"I know today was tough for you. Let's try for our own baby when we get home."

I did not respond, but she thought she had made things right and left with her clothes.

The old me would have been calmed down by a hug and a promise, no matter how upset I was.

She thought promising to have a baby would make up for the bad day I had.

However, she seemed to forget, we were not even officially married.

Now, I did not even want to think about marriage, much less having kids.

I returned home alone.

The house was cluttered with boxes of kids' stuff that Rosie had ordered.

At first, I was on cloud nine, thinking Rosie might be pregnant and planning to surprise me. I was so thrilled I could not even sleep!

However, it turned out, those things were for a child she had, who did not live with us.

Disheartened, I retreated to my room.

I sifted through the memories of our seven years together.

I used to cherish every small gift from her, even a hairband or a mug.

Yet now, none of it held any value for me.

I gathered all those tokens, along with my feelings for her, and tossed them away.

When I returned from disposing of the items, the house was glowing with light.

A sweet five-year-old was joyfully calling out "grandma," and Larisse was beaming with laughter, her eyes sparkling as she showered the child with gifts, one after another.

That was Jeffrey's son, Sean Carter. He was the reason for a big fuss at a wedding, and then, they were all having a great time together.

I opened the door at the wrong time, and the happy mood just stopped.

Jeffrey looked at me but was talking to Larisse.

"Mom, you're too easy on him.

"He just stays at home, using Rosie's money, and doesn't even clean.

"What's the point of keeping him around? We might as well hire a housekeeper."

Larisse appeared upset and let out a chilly huff. "My daughter worked too hard for you to just live off her."

I met her gaze.

I used to earn more than Rosie. When she fell ill, seeing her so despondent in the hospital broke my heart. She held my hand and pleaded, "If Rosie quits her job, she might struggle to find another good one."

"You're different, you have a solid education and skills. Society will welcome you back," Larisse stated, her eyes serious. Rosie stood nearby, tears streaming down her face, torn about what to do. Not wanting to add to her troubles, I made the choice to leave my job and care for her ailing mother at home.

That turned into five long years.

They both knew I had been using my own saved-up money all that time.

Just two days ago, my bank account was empty, and for the first time, I asked Rosie for some cash. It was only once, just $75 for groceries, but Larisse made it sound like I was just blowing through her daughter's money.

I glanced at Rosie again. She was quiet, looking down, as if she agreed with her mom.

It was so ridiculous. I had spent five years caring for someone who could not even move, and Rosie had a baby without telling me. Then, she and her mom acted like I owed them, like I should just keep working hard for them without a word.

Larisse got really mad when I did not start cleaning up right away. She snapped at me, "What's wrong with you? Get moving!"

Rosie finally looked at me. She did not think her mom was being too harsh. Instead, she pulled at my shirt and said with a little frown, "It's a happy day, don't make mom mad. Go on, start cleaning."

However, I stayed put. The room was tense until Jeffrey, pretending to be all helpful, said, "Mom, calm down. It is normal to be a bit lazy. I will clean up. I've always been the hardworking one."

He had not even lifted a finger when Rosie, feeling bad for him, cut in, "Don't worry about it. You are our guest. Just sit and relax."

She finished speaking and looked at me, her eyes full of disappointment. "Jeffrey is so smart and hardworking. Why can't you be like him? When did you get so lazy?"

For seven years, I did everything around the house, taking care of every little thing for them. However, the one time I did not clean, I suddenly became the lazy person they all talked about.

Jeffrey just had to say he would do something, and Rosie would call him hardworking.

It was clear who was loved and who was not.

I did not want to argue too much, but that was the first time I did not do what they asked, and they were really upset.

Rosie just stood there, pouting, while Larisse said something mean. "Just what I'd expect from someone who wasn't raised right."

I could not take it anymore and kicked a stool over.

Little five-year-old Sean started crying really loud.

That was it. The pretend peace was totally gone.

Rosie hugged Sean and tried to calm him down, but she was also mad at me. "Have you lost your mind? Are you saying my mom isn't telling the truth? Would someone with good manners throw things around?"

I could not stand looking at them anymore. I grabbed my bags and headed for the door.

Rosie was shocked and asked, "Where are you going so late?"

I did not even look back. "Rosie, we're done."

Rosie stopped me, surprised, and said, "You can't be serious, Malcolm. You're breaking up with me over this little thing?"

