My Husband’s “Work Wife” Is Just a SISTER? Let Me Teach Her How Family Trees Work novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I said nothing and placed the dishes in the sink one by one.

“She seems pretty innocent, honestly. No bad intentions. Just a little… lacking in boundaries,” Lacey added.

I turned on the faucet, and the rush of water drowned everything out.

By the time I finished washing up and came out, Marco was back. He sat on the couch, staring at his phone with a hard frown.

When he saw me, he lifted the screen toward me, already angry. “Lola Aldrich, what was with your attitude toward Jolene today?”

On the screen was a post Jolene had just uploaded. In the photo, she and Marco stood at the entrance to our complex, his hand still resting on her head.

Caption: [Made it to bro’s place for dinner again today! Feels amazing to have a real one looking out for me! Hope his wife isn’t mad, I really only see Marco as an actual

brother!]

A few mutual friends had already liked it and left comments.

One of them read: [She’s fresh out of college, new in town. What’s wrong with coming over for one meal? How could you give her attitude?]

I faced his fury and confronted, “Was she wearing your clothes?”

“She spilled soup on herself, I loaned her a sweatshirt. What was wrong with that? Do you really have to be this petty?”

“You fed her fruit?”

“She was handing out fruit and her hands were full, I fed her one bite. So what? Lola, when did you become this unreasonable? Nitpicky, suspicious, making drama out of nothing!” His voice kept rising.

I should have seen it sooner.

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Marco had always had a savior complex. He especially loved helping people who looked small and vulnerable.

I used to think that meant he was kind. Now it looked more like he was a potential cheater, who had zero resistance to Jolene’s pitiful look and feigned innocence.

“She’s just a straightforward kid who sees you as friend, and you treat her like an enemy! Do you think every woman who gets near me wants something from me? You’re

really paranoid!”

The way he kept pressing me felt strangely unfamiliar, and somehow exactly what I should have expected.

Men with savior complexes fell hard for helpless-girl act. Jolene’s “bro vibes” was just a

pick-me stunt in a different wrapper.

I looked at him, then let out a short laugh. “Marco, do you really think she sees you as a

brother?”

“She wore your clothes, used your cup, had you feed her, every step was about blurring boundaries and triggering your protective instincts.”

“This was basic pick-me stuff, ‘hermit crab mode plus baby-voice offense’ in the Guide, beginner level. If you’re interested, I can send you the file.”

His face darkened. “You’re impossible!”

I did not argue anymore. I turned and went back to the bedroom.

Behind

me,

his voice got even louder. “What kind of attitude is that, Lola? Lola Aldrich! Get out here and explain yourself!”

That night, I sat at my keyboard and typed steadily, composedly.

The next day, Marco did not speak to me. He skipped breakfast and slammed the door on his way to work.

I got up as usual, did my makeup, and went to my studio.

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I had barely sat down when a WhatsApp message from Marco came in: [Apologize to

her.]

Attached was a screenshot from his chat with Jolene.

Jolene: [Marco, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not knowing my place and making you and Lola fight. I won’t do it again. Go make up with her, bro.]

Such a considerate, wronged little message, and just like that I was painted as the

irrational villain.

I saved the screenshot, then forwarded it to the group chat “Light of Justice: Bro-Girl

Victims Alliance.”

[Step one, guilt-tripping plus stirring the pot. Same old script.]

I’d started the group with a few friends who’d been through similar things.

Later we added a lawyer, an HR manager, a journalist, and people from all kinds of fields. We shared spotting tips, cross-checked potential pick-up, and compared notes. For dealing with this kind of scripted “guys’ girl” routine, it worked beautifully.

Half an hour later, Lacey called.

Her tone was clearly biased. “Lola, Jolene already apologized. Stop dragging this out. Marco is under a lot of pressure at work. As his wife, be more generous and stop being so paranoid.”

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Chapter 2