The Door at Midnight

However, when I tried to be nice, it did not make anyone feel sorry or say they were sorry. Instead, things got worse.

"Cindy, you're such a good actress, but don't think I can't tell!" Matthew did not believe I did not care. He said with a mean laugh, "Just don't start a big fuss at home after they leave."

When my mother-in-law heard that, she slammed down her fork and said I made her feel sick. "Son, as soon as the holiday's over and the County Clerk's office is back open, go and get a divorce," she told him.

She said that Shirley was going to have a baby, and that the Smith family should welcome her. She even took Shirley's hand and scolded her gently. "You should never have gone to study in another country! Because of that, you let this clingy woman sneak into our lives. What bad luck."

Everyone at the table whispered and looked at me like I was nothing. I just gave a sad little laugh.

I met Matthew on a college trip when I was a freshman. I got hurt by accident and there was a large gash on my leg.

Matthew, a med student, was the first to dash over and help me with my injury.

He even gave me a piggyback ride all the way down the hill.

His cool and good looks made me fall head over heels for him.

I really went out of my way to pursue him.

Even though Matthew always seemed kind of distant, I figured that was just how he was, and it did not bother me.

However, then, two years ago, when Shirley came back home, I saw what Matthew was like when he was really in love.

He never helped out in the kitchen with me.

"Are you kidding? I'm a surgeon, I can't be expected to chop veggies and cook," he would say.

However, for Shirley, he made her favorite fruit cake with his own two hands.

He would pull crazy hours at the hospital for a whole week, just to make time to take her shopping and to the movies — stuff he used to call a total waste of time.

In all the six years I was with him, all I ever got was a chilly, "I'm stuck at work."

I got lost in those thoughts, sitting quiet as a mouse.

Shirley always looked down on me, like she felt sorry for me.

Even though she was the one who came between us, she always acted so high and mighty.

"Godmother, Cindy's got it rough. She’s got no job, and will now be divorced. How's she gonna take care of her kid?"

Matthew just snorted. "The kid will stay with me, of course. She can leave if she wants, but the kid stays."

I looked up sharply, glaring at Matthew.

All I wanted was to get away and just focus on my child.

Why did they have to make everything so hard?

Shirley's brow wrinkled with worry.

"The kids are close in age. What if they start fighting? I'm not sure I can handle it."

My mother-in-law just chuckled at her.

"Cindy's kid can't hold a candle to yours. There’s no way her child would dare cross my precious grandson!"

Matthew agreed with a nod and added, "Your child must be just like you, smart and well-behaved, pretty and sweet. If there's ever a problem, it's sure to be someone else's fault, and I'll make sure they learn their lesson!"

I shivered, suddenly remembering the way he looked at his son in the hospital with such callousness and distaste.

If they took my son away, I was sure my son would be in so much trouble!

No way! I just could not let my child go through that.

Perhaps due to the memory of past pain, my stomach started to hurt really badly.

I turned white and quickly pulled on Matthew's sleeve.

"Matthew, my stomach really hurts. Can you check on me?"

Matthew, annoyed, pushed me away with his elbow.

"Quit your acting! You've been cleaning and cooking all day. You look fine to me."

The relatives started teasing me, "This isn't a TV show, no one's interested in your drama."

Laughter broke out all around me, and my face turned bright red.

Shirley sweet-talked Matthew, telling him how sick she had been feeling.

Matthew was so worried, asking her what she wanted to eat.

"Cindy, hurry up and cook Shirley's favorite dish in the kitchen!"