I responded evenly, "Yeah, just got back from the office."
Her smile faltered for a split second before she masked it with an exaggerated pout. "I just went to the office to look for you, but I didn't expect you to come home early. Geez, I made the trip for nothing. You have to make it up to me."
Saying this, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around mine, leaning in as she always did when she wanted to manipulate me.
In the past, I had been utterly weak to this act of hers. I would have given in without hesitation, drawn in by the illusion of her affection. I would have pulled her close, murmured reassurances and allowed her to convince me that she truly cared.
But now? I felt nothing. Calmly, I removed her arms from mine and stepped back.
Vanessa blinked in surprise, but she quickly recovered, tilting her head with a feigned look of concern. "Honey, what's wrong? You're not still mad just because I defended Tristan earlier, are you?"
Her voice carried the same gentle persuasion she had used countless times before, as if I were some naive fool easily swayed by her words.