"Oh! Yeah, Rudy, do you have plans for today?" Joe asked calmly. "I just wanted to spend some time with Lucy and Rudy. But… Lucy has plans?"
Joe turned to Lucy and asked, "I heard you were talking about going somewhere. Is that today?"
"Yes."
"Where are you going?" Joe asked.
"I am not sure, really. My friends will be arranging that."
"Did you ask Rebecca's permission before making plans like that?" Joe asked sincerely.
"No…."
"You should have. She is your mother, and she deserves to know where you go."
"I was going to tell her before leaving. I already told Rudy."
"What would Rudy do? I am sure he himself takes Rebecca's permission before doing anything."
"Oh, I wish that was true," Rebecca remarked while shooting a glare at Rudy.
"It's fine, Joe. The kids are in their rebellious phase. If you try to discipline them at this age, they will end up being more distant from you. It's best if you leave them be."
"I guess. But… I didn't try to discipline Paul, and… he became… I don't even know where he is. His phone is unreachable, and none of his friends have seen him. I just hope he is okay."
"I am sure he is," Rudy smiled forcefully. "He is an adult. I don't think you should worry about an adult."
"That's true, too. But as a parent, I can't stop worrying about him. Well, I am glad at least Lucy is in safe hands."
"Yeah."
"So, do you have plans for today, Rudy?" Joe asked again.
'I do. I need to settle a few things. But… if I say yes, then…'
Lucy would leave with her friends soon, and Angelica and Lilim would go to the pool house. And if Rudy left too, only Rebecca and Joe would be alone at home.
Rudy wanted to avoid that at all costs.
"I don't have any important plans. What about you?" Rudy responded with a question.
"I don't either. I am free for the weekend."
"Is that so?"
RING!
Rudy's phone buzzed as it received a message.
It was from Janet.
[Pick me up at 10:30.]
[I am ready.]
[To meet your harem.]
[I have already told Alice.]
[Bring her too.]
'Why would she text a one-liner when she would have made a simple sentence?'
"Uhmm… Sorry to disappoint you, Joe. It looks like I have got plans too."
"That's not a problem. I will go golfing with my colleagues. Although I am not sure, they would be up for it since they must be as tired as me."
Rudy did something on his phone and placed it back in his pocket.
"You should try asking them, at least. Maybe they are thinking of the same thing."
"I don't think so, but I will try."
Once breakfast had finished, Lilim and Angelica invited Rudy to the corner where no one could see them. They kissed him and left for the pool house.
Lucy also left when she received a call from her friend.
Joe was bathing, not knowing his colleagues and others were ordered by Rudy to go golfing with Joe.
Rudy patiently waited for Joe to leave the house so he could be alone with Rebecca.
Once Joe left, Rudy let out a relieved sigh and went to the kitchen, where Rebecca was washing dishes.
Rudy hugged her from behind and whispered, "We are finally alone." in her ears.
"Let go of me."
Rudy rubbed his cheek on Rebecca's cheek and said, "Are you shy, Rebecca?"
"I am your mother right now, so stop."
"But I just called you Rebecca, so you are my lover as of this moment."
"If you can use that rule for your favor whenever you need me, I can do the same and use it when I don't want to be your lover."
"Why are you acting like this? Is something wrong?"
Rebecca's hands stopped washing the dishes, and she turned around.
"Did you really just ask me that after everything you have done?!" Rebecca shouted.
"What do you mean? What did I do?"
"I am talking about Joe!"
"What about him?"
"You are the one behind this, aren't you? You sent him on the trip, and even today, you did something to keep him away from home!"
"Well, yeah. What's wrong with that?"
"Seriously? You don't see why I am angry?"
"Truly, I don't."
"You are controlling Joe's life!"
"What? How is that controlling? I am doing what's best for him and what's best for us. Best for everyone. Everyone is happy as they should, as they deserve."
"Oh, lord. Are you being serious right now?!"
Rudy furrowed his brows and asked, "What are you so pissed about? Are you angry that you didn't get to spend time with your husband—Joe?"
"Great! Now you have started shaming me like that."
"What else do you want me to do? I thought you would be happy to spend some alone time with me. I thought maybe we would share some more moments and bond. But you are talking nonsense!"
"Oh? I am talking nonsense?! You used your powers to control Joe's life, manipulate him, and now you act innocent?!"
"I didn't deny your claims. But me controlling his life and manipulating him? Come on, that's ridiculous."
"Why do you not see this? Eleanor taught me to think from all perspectives before judging or jumping to conclusions, and I did that. But you are not trying to understand."
"Make me understand, then!"
"You sent Joe on the trip to keep him away from home. I am happy that you care so much about me, but keeping him away from home also means keeping him away from his daughter— Lucy!"
"That's normal. And Lucy is happy. So what's the problem?"
"Why did you promote Joe?"
"Well, to keep him busy."
"And why did you send him on the business trip?"
"To keep him away from home."
"Why did you send him golfing today?"
"So that you two wouldn't be alone in the house."
"Exactly. You control his life for your personal reasons."