Little thing?

I chuckled calmly at her. "While we were together, you had Jeffrey's baby. Is that a minor detail as well?"

Rosie chuckled back. "When your heart is tainted, you see filth everywhere. Sean is my cousin and Jeffrey's child.

"My cousin passed away young, and after she had Sean, she also left us.

"I was just caring for the child. What's wrong with that?"

Jeffrey couldn't hide his shock as he interjected. "Malcolm, you just don't understand. If I had a wife as compassionate and loving as yours, I'd bring the child and his whole family home to care for them. Not like you, only thinking about yourself."

They teamed up against me once more, hurling accusations until I felt utterly diminished.

Yet, if the child is her cousin's, why sneak around to care for him and even have the child call her 'mom'?

It shattered the dream of the wedding I had envisioned, humiliating me in front of everyone.

As I glanced up, both mother and daughter wore identical looks of disdain.

At that moment, the truth ceased to hold any significance.

I did not even want to answer back, but Rosie kept on pushing. "Why can't you be more like Jeffrey? He is so thoughtful. He even felt bad for you and told me we should have another wedding for you."

Jeffrey's kindness was just for show. If he was really a good guy, he would not have asked for something as crazy as taking over the wedding, instead of pretending to make it up to me later.

Jeffrey stood up, acting like he was trying to calm things down.

"I might as well die with the kid's mom. Our lives don't matter. Just don't let our trouble mess up your marriage."

"I'm going to take the kid and jump in the river, vanish from your world for good."

With that, he grabbed Sean's hand and headed for the door. Sean started to cry and scream:

"Mommy, I don't want to die, make the bad guy leave!"

Rosie looked even more upset as she grabbed my suitcase. "Malcolm, enough with the drama. I am so tired. Can't you stop causing more trouble?"

Larisse was so angry she yelled. "Rosie, let him go. I would like to see where a guy with no home can even go."

Yes, I had no home anymore.

Once upon a time, I sold the house my parents left me to pay for Larisse's medical bills.

I even used up all my savings for her and Rosie.

They thought they had me wrapped around their fingers because they believed I could not live without them.

However, they did not know that job offers kept coming, even though I stayed home.

I stayed for Rosie's love, but that love is gone now.

As I grabbed my suitcase to leave, Jeffrey tried to give me some crumpled bills.

"Malcolm, you're broke, huh? Here's some cash for a hotel. Come back when Rosie and her mom cool off."

I barely looked at him and said: "Saving to jump in the river? Keep your money for your own urn."

Rosie, who had tried to stop me, got so mad she kicked my suitcase out the door.

"Leave! And don't you dare come back!"

The door slammed behind me, and I stepped out into the chilly air with my suitcase.

I checked into a hotel and called my senior Adrian.

"Hey, I'm in for that job you mentioned."

Adrian was thrilled. "Awesome, Malcolm! You are making the right move. However, it's an overseas gig, at least three to five years, okay?"

"No problem," I said.

"We'll throw a welcome party tomorrow and you can meet the team," Adrian laughed.

I had almost thrown away my future for Rosie and her mom. It was time for a fresh start.

After a short chat, I hung up and slept like a baby, free from caring for Rosie's mom.

The next day, just before lunchtime, I walked into a restaurant and saw Rosie throwing a birthday party for little Sean, who was turning five.

Larisse kept smiling as she passed veggies to Jeffrey, telling him what a thoughtful and great son-in-law he was.

Jeffrey smiled back and said, "Of course." When he saw me, he gave Rosie a quick kiss on the cheek, just to tease me.

Rosie giggled and blushed, leaning on Jeffrey's shoulder.

Just then, little Sean in her arms spotted me and pointed. "Mommy, there's the bad guy."

Rosie turned and our eyes met. She looked like she did not know what to do.

Jeffrey, still smiling, looked at me.

"Malcolm, did you sneak here to mess up the birthday party?

"If you're mad, be mad at me, not the kid.” He's done nothing wrong.

"I'll say I'm sorry right now."

He stood in front of me and started slapping his own cheek, making everyone else look.

Rosie was going to explain, but she stopped. She helped Jeffrey up, mad at me.

"You're awful, picking on a kid.

“Jeffrey was nice enough to forgive you yesterday and even told me to forgive you and bring you home. And this is how you act?"

Larisse wheeled over, glaring at me with open hostility.