The hallway on the second floor was still silent, only the slow whir of a ceiling fan echoing from the corner. In the middle of the hall, Axel stood with a mocking expression, his laughter bursting out loud.

“Hahaha! My mighty uncle would never want someone as ugly as you!” he shouted, clutching his stomach while laughing at his own wife. “Just so you know, Uncle Neil’s fiancée is a thousand times prettier than you! Only a blind man would ever choose you!”

Lena scoffed in ...