Our Goodbye in the Moonlight

I didn't raise my voice, but my mother-in-law Lilian heard me anyway.

Eyeing the TV, she planted herself on the couch and scowled. "That's enough from you. We just got back, and the flight was taxing enough. We are in no mood for your nonsense."

Throwing a stack of fridge magnets at me, she smirked, "There, some souvenirs for you. Honestly, you should know when to stop. What are you getting so upset about when they're already divorced?"

Then, pointing at the wedding photo on the wall, she scoffed impatiently, "It's normal for men to misbehave, but Damon is your husband now. Don't you think it's stupid to be jealous about his past instead of doing right by him?"

My own parents flanked her after putting down their bags, silent but glaring at me accusingly.

I met their glares, my heart growing cold. "You kept this from me too? But I'm your daughter..."

"And Damon is the breadwinner!"

Mom snapped, cutting me off as she advanced, poking me on the chest. "They were studying abroad, and it's normal to feel lonely! You're the one who got between them, but Mila never held it against you, even happily playing your bridesmaid! So stop playing the victim!"

Dad was sipping his tea as he chimed in, "Damon told us when you married him that he'd married in Kanna and had a son. He bought us a house to make up for it."

All I felt was a dull ache in my chest, as if it were stuffed.

Just a house was enough to buy their silence and unquestioning loyalty to Damon.

They had watched me give everything to his family and feel grateful to them, all while keeping me in the dark like a complete fool.

My feet seemingly nailed to the floor, I looked up, fighting back tears as I asked, "So I'm less than a house? You knew Damon was cheating on me, and you said nothing while I raised his bastard? And you even took her as your goddaughter?"

Mom's glare flared, but she still restrained herself enough to say quietly, "Now you're just being harsh. They've divorced—stop ruining the peace in the house over that. Heck, Mila is such a good friend she let you have her husband. What more do you want from her?"

I felt a chill down my spine and shuddered. "This is serious! They married, had a child, and kept me in the dark while making me raise their child!"

Mila, standing in the corner, finally burst into tears and came to me, arms outstretched.

However, I avoided her, and she promptly hung her head, her voice soft and meek, "I'm so sorry, Yvie. I'll leave with Jojo right now and won't ever show up again. Just be good to Damon. He really loves you..."

Then, wiping away her tears, she scooped Jojo up in her arms.

That was when Damon—silent the whole time—moved, putting an arm around her before moving to stand between us protectively.

Leveling an icy glare at me, he growled, "It's already over between me and Mila. What more do you want, to drive her to suicide?"

Finding refuge right then, Jojo leaped out of Mila's arms and hugged Damon's leg, bawling, "Daddy! That woman is awful! She always bullies Mommy..."