Love That Ended in Vain

Whoever wanted to serve them could go ahead.

I cuddled Rosie, sleeping well through the night.

Early the next morning, still half-asleep, I heard a soft voice outside the door.

"Matt, will it not be too much trouble for Belle if Ben and I move in?"

"It’s fine. Belle stays home all day, anyway. She can help take care of you."

I opened the door to find Ben running wild through the room with his marbles.

When Matt spotted me, he said condescendingly, "Help Erica with her luggage. She has too much to carry on her own."

I scoffed. "That’s her problem, not mine."

This was the first time I had spoken to him so sharply. Matt froze, his brows knitting so tightly they could crush a mosquito.

"Matt, Belle doesn't seem to welcome me. Maybe it’s best I take Ben somewhere else," Erica said. Like a switch, her eyes welled up with tears.

Matt's face darkened. "Belle, I told you. There’s nothing between me and Erica. Can you be a little more open-minded?"

Open-minded.

I had lost count of how many times I’d heard that phrase.

From the moment Matt delayed our wedding to take care of Erica in the hospital, he had asked me to be open-minded.

I’ve been tolerant time and time again. When I gave birth, I even went to the hospital alone.

Matt was apparently too busy. That day was Ben’s birthday, and he had to be there for such an important moment.

An hour after he left, I went into labor.

Calls went unanswered, and messages were ignored.

I endured the pain alone, calling an ambulance myself and spending the entire night delivering Rosie.

Matt had never once spent a holiday with us, either. His excuse?

"Holidays are a time for family reunions. Erica and Ben would be too lonely."

Did he ever think about me and Rosie, though? When every house was lit up and filled with laughter, all we had was each other.

Maybe my expression showed too much of my pain because Matt hesitated, his hand reaching out to wipe my tears.

I instinctively stepped back.

He froze. This was the first time I had avoided his touch.

…

Ben got tired of playing and clung to Matt’s leg, whining, "Daddy, when are we eating? I’m hungry."

Matt didn’t answer. Instead, he instinctively looked at me.

I acted like I hadn’t heard anything, focused on dressing Rosie.

Winter came early in the north, the cold biting through to the bone.

Matt was my senior in college. To be with him, I followed him north without hesitation.

My mom had warned me, but I was young and in love.

Now, I truly regretted it.

No matter how much love I poured into him, I could never warm his cold heart. Just like how I would never get used to the freezing northern winters.

Erica pulled Ben away from Matt’s leg and scolded, "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop calling Uncle Matt, Daddy. It makes Aunt Belle upset."

Ben wailed, throwing a tantrum on the floor. His marble shot out and hit Rosie straight in the eye.

I panicked and rushed to check on her.

Erica, meanwhile, stood off to the side, saying flippantly, "Oh, it’s just kids playing around. No big deal."

Rosie’s eye reddened almost instantly.

"Relax, Ben’s not that strong. There’s no need to overreact," Erica kept rambling.

Eventually, I snapped. "Say another word, and I’ll rip your mouth apart."

Matt hadn’t even glanced at Rosie’s injury. His entire focus was on his precious Erica, who was now pouting with teary eyes.

He grabbed my wrist, his voice ice-cold. "Apologize to Erica.

"Or I’ll throw you out."

With no family in this city, I had nowhere to go besides here.

He thought I would be scared and give in. Instead, I laughed.

"Fine. Rosie and I will leave together. Then you can live happily ever after with your little family."

Matt froze. He hadn’t expected me to be so decisive.

"Belle, you can’t take it back."

His eyes locked onto mine, his hand trembling slightly.

I shook it off, scooped up Rosie, and left without hesitation.

That was my answer.

I didn’t want this anymore.