After the Separation, I Shut the Door on His Love

Before my father passed away, he asked me in tears, "Matthew, why did Rachel give birth to someone else? Why?"

I had no answer and could only remain silent.

Eventually, my father died of depression.

I handled his funeral on my own, and sent a message to Rachel, asking for a divorce.

But her male friend replied to me: [You finally gave up. Rachel has always loved me. She even aborted your child for me.]

He posted a photo of Rachel's rosy, sleeping face.

Rachel didn't reply until the next day: [Since you want a divorce, I'll satisfy you.]

***

The bell rang.

Rachel had just finished her shower. She stood at the bathroom door in a tulle nightgown, shaking a bell and shouting, "Come on, my puppy."

It was her usual way of ordering me around.

There was one in every room of the house.

She treated it as a love affair.

In the past, I wanted to be a considerate couple, so I've always obeyed her. After her shower, I would carry her to bed and prepare underwear for her.

But today, I sat on the couch motionless, turned to look at Rachel with disgust, and said, "Stop joking."

Then, I just pulled out a divorce agreement.

"Cut it out. No need to get jealous."

Rachel didn't even glance at me. She raised her hand and shook the bell again. "Jack is sexually dysfunctional, that's why he came to me for IVF."

"I'm his best friend and qualified to help him. Our relationship is chaste. How stingy you are!

"Didn't you buy me stockings and want me to wear them? I'll make it up to you tonight. Take me to bed."

She grinned slightly and didn't take it seriously at all.

In the past, if she had explained, or actively teased me, I would have taken the chance to forgive her for her behavior.

But I did have a bottom line.

I didn't want to be a coward as before.

I didn't want to be driven by her anymore.

"I feel disgusted," I said coldly.

I couldn't stand the fact that Rachel would later have sex with Jack and give him children.

Their private relationship could be more messy.

"What do you mean?"

Rachel widened her eyes and stood still for several seconds before continuing, "I got it. Are you afraid your father will get mad, so you're against it? I'll go chat with him tomorrow."

Even after I filed for divorce, Rachel still didn't mind it and thought I would compromise and agree.

I guessed I'd been spoiling her too much.

Hence, she dared to break the bottom line without fear.

"My father has passed away. How can you go chat?"

I slammed a cup and said coldly.

Rachel was stunned and looked at me in shock. "When did this happen? How come I know nothing about it? Are you lying to me?"

I laughed out of anger, and yelled with scarlet eyes, "Would I joke about my father who raised me up all by himself?

"My father witnessed you and Jack walk hand in hand into the IVF registration room. He got angry that his blood pressure rose with a heart attack, and eventually died."

For the first time, a look of panic flashed across Rachel's pretty face.

I had never lost my temper before in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Matthew."

"I didn't think it would end like this. I didn't know you were in that hospital that day. I intended to buy your dad some gifts and chat with him in the next few days."

Rachel spoke in a low voice, with a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.

She apologized.

But my heart ached out of anger.

"Let's get a divorce.

"There's nothing left between us."

Rachel just regretted showing up at the same hospital as us. She didn't realize her own faults.

The moment I turned my head, Rachel hugged me from behind.

"I'll tell you a story tonight, okay? Calm down, please.

"Jack has helped me a lot. I just want to repay him."

Her voice sounded tender.

Once, her voice was like a gentle breeze, leaving me moved.

Now I realized it was just a gentle trap, and she controlled me in this way.

"Hence, you aborted our child? Just to get pregnant with Jack's? Right?" I asked.

"How do you know I had a miscarriage?"

Rachel was surprised.

"Jack told me."

I snorted coldly and continued, "Since you want to help Jack, why not help him to the end and marry him?"

After speaking, I broke free from Rachel's embrace, went to my room, and closed the door, feeling secretly distressed.

Looking back on the past, I felt disappointed and upset.

Rachel and I met on the first day of university.

It was raining. She was carrying a cello, a suitcase, and a school bag.

I kindly went to help.

The rain wet her hair and stuck to her cheeks, but it couldn't hide her looks.

Her smile immediately drew me in.

I admitted I had a crush on her, but I didn't add her contact information until we met at the singing club and smiled at each other.

"What a coincidence!

"Can I add your Twitter account?"

She offered to suggest.

I nodded slightly and blushed.

She said I was funny and different from other boys.

Later, she was in charge of club activities and asked me to help every time.

I wanted to show myself in front of her, so I tried my best to finish each time.

To solicit sponsorship for the club, I didn't have meals all day, visited more than thirty companies, and even got beaten up by the security guards.

To select a performance and filming location for the club, I waited for more than ten hours in the hot weather and was almost dehydrated, but I finally met the theater director.

I had done so much more for her.