What a day! Not a cell in her body wanted to like Angelica a day before, but now she had to admit she had to change her mind because the red-head was starting to amuse her.

But on second thought, she shouldn't be feeling the relief if she didn't care for Philip at all, right? And why did she suddenly feel the urge to prove to Angelica that she was a good wife?

This is getting really complicated...

"...and I'm not even trying to really chase this guy because I want to. It has something to do with work," she heard Angelica explain.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't really want to talk about it," Angelica held up her hand and added, "What I want to talk about right now is Willie's party."

"Oh, yes, right. My baby's WALKING PARTY."

"I don't really get it why you want to have such a party, but okay, let's plan," Angelica said dryly.

*****

Her phone rang just in time that they were wrapping up the plan for Willie's party.

"What?" she answered in a rather irritated tone. It was a wonder her husband even had the decency to call.

"I'll come pick you up right now," he answered in pretty much the same tone.

"No," she answered coldly. She saw Angelica and Chanty share a look, their eyes concentrated on the piece of paper Chanty had been writing on. Cassandra was certain their ears were on her though.

"Why the hell not?" She could imagine his brows frowning, his blue eyes glinting with anger, and his hands clutching his phone tightly.

"Because I'll be having lunch with Chanty and Angelica."

"Angelica? I thought you don't like her."

"I didn't. Now I changed my mind. We're really busy, so goodbye." She clicked off before she could hear him cuss.

"What was that about?" Chanty asked her, not able to contain her curiosity.

"He wants to pick me up all of a sudden," she explained.

"Why?" Angelica asked.

"I don't know. And I don't really care right now."

"He'll come for sure," Chanty uttered, wincing. "I told him where we are."

Cassandra groaned and closed her eyes. "I'll be dead."

"That will not be such a problem for me," Angelica said with a smiled. "That way, I'll have Philip for myself."

If the lady had said that a day before, Cassandra would have jumped at her with her claws. But she knew Angelica was merely being her unserious tactless self, so she chuckled. "You can have him when I'm done with his mood swings."

Chanty frowned. "Philip doesn't have mood swings. He's the most non-moody guy I know."

That startled Cassandra. She was in perfect objection to that statement. "Really? Because I can very well tell you how moody your brother is."

Chanty and Angelica looked at each other in disbelief. "He's not moody," Angelica uttered. "No, he's never moody."

"Yes, I agree with that," Chanty seconded.

"Well, he is when we're alone."

"Then he's all yours," Angelica declared. "I don't like moody."

Cassandra chuckled. "Aww. Too bad! How unlucky of me!" Her gaze flew over Angelica's red head and she groaned. "Shit. He really is a fast driver."

The two ladies sitting across her turned around in unison to see what caused her distress.

"Here's Mr. Moody," Chanty whispered, turning back around in her chair as Philip's form emerged out of his car.

"I can't believe it," Cassandra shook her head. Her heart was already hammering in anticipation, and she didn't know what she anticipated. His anger? His presence perhaps?

"Hey, Philip," Angelica spoke up in that purring tone of hers as her husband approached. It made Cassandra snort.

"Ange," he said before stopping beside her. "Chanty," he acknowledged his sister and looked down at her. "We have to go."

"Go where?" she asked, not meeting his gaze.

"A party." He looked at her as if she should know about it.

Then she remembered what he said earlier. He said he was going out today as well but he did not tell her she was coming with him! Was he nuts?

"You know I don't like parties."

"It's a stupid tea party I can't get away from."

"A tea party? What is that? It's a child's game, for heaven's sake," she made a nauseated face. Chanty and Angelica laughed out loud.

"I know, okay?" he snapped. "Let's go," he took her hand, but she stayed seated.

She looked him over. "You should be wearing some kind of Ken costume, right?" she looked at the two ladies who nodded in agreement. He looked down at his outfit. He wore a light blue polo shirt that was unbuttoned down to his throat, the sleeves folded up to his elbows. For her, it was an outfit fit for bed, not some stupid tea party.

"This is what I was wearing when Bethany called me up."

Chanty's smile froze and so did Angelica's. "Bethany?" they both asked in unison. Really, the two of them should have been twins.

"Bethany?" Cassandra asked aloud. "Who?"

"We're coming," Angelica stood up and so did Chanty.

"We're definitely coming," her sister-in-law nodded.

"No, you can't. You are not invited," Philip snapped at them.

"Wait! Who's Bethany?" Cassandra asked again, her head turning around in question, but no one seemed to care about her confusion.

"We're coming. And she couldn't possibly throw a Strindberg out the door, right?" Chanty indignantly said.

"And a Dalton," Angelica uttered in the same manner.

"Hey!" Cassandra stood up, not able to contain it much further. "Who the hell is Bethany?"

"Bethany Wiles," Chanty declared.

