Chapter 2

When I got home, there was no one else in the house. The food I had yet to clear away the night before was still on the dinner table.

James and Max never came home.

I went into Max’s room and brought out the carefully-chosen gifts I had left on his bed. When I tossed out the food, I put the gifts on top of the trash can.

Since he did not appreciate them, I would leave them for someone who did.

As I was eating some oatmeal, there was some noise from the door.

Max walked into the house with his little backpack, looking impatient. He came up to me reluctantly and held out his hand. “Where’s my birthday present?”

I looked up from the comedy show I was watching. “Oh, sorry. I forgot to buy any.”

Max was furious. “I knew it, you don’t care about me at all! You’re a failure as a mother. You’re nothing compared to Aunt Pearl!”

His mood changes on a dime, just like his father's.

I looked at him and said seriously, “I nearly died when I gave birth to you, and I’ve treated you well these years. I gave you almost anything you wanted. If you hate me because I made you do your homework, then your wish has come true. You never have to do homework again.”

Max looked at me in disbelief. “Really?”

When I nodded, he gave me a nasty smirk. “You’re trying to make it sound nice, but you just can’t teach me anymore.

“Granny said you’re a high school grad, but Dad and Aunt Pearl both went to college. You’re the stupidest one around here! No wonder Granny doesn’t like you.”

My education was a sore point in my life. No one remembered that my results in school were much better than James’s back then, but the school could only afford one scholarship, so I gave it to James.

I knew his mother did not like me, either. She thought I was a lowly orphan and that he deserved someone better. I even went out in the rain to buy her medicine before, just to win her approval.

Her attitude toward me improved after I gave birth to Max, but I never expected her to badmouth me in front of my own son.

Max glared at me like I was his enemy. All of a sudden, I felt exhausted.

When James came back, he was drunk. He collapsed onto the couch, and a piece of cloth fell from his pocket.

When I picked it up, he abruptly grabbed my wrist, his tone cold. “What are you messing around for this time?”

His grip hurt, so I winced. After that, he let go, and the silk scarf fell to the floor.

I took a deep breath. “I just wanted to ask you if you needed this washed. Whatever, you decide.”

James’s breath was thick with alcohol. I resisted the urge to puke.

He gave me a long look, then clicked his tongue. “Could you stop overthinking things, Wendy? Someone stuffed it into my pocket during team-building games at work. If you’re curious, just ask. Don’t accuse me of random offenses.”

True, James used to care a lot about his boundaries. It was only after meeting Pearl that he kept making exception after exception.

I used to do everything from throwing tantrums to storming off in jealous fits. Looking back now, it was quite embarrassing.

I said, “I wasn’t overthinking. You can check the surveillance cameras if you must. Stay in the living room until the alcohol wears out, would you? I’m heading back to sleep.”

When I stood up, James hugged me tightly. I caught a waft of rose perfume amid the stench of alcohol, and the combination made me throw up.

James looked like he had stepped in feces. I suddenly grinned at him.

“James, I’m pregnant.”