I Gave Him and My Sister What He Wanted, But Now He’s Unhappy

Joey clung to Nathan, her voice soft and coy. "Honey, I'm sorry. Back then, I kept things from you because I wanted to heal properly abroad. But now, seeing you with Rose, taking care of Leo so well, I'm happy for you. I wonder... when I was overseas, you promised that if I ever changed my mind, you'd still be here waiting for me. Is that still true?"

Nathan didn't move, but my hand shook uncontrollably. The cake I was holding slipped from my fingers and hit the ground.

Joey, noticing me, immediately acted like nothing had happened and reluctantly pulled away from Nathan. She rushed over to me, gently taking my hand.

"Rose Wilson," she said softly, her fingers gripping mine tightly. "I came back after so many years of healing. I was just catching up with Nathan, nothing like you might think." Her touch made my stomach churn, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't pull away.

At that moment, Nathan turned around. His once gentle gaze on Joey turned cold when it met mine.

Hearing Joey call him "honey" again made me remember the times I used to call Nathan that. Back then, it only earned me a disgusted sneer.

Nathan yanked Joey to his side, standing protectively in front of her. "You said we were celebrating Leo's birthday today. Why are you back so soon?"

I watched as their hands intertwined. Just two hours ago, he'd held my hand the same way—though there was no warmth in his eyes, it had been the closest thing to affection in years, aside from those fleeting moments in bed.

When our eyes met, Nathan immediately released my hand, like he had been burned.

"Joey's back now. She’s finally reunited with Leo. Can you not look at her like that? As if she owes you something?" he snapped, his voice tight with irritation.

Joey shot me a mocking look, her eyes filled with the same intensity she used to have when fighting me for something. It made my chest tighten painfully.

Suddenly, I was shoved from behind, and Leo's cheerful voice called out, "Mom!"

He ran up to me, but in his excitement, he stepped on the cake, smashing the picture of the happy family. He wanted Joey to pick him up, calling her "mom" while reaching for her.

To them, they looked like a perfect little family. But when Leo finally noticed me, his face flickered with hesitation before he reluctantly called out, "Aunt Rose."

My breath caught in my throat. The year I had gotten pregnant, Nathan had been forced to marry me.

After ten long months of carrying my child, I had given birth to a stillborn baby. I had been completely alone, with no one to turn to.

When Nathan brought Leo into my life, he had just learned to walk, but he called me "mom," filling the empty space in my heart, a bittersweet substitute for the child I would never have.

Every meal Leo ate was something I had carefully prepared. Every piece of clothing he wore had been ironed by my hands. And every word he learned had come from me.

Now, it was as if he didn't recognize me at all.

Leo’s foot had destroyed the picture on the cake—an image I had drawn of the three of us, filled with hopes of a happy future together. I bent down, picked up the ruined cake, and began eating it in large bites, tears streaming down my face.

"Rose," Joey said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Leo didn’t mean it. You can't seriously hold a grudge against a little kid, can you?"

I ignored her, but Nathan immediately grabbed my arm, pulling me up.

"Rose, it's just a cake. We can make another one. Today’s Leo’s birthday, and Joey’s here. There’s no need to ruin the mood."

Nathan’s eyes lingered on my tear-streaked face, his expression faltering for a moment, before his grip on my arm loosened.

Joey tugged at my sleeve. "Rose, let's go out and celebrate Leo’s birthday. I also want to thank you for taking care of him all these years."

I pulled away from her, and she stumbled back, but Nathan caught her.

"Rose, I know you’ve never liked me," Joey continued, her voice turning sharp. "If you don't want to see me, I'll take Leo and leave. We won’t come around again, not in front of you and Nathan."

Nathan’s voice lost its earlier patience as he spoke again. "Rose, from the moment you drugged me, I’ve put up with you for far too long. Since you’re not grateful, let's just go celebrate Leo's birthday."

With Leo in his arms and Joey holding onto his side, Nathan walked away.

The wind hit me like a cold slap to the face, leaving my heart frozen.