"Your husband's other stalker," Angelica finished.

Cassandra felt cold water wash over her and her face paled. Of course, how stupid of her to forget!

"She's not my stalker, okay? She's a friend who—" Philip stopped in midsentence when he saw her face. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Cass?" Chanty asked with concern.

"Beth Wiles?" She asked in a deadly tone.

Philip nodded, and then froze. "It can't be..." What? What did he want to say? It can't be that bad? Was he crazy!

"What a stupid freaking small world," Cassandra uttered in a whisper. He said they were business associates and now he was saying she was a friend

"Okay, we're at a loss here," Angelica declared.

"I didn't realize it sooner," Philip said without hearing Angelica. "I didn't think you'd mind."

"You didn't freaking ask," Cassandra snapped.

"Then we're not going."

It took her a moment to say, "No, we're going."

"We are?" Chanty, Angelica, and Philip asked in unison.

"Yes," she answered strongly. It was time to see her other enemy. And Beth was stalking her husband? I would rather give him up for Angelica, she thought, fuming. Beth the bitch, here I come.

*****

She road shotgun once again because Chanty and Cassandra decided to hitch a ride, leaving their own cars behind. She was silently sweating and gripping the sides of her seat, breathing heavily like a pregnant woman about to go on labor.

She sensed Philip's gaze flicker toward her from time to time. He hadn't said a word since they boarded the car. Chanty and Angelica on the other hand were talking incessantly about Beth like she was the worst creature ever made. Cassandra couldn't disagree because as much as she hated Sheena, she hated Dennis' sister more.

"How did you know Bethany, Cass?" Chanty asked all of a sudden.

"She's her ex's sister," Philip answered, speaking for the first time.

That was obviously a shocker because the two ladies behind them were speechless.

"And let's not talk about it," Philip ordered in a flat tone. For the first time, she was thankful for that because she could hardly talk right that moment.

*****

They drove on for more than thirty minutes where the so-called tea party would be held and it was a complete agony on her part. Her shirt was almost drenched with sweat by the time Philip parked the car and Angelica noticed it as they climbed out.

"What the hell are you wearing?" the lady frowned down at her outfit. Angelica and Chanty, ever so fashionable, were wearing dresses fit for any party while she was wearing her usual outfit fit for anywhere but a freaking tea party.

"That won't do. Bethany will laugh at you."

"Beth wouldn't do such a thing. And she looks fine to me," Philip said impatiently. "And we can just skip the party if you don't feel like it, Cass."

Cassandra glared at him. The last time, he dragged her to a stupid store to get her a dress and now she looked fine? What a moron!

Angelica shook her head. "This won't do," she looked around and pointed across the street. "Let's get you a dress."

"Yes, let's do that," Chanty nodded and looked at Philip stonily. "If you're too giddy to go inside, go. We'll come after you."

Without another glance at them, he nodded and went toward the door of the restaurant.

Cassandra's mouth fell open. He's so dead when we get home. He's gonna beg for mercy with what I'll do to him!

"Okay, let's go," Chanty led the way across the street.

"Now I know what you meant when you said he's moody," Angelica muttered beside her with disappointment.

"I'm so going to kill him later," her voice was shaking when she said that. He should be picking a dress for her right now!

"Do that," Angelica nodded.

*****

Her two companions snatched a blue-green dress without even looking if it would fit her.

But it did. And it looked awesome on her. But she doubted if Philip would agree with the way it showed more flesh than what she was used to revealing.

But on the other hand, she didn't care at all at the moment. She looked beautiful. Angelica grabbed the silver high-heeled sandals for her which she wasn't comfortable with, but it looked great so she said yes.

Not twenty minutes more, they walked out the store and crossed the street to the restaurant where her stupid, moody husband was.

Her heart started to thump loudly against her chest. She would surely see Beth for the first time after one year. Wonder how she looks like now? She asked in her mind as the three of them entered the restaurant.

"What a bitch..." Angelica muttered with ire beside her.

She looked at the direction where her old enemy's eyes were glaring and she froze.

There, standing just ten meters away from them was her husband. He was smiling that awesome smile of his down at the black-haired lady as she stood a bit too close, obviously talking about something amusing because the lady was giggling like crazy.

"What a jerk," Chanty said, fuming. "My brother is such a jerk, I can't believe it. Let's go, Cass." Her sister-in-law grabbed her by the hand and dragged her across the room full of people, mostly Philip's associates, she assumed.

As if on cue, Philip's gaze met hers and his smile froze and disappeared. Beth must have seen his reaction because she stopped talking and looked over her shoulder, following his gaze.

Then, her ex-soon-to-be-sister-in-law's face went from glee to flat to fury.

Cassandra smiled inwardly upon seeing her reaction. Okay,this is gonna be fun...