Outsider in My Own Marriage

My in-laws used to say, "No matter how old you are, Preston, you'll always be a child to us."

In just a few years, everything had changed completely.

I was no longer a child who needed to be cared for.

I looked up at Sophie. "I'm sorry you ended up with such a jealous, unreasonable husband. But it's fine now. I'm not your husband anymore."

Sohpie's face turned ashen. "I've already tried to talk you down. What else do you want? I've really spoiled you all these years!" she exclaimed.

I chuckled, "From now on, we go our separate ways."

I continued packing after I finished my declaration.

Sophie stared at me in disbelief and grabbed my arm. "Preston, have you lost your mind? How could you say something like that? We've been married for years. When have I ever mistreated you? Now you want a divorce over an apple? Have you lost it?"

"If you walk out like this, you'll make me a laughingstock amongst our relatives!" she said, shaking my arm.

I shook her off. "You were the ones who made this a joke first."

She suddenly rushed out of the room.

Seconds later, she stormed back in with some apples. She threw them at me.

"You haven't had this variety of apples, right? Fine. They're all yours. Eat as much as you want. If you want to leave, finish these first!"

The commotion drew the entire family over.

James finally spoke, every word he uttered directed at me. "Preston, it's New Year's. Do you have to make us angry? Look at what this house has turned into because of you!"

"Come on, Preston. Just endure it. Peace is better than conflict. Mom and Dad are old. Don't stress them out," Sophie's younger sister, Olivia Turner, chided in.

My two nephews saw Olivia speaking and immediately joined in. "You're a bad uncle!"

Amelia Caldwell, the youngest in the family, wasn't as polite. She walked up and shoved me.

"Ever since you came back, this house hasn't had a moment of peace. Maybe you should think about why that is. Julius would never act like such a shrew!"

Julius hurried over and pretended to restrain her.

"Amelia, don't say that. Preston didn't mean it," he cried out before turning to me. "Preston, just apologize to Sophie, and everything will be fine."

He reached for me, but I dodged him.

The next second, he fell straight to the floor.

I scoffed. His acting was painfully obvious, but everyone believed it.

They immediately surrounded him and asked if he was hurt.

Julius forced tears in his eyes. "I'm fine. I just tripped. Please don't blame Preston for it."

That single sentence only served to deepen their resentment toward me.

"How could you be so vicious, Preston?" Sophie said, looking at me with pure disappointment. "You've really disappointed me."

I ignored them. One by one, I picked up the apples and ate them.

When I was done, I turned to them and calmly said, "I'm done. Can I leave now?"

Everyone was surprised. They had never expected someone who always bowed his head to turn resolute.