Before the Bells Could Ring

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."