Love That Ended in Vain

Matt hesitated before effortlessly picking Ben up to comfort him.

I clenched my fists in anger but quickly pulled my precious Rosie into my arms.

Ben clung to Matt’s neck and complained, "Rosie tried to take my cookie! That’s why I hit her."

"You’re lying! You stole mine!"

The two of them were about to start arguing again.

Matt rubbed his temples and asked the teacher, "Is there surveillance footage?"

"Yes, yes. We just fixed the cameras a few days ago."

As the teacher searched for the footage, Ben anxiously glanced around.

Then, Erica strode into the room. Without saying a word, she smacked Ben while scolding him.

"How dare you bully a girl? Mommy is a girl, too. Does that mean I should be bullied?

"Why can’t you learn to put yourself in someone else’s shoes?"

Erica trembled as tears slid down her cheeks. She looked heartbreakingly beautiful as she cried.

Matt pulled both of them into his arms.

"I said I’ll always protect you. No one can hurt you."

I muttered an apology to the teacher before shielding Rosie’s eyes and carrying her outside.

The warmth of her tears seeped into my palm as she sobbed, hiccuping between words, "Mom… Mommy, I hate… Daddy."

"Mm. Me too."

…

For once, Matt came home right after work, carrying a bowl of seafood boil.

"I bought this especially for you. Eat up." With that, he headed to the bathroom to shower.

The scent of the food lured Rosie in. I had just opened the plastic lid when Matt’s phone, left on the table, chimed with a message.

It was from Erica.

[Matt, thanks for treating us to that amazing seafood feast today.

[By the way, did you take home the leftover seafood boil?]

So Erica and Ben got a lavish seafood dinner, while Rosie and I were left with their scraps.

A wave of humiliation crashed over me.

Without hesitation, I dumped the seafood into the trash.

Matt walked out of the bathroom just in time to see it.

"What did I do this time?"

I handed him his phone. He sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Rosie hit Ben earlier. I was just making it up to them."

"So you think Rosie was the one in the wrong?"

He didn’t respond.

I pointed at the door. "Get out."

"You’re impossible," Matt said coldly and left.

…

Rosie’s transfer papers were almost ready.

So, I kept her home from school and spent the days looking for a city we’d both like.

"Mom, I like Keystone. It’s warm there."

"Keystone? Are you two planning a trip?"

Matt’s voice startled me. I hadn’t even noticed him standing behind us.

I quickly put my phone away. Just as he was about to snatch it, his own phone rang.

Erica’s panicked voice came through the speaker, "Matt! Ben’s stomach started hurting after dinner! What should I do?"

Matt’s face changed instantly. He hurriedly threw on his coat and rushed to the door.

"Don’t panic, I’m coming now."

He was so flustered that he even banged his leg against the table on his way out.

When Ben got sick, Matt would drop everything in a panic. However, Rosie had a fever, and he thought she was faking it.

Matt, you’re so blatantly biased.

It seemed Rosie realized it, too. She silently climbed into bed, sulking.

Later that night, after I tucked Rosie in, I scrolled through Instagram and saw Erica’s new post.

[Having these two in my life is more than enough.]

The picture showed Matt carefully adjusting Ben’s IV drip, his expression full of concern.

Erica, wrapped in Matt’s coat, smiled sweetly at the camera.

Without thinking, I liked the post.

A second later, it disappeared.

Then, Matt called me.

"Belle, Erica was just feeling emotional and made a post. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of everything?"

I scoffed.

All I did was like the post. I hadn’t done anything remotely unreasonable.

"I don’t have time for this. By the way, Erica’s house has a leak, so they’ll be staying with us for two weeks.

"Clear out the master bedroom for them."

Before I could say a word, he hung up.

…

I let out a bitter laugh.

In the past, I would’ve stayed up all night getting the room ready.

But I was done being their free maid.