Time for Me to Go, Time for You to Burn

Ayla's POV

I always had to take care of David for the entire night, but he never saw how much hard work I put in.

He had only met Ruth a few times, but he couldn't stop talking about her.

Shane flicked on the overhead lights and looked at David with approval. "Listen to David. Do you think that you're acting like a mother should?

"Don't you think you're making a mountain out of a molehill by kicking up such a fuss over Ruth? I told you that there's nothing going on between us. Why can't you understand me?

"The person with the higher salary gets to make the decisions at home. You're working at a design institute, but you get paid peanuts. Since you have to rely on me to survive, you have to understand that you're the one who can't leave David and I."

I did not want to listen to them judging me again, so I got up to go back to my room. "Everything you say is right."

Shane took a deep breath, his voice sounding hoarse. "Ayla, why do you always give me that half-dead attitude whenever we argue? Don't you care about how I feel?"

I had drunk a little too much and was feeling dizzy. I stumbled and banged my calf hard against the coffee table, which sent me reeling backward.

Shane almost lunged over and stuck out his hand to catch my head before it hit the floor.

"Ayla! That fall could have been dangerous!"

I pushed against his chest as I sat up slowly, my eyes hollow and empty of emotion. "Don't touch me."

He looked shocked, as if he hadn't expected me to be so cold. In the end, he let go of me.

I went back to our room and fell fast asleep. When I woke up once more, it was five in the morning.

I had a hangover, but my biological clock had roused me on time as usual.

Shane liked having freshly made bread in the morning, while David only wanted pancakes.

Both of them were very picky about food. They complained that the housekeeper's cooking "smelled funny", and that store-bought food was "unhygienic".

Therefore, I would wake up two hours earlier every single day so that by 7:00 am, they could have a piping hot breakfast that fulfilled all their requirements.

However, I was going to force myself to go back to sleep today.

After some time, I was awoken by the sound of a relentless knocking on the door.

I pulled it open, my hair tousled. David was standing there.

"Mom, you're bad and mean! Why didn't you get out of bed to make breakfast for Dad and me? I'm hungry!"

I yawned. "I'm resting today."

"You can't!"

He suddenly rushed forward and pummeled my nightdress. "Ruthie once said that a good mother would cook even if she was sick!"

"I'm not a good mother. If you want to eat something, go and ask the housekeeper."

David suddenly looked like a beast that had been provoked to anger. He sat down on the floor and began wailing.

"The housekeeper's cooking tastes horrible! Dad, Mom won't cook for me! Ask Ruthie to come. The breakfast she cooks is delicious, and she's willing to cook for me!"

Shane sat at the dining table with dark bruises under his eyes. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all.

"Ayla, don't take out your anger on David. If you're tired and you don't want to cook, I can ask Ruth to come."

I did not speak any longer. I shut the door with a bang and began to wash up and put on makeup. I pulled on my blazer and picked up my car keys before walking outside.

In the distance, I heard Shane talking to Ruth on the phone. When I passed him, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Are you going out? I put a hangover cure on the table for you. Drink it before you leave."

I flung his hand aside. "I don't need it. Thanks."

Before the door closed, I thought I heard the sound of a teacup smashing against the wall behind me.

Shane was angry.

I paused momentarily, but I did not stay and strode forward instead.

I went to the design institute.

I had big plans for my career when I'd first moved to this city with Shane.