Strangers Under the Same Roof

As I looked at the stubborn light in my son’s eyes, I gently stroked his head and softly said, "Okay."

Then, I lifted my gaze toward Daniel’s bedroom door and silently said in my heart, 'Daniel, our son has given you three last chances. If you waste them all… He and I will disappear from your life forever.

'May we live well apart, and never meet again.'

***

The next morning, Daniel left in a rush, skipping breakfast. I knew he had gone to see Claire Matthews.

They were childhood sweethearts and were pretty much a perfect couple.

However, during the upheaval years ago, Daniel was forced to relocate to the countryside, while Claire quickly married and moved to another city. From then on, their relationship was severed.

When he came to Red Fern Valley, Daniel spent months being depressed before finally regaining some spirit.

While he was living in our home, he got drunk one night, and we ended up in bed. He reluctantly married me because of that.

As a result of that single night, we had Noah.

When Noah was two, Daniel returned to the city and brought me along with him. Just when I started to feel secretly happy, thinking maybe he had feelings for me, he coldly warned me not to ever reveal I was his wife. In fact, I was to be nothing more than his live-in nanny.

I became his hidden, unacknowledged wife, and Noah, our hidden, unacknowledged child.

Even if we ran into him on the streets, we had to walk the other way.

Right before the end of the workday, I went to the factory manager to resign. She looked surprised. "Emma, even though you’re just a temp, the factory treats you well. Why are you quitting?"

I smiled and replied, "My husband’s in the countryside. It’s better if I go back."

"So you’re not a single mom? I always thought you were raising your kid alone. I figured your husband was long dead!"

Seeing the shock on her face, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

In a way, he was dead. I nodded anyway. "You’re right, I'm not. Since my husband’s in the countryside, things will be easier if I go back. Please accept my resignation."

After handling the resignation paperwork, I went to Little Pines Preschool to pick Noah up. However, on the way there, I saw Daniel and Claire together on the street.

Daniel’s expression was soft while his gaze was warm. I had never seen him look at anyone that way.

I stood stunned, watching them, then lowered my head to glance at my dusty work uniform. A deep sense of inferiority rose in my chest.

A co-worker, who came along to pick up her child, also saw them and sighed. "Mr. Thompson’s been single for so many years. He’s finally going to marry someone. Lucky woman."

"What’s there to envy? People like us don't even share the same world as Mr. Thompson. Only someone like Miss Matthews is worthy of him."

I bit my lip bitterly.

It was true. We weren’t in the same world. I’d spent eight years trying, and I still couldn’t be part of his world.

As they walked closer, Daniel finally noticed me. His gaze shifted, and he gave me a warning look, one that warned me not to speak recklessly in front of Claire and reveal anything about our relationship.

I let out a sarcastic smile, then calmly brushed past the two of them without making eye contact, like we were complete strangers.

Just as I looked up again, I was startled.

Noah was already standing at the kindergarten gate, his backpack on his back. His clear eyes stared unblinkingly at his father, who was affectionately walking with another woman. He continued to watch as his father strode away with another little boy.

When I saw the light in Noah’s eyes go out, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

At that moment, Daniel finally noticed his biological son standing just a few feet away.