Chapter 3

The harsh reality was that not everyone got to be recognized as part of the family. Both last year and tonight, Louise, Max, and Elaine had made it clear that I wasn't part of theirs.

And three days from now, the man standing behind the camera would finally leave them.

"Got it," I said, lowering my phone.

Max was the first to jump down from his chair. "Let me see! Let me see! If Mr. Parker looks bad in it, I'm going to be mad!"

Elaine looked unconvinced. "Already? Did you even try?"

"Let me see."

Louise tapped on the photos and raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. You're finally learning. At least you know better than to get jealous over nothing."

She gave me an approving look, but I looked away, afraid I might actually throw up.

"Now that we've taken the picture, it's time for Max to make his wishes."

Matthew naturally instructed me, "Harlan, you're the closest. Could you turn off the lights?"

Elaine nodded. "That's right, Harlan. Go ahead."

I walked over and switched off the lights. The living room fell into darkness. Only the birthday candles flickered softly. Max closed his eyes and made his wishes.

"For my first wish, I want Mr. Parker to stay here forever and never leave."

Matthew's eyes turned red with emotion.

Louise smiled and affectionately ruffled Max's hair. "Good boy."

"For my second wish, I want Dad to stop being so annoying and stop making Mom angry."

The moment he said it, the air seemed to freeze. Matthew turned to look at me with concern, but his lips were slightly curved upward.

Louise glanced at me guiltily before scolding him, "That's nonsense, Max."

He muttered unhappily, "But you clearly said that when we watched a movie with Mr. Parker last time."

"Max!" Elaine snapped, and only then did he stop talking.

My heart dropped. It turned out Matthew hadn't just returned today, as Louise had claimed. They had already been seeing each other before this.

Everyone knew. I was the only one in the dark.

I smiled dryly, wanting to laugh out loud, but my hands were trembling. I looked at Louise. "What else have you been hiding from me?"

She pursed her lips and looked away uneasily. "Nothing. Just some unimportant stuff—"

I pressed on. "What stuff?"

"Harlan," Matthew chimed in, "don't get the wrong idea—"

I cut him off. "I'm talking to my wife, not you."

"Enough, Harlan!" Elaine barked, stepping in to defend Matthew. "Matty is Loulou's guest. Nothing is going on between them, so stop trying to create scenarios that don't exist!"

Max charged at me like an angry bull. "I hate you! I won't let you do this to Mr. Parker!"

I stumbled back, my lower back hitting the edge of the dining table. A sharp pain shot through me, and I sucked in a breath.

Louise reached out as if to help me, but Matthew gently caught her by the sleeve. Her hand froze in midair, as if someone had nailed it there. She didn't move another inch toward me.

Elaine wrapped her arms around Max, her eyes full of reproach as she looked at me. "Since when did you become so difficult, Harlan?"

Max glared at me as if I were the villain. "Grandma, let's just ignore him and celebrate my birthday outside. I hate him."

My throat tightened. My nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't feel anything.

"Okay, okay. We'll let him be." Elaine coaxed Max, putting an arm around him and leading him toward the door. "I'll take you out for some cake."

Matthew followed closely behind them, looking almost cheerful.