Chapter 156

The living room of the penthouse was unusually peaceful for a Sunday afternoon.

Too peaceful.

Which usually meant one thing.

Four-year-old Ruby was doing something suspiciously quiet.

Sure enough, when Lisa peeked into the kitchen, she found her tiny daughter sitting on the counter beside Jennie, happily stuffing strawberries into her cheeks while kicking her fluffy sock-covered feet.

“Mama,” Ruby whispered dramatically, holding up a strawberry. “This one shaped like heart.”

Lisa gasped loudly. “No way. Lemme see.”

Ruby immediately protected it. “No! It’s for Mommy only!”

Jennie smiled proudly while cutting fruit. “See? My baby loves me the most.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes. “Wow. Betrayal in my own house.”

Ruby giggled so hard she nearly dropped her strawberry.

Everything was warm, soft, and domestic.

Which was exactly why Lisa decided to cause problems.

She leaned against the counter casually, staring at Ruby with fake seriousness.

“Sooo…” Lisa started.

Jennie instantly glanced over.

That tone.

That dangerous tone.

Ruby blinked innocently. “Hmm?”

Lisa hummed. “What if Mama and Mommy wanted another baby?”

Silence.

Jennie froze mid-slice.

Ruby froze mid-chew.

Even the air conditioner sounded louder.

The tiny dumpling slowly lowered her strawberry.

“…Another… baby?”

Lisa nodded, clearly entertained already. “Yeah. Maybe a tiny baby sister. Or baby brother.”

Ruby stared.

Then stared harder.

Her little lips trembled.

Jennie’s eyes widened immediately. “Lisa.”

But her wife was still smiling.

“And maybe,” Lisa continued teasingly, “Mama and Mommy will carry another tiny mandu all day-“

Ruby BURST into tears.

Not normal crying.

Not sniffly crying.

Full betrayal crying.

The kind where her entire tiny body shook from heartbreak.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Jennie dropped the knife so fast. “Lalisa!”

Ruby launched herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing dramatically into Jennie’s chest.

“I WANNA BE THE ONLY BAAAABYYYYY!”

Jennie immediately picked her up, glaring daggers at Lisa.

“Oh my God, look what you did!”

Lisa’s smile disappeared instantly. “WAIT-Ruby, baby, Mama was joking!”

But Ruby was already crying like her entire world collapsed.

“No baby!” she wailed. “No replace Ruby! I GOOD MANDU!”

Jennie bounced her gently. “Of course you are, baby. You’re our precious mandu.”

Ruby hiccuped violently. “Mommy no want another dumpling?”

Jennie kissed her wet cheeks over and over. “No one could ever replace you.”

Lisa approached carefully like she was nearing a feral kitten.

“Ruby-“

“No!” Ruby cried louder, turning away dramatically and clutching Jennie tighter. “Mama mean!”

Jennie pointed toward the couch without even looking at Lisa.

“Go.”

“…What?”

“You traumatized our child.”

Lisa looked offended. “Traumatized is a strong word.”

Ruby cried harder.

Jennie deadpanned, “Look at her.”

Ruby now had tears, strawberry juice, and snot all over Jennie’s shirt while whispering sadly, “Mommy don’t need me anymore…”

Lisa panicked immediately. “BABY! No no no no-“

Jennie gave her the nastiest glare.

“Congratulations. You made our daughter think she’s getting replaced.”

Lisa rubbed her face. “Okay yeah… that sounds bad when you say it out loud.”

The entire day became Operation: Convince Ruby She Is Still The Only Baby.

Jennie spent HOURS cuddling her.

Ruby refused to leave her side.

If Jennie stood up?

Ruby followed.

If Jennie went to the bathroom?

Ruby waited outside.

If Lisa came within five feet?

Ruby narrowed her watery eyes suspiciously.

At lunch, Ruby sat on Jennie’s lap while eating noodles sadly.

“Mama still want another baby?” she asked quietly.

Jennie shot Lisa a warning look that could kill.

Lisa immediately shook her head aggressively. “NOPE. Absolutely not. Mama only wants one fluffy dumpling.”

Ruby sniffled. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ruby squinted.

“…Pinky promise?”

Lisa held out her pinky seriously.

Ruby hooked their fingers together while glaring like a tiny lawyer.

“If another baby come here,” Ruby warned tearfully, “I will cry forever.”

Jennie almost laughed.

Lisa absolutely did not laugh because she valued her life.

That night, Ruby insisted on sleeping between them.

Specifically glued to Jennie.

Every few minutes she’d open one eye and ask suspiciously:

“Mommy still love Ruby most?”

“Yes, baby.”

“Mama still want me?”

“Yes, baby.”

“No new baby?”

“No new baby.”

Only then would Ruby close her eyes again dramatically.

Meanwhile Lisa stared at the ceiling in regret.

Around midnight, Jennie whispered coldly without looking at her wife:

“You’re sleeping on the couch.”

Lisa sighed. “One night?”

“Three.”

“…THREE?!”

“You made my baby cry so hard she got hiccups.”

From the middle of the bed, half-asleep Ruby suddenly mumbled:

“Mama bad…”

Jennie smirked instantly.

Lisa stared at the ceiling in betrayal.

And true to Jennie’s word-

Lisa spent the next three nights on the couch.

Every time she tried to climb back into bed, Ruby would sit up protectively like a security guard.

“No.”

Lisa whispered dramatically, “This house is cruel.”

Ruby hugged Jennie tighter.

“My Mommy.”

Jennie kissed Ruby’s forehead smugly while looking directly at her suffering wife.

“Actions have consequences, Lalisa.”