After working non-stop for half a year, I finally managed to get a week off from work by asking my boss for permission to get married.

But then my husband, Griffin, told me that his junior colleague suddenly arrived in Frostvale, saying she wanted to be a little "couch potato".

Couch Potato was a term for someone who was lazy, unambitious, liked to lie in couch all day.

Griffin was worried about her staying in a hotel alone, so he brought her home. On her first day home, his junior colleague turned the air conditioner up to 30 degrees Celsius.

"Janice, Wendy is sensitive to cold, so leave the air conditioner off."

"Janice, Wendy needs to have her fruit peeled and cut into pieces. Can you do that for her? She's a bit clumsy, I'm afraid she'll cut herself."

"Janice, Wendy has a small appetite, can you prepare a baby bowl for her?"

Well, with Wendy's arrival, I've gone from being the lady of the house to a maid.

——

I was sitting in the living room, unbearably hot, my pajamas sticking to my body with sweat, so I went back to the bedroom and opened the window. But less than a minute after opening the window, Griffin burst in.

"Why did you open the window? Wendy's face is all white from the cold! Didn't I tell you she's sensitive to cold? She's a guest, can't you be a little more considerate of her?"

With that, Griffin closed the window again.

"I'm opening the window in the bedroom, how is that bothering her?"

Wendy stood in the doorway, speaking softly, "I'm sorry, Janice, I've always been weak and can't stand the cold. Griffin is just too protective of me. Actually, I could stay in a hotel by myself, but he wouldn't let me."

"Janice, if you really can't stand the heat, why don't you go stay in a hotel?" Wendy said with a polite smile, making a seemingly casual remark that was full of provocation.

"This is my home, you want me to stay in a hotel?"

Wendy looked at Griffin with a pitiful expression and he replied, "Wendy's right. If you find it too hot at home, just stay at a hotel."

I took a deep breath. "Griffin, how long have we been married?"

"We just had our wedding," he answered.

"Yes, we're newlyweds. Now you're letting your wife stay in a hotel alone while you and your junior colleague stay in our marital home?"

Griffin realized his mistake and immediately softened his tone.

"Janice, Wendy will stay with us for three days. After that, she has to go back to work. Just do what she wants. After we send her off, I'll take you to Northern Europe."

This place had always been a place I've longed to go. I've wanted to go for a long time, but I could never find anyone to go with, so it had to be put on hold.

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" he replied as I finally calmed down.

Just as I was about to find some summer pajamas to change into, Griffin said again, "Janice, why don't you stay in the second bedroom for the next few days? Our master bedroom is on the sunny side, it'll be warmer, let Wendy stay there."

"If I stay in the second bedroom, what about you?" I asked Griffin

"I'm too scared to sleep alone, Griffin has to stay with me,” Wendy replied.

I was so angry I almost laughed, “Does being young give you the right to act innocent and treat everyone like fools?”

“Janice, what are you thinking? I’ll sleep on the floor, then!” she backfired me.

I took a deep breath, calming myself down, “Then I’ll just sleep with you. After all, Griffin is married, if this news reach to your alma mater, you two will look bad.”

Wendy was extremely aggrieved, “No way, I don’t even know you.”

I knew it was pointless to reason with someone like Wendy, because she had absolutely no morals.

“Okay, but Wendy, I have to remind you, there are security cameras in my bedroom and living room.”

Wendy’s expression changed, “Griffin, what does Janice mean?!”

Griffin scolded me, “Why did you tell her this?”

"I’m just trying to be nice. After all, Wendy is still young and it wouldn't be good if she did something suggestive and got caught on camera."

Wendy's face was extremely ugly and I didn't give Griffin a friendly look either.

"Here's what we'll do, Wendy, you stay in the master bedroom with your door open. Janice, you stay in the second bedroom, also with your door open. I'll sleep on a makeshift bed between you two, is that alright?"

I chuckled, "I have no problem with that."

Wendy couldn't laugh, "If Janice has no problem, then I definitely have no problem either."

So Griffin slept on a makeshift bed between us all night.

The next morning, he woke me up early, "Wake up! We're going to see the ice sculptures with Wendy today. Get up and prepare breakfast."

When I put the millet porridge and steamed buns on the table, Wendy immediately showed a look of disgust, "Janice, we usually have Americano and sandwiches for breakfast where I'm from. These buns are oily and have a strong smell; I can't get used to them."

I took a sip of the millet porridge, "Wendy, if I remember correctly, your hometown is a small county in Silverhart, right? After working in Kingsley for two years, you think you're some kind of big shot? These steamed buns are something you've eaten since you were little; why can't you eat them now? Also, just because you're still young doesn't mean you can be a couch potato.'"

Wendy's face turned bright red, "Janice, you don't have to target me like that!"

"I didn't mean to target you; I was just stating the facts."

Just then, the doorbell rang and Griffin quickly went to open the door, "I knew you wouldn't like our breakfast here, so I ordered takeout for you."

Wendy immediately gave me a smug look. "I knew Griffin is always treat me the best."

After breakfast, Wendy pulled her wool coat out of her suitcase, "Griffin, do you think this one looks good on me?"

"It's good, but it's below -20 degrees Celsius outside. This coat isn't warm enough."

I watched from the side. "Aren't you always cold-sensitive? Wearing this out will freeze you to death."

Wendy rolled her eyes at me, then pouted at Griffin, "This one looks good in photos, I want to wear this one."

Wendy happily went out wearing her wool coat, getting into the passenger seat before me.

"Janice, the passenger seat is closer to the air conditioning. Wendy gets cold easily, so let her sit in the front," Griffin said.

"Janice, I always sit in the passenger seat when I go out with Griffin. He said he'd always save the passenger seat for me, no matter what," Wendy said proudly.

I chuckled lightly, "It's alright, just sit then."

I wanted to see just how outrageous Griffin and Wendy could get in the next three days.

As soon as we entered the scenic area, Wendy couldn't stand the cold anymore, hugging her arms and shivering uncontrollably. Seeing this, Griffin immediately took off his down jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"I knew you'd be cold wearing that."

"But this wool coat was a gift from you, it cost eight thousand dollars. I haven't had much of a chance to wear it and I was just thinking of taking some photos here as a memory."

I was shocked, "Griffin, you gave her an eight thousand dollars coat?"

Griffin panicked a little, "Wendy just entered the workforce, her salary isn't high. She's liked this coat for a long time and I bought it for her birthday. It's just a coat, don't make such a fuss."

"Her salary isn't high, but you don't even have a salary yet! You haven't even graduated with your PhD yet and I'm paying for all your tuition and living expenses for your combined Master's and PhD program. You're using my money to buy her such an expensive coat?!"

Griffin was furious, "What do you mean 'your' and 'mine'? We're husband and wife, what's yours is mine. What's wrong with me spending my own money to give my junior a gift?"

"Griffin, I never realized you were so shameless!"

Griffin and I had been in a relationship for ten years and the most expensive gift he ever gave me was an eighty dollars necklace. He kept saying that once he graduated with his PhD and found a good job, he'd buy me everything I wanted. I used to think he was just frugal and good at managing money, but now it seemed he was only saving money on me.

"Hey, Wendy, this coat is a too youthful for you. How about I give it to you?"

"Who wants your used clothes anyway?" Wendy complained.

Griffin got impatient, "Janice, you're being rude. I'm having a good day and don't want to argue with you. Stop it!"

Wendy pulled him back, "Hey, Griffin, you gave me your down jacket. Your lips are all white from the cold."

She took Griffin's hands and breathed on them, "Does that make you feel warmer?"

Griffin couldn't help but smile, "Much warmer."

"I'll give the coat back to you. Don't catch a cold." Wendy took off the down jacket and offered it to Griffin.

"I'm a grown man, I'm not afraid of the cold. You're weak and easily chilled, you should wear it."

Wendy stubbornly refused, "No way! It would break my heart to see you cold. I'd rather be sick myself than see you sick. Griffin, just put it on. If you don't wear it, I won't either."

After a long struggle, Griffin finally had no choice but to put on the down jacket. Wendy was shivering uncontrollably, but still stubbornly insisted she wasn't cold.

Griffin suddenly turned his gaze to me, "Take off your down jacket and give it to Wendy."

I couldn't believe what I had just heard and it took me a while to react.

"Why should I?"

"You're not afraid of the cold, why are you wearing such a thick coat?"

"I'm just afraid of the heat, that doesn't mean I'm not afraid of the cold."

"Stop talking nonsense and take off your coat and give it to Wendy."

As he spoke, Griffin reached out.

I immediately backed away, "What are you doing? Did I agree to give her my coat? Let go!"

Ignoring my resistance, Griffin insisted on tearing the down jacket off me. I couldn't possibly give him my clothes, so I clung to them desperately.

Wendy's teeth chattered, "Griffin, please don't make things difficult for Janice. I'm fine, I won't freeze to death."

Hearing her trembling voice, Griffin tightened his grip.

My struggle with him was violent; the ground was slippery and I lost my balance and fell backward, hitting the back of my head. Luckily, I was wearing a thick cotton hat, otherwise I would definitely have bled. Even so, I was dazed for a while after the fall.

Taking advantage of my unconsciousness, Griffin quickly ripped off my down jacket. By the time I came to my senses, my down jacket was already on Wendy.

"Griffin, Janice seems to have fallen pretty hard. Why don't you check on her?"

"We’re Frostvale locals, who hasn't fallen in winter? Besides, she's as strong as an ox, a fall won't kill her."

Then he turned to me, "If you're too cold, just take a taxi home. Anyway, it's not like you've never seen these ice sculptures before. I can keep Wendy company you." Griffin put his arm around Wendy and walked away without looking back.

The tourists in the scenic area were all watching me. Some whispered, some took out their phones to film me. I believe that soon there would be videos of me online, with all sorts of stories attached. Maybe I would even be maliciously portrayed as a mistress.