Seven Ear Piercings(4)

9

At the beginning of the new year, everything looked new and fresh.

However, my house was filled with a murderous aura.

My stepmother occupied a big sofa alone, and my father timidly sat on the small couch next to her.

Jeremy held my hand and stood in front of the coffee table. The two of us looked like criminals being interrogated.

The "Harmony in the Home" plaque was hung high on the wall, full of sarcasm.

I'd always been terrified that my father would find out about this.

It wasn't because I was afraid he would object but because I was scared his reaction would make my last desire for the family become a sick joke.

I wasn't afraid of danger, but I feared the person who stabbed me was my beloved.

After a prolonged silence, my stepmother suddenly sat up straight and glared at my father. "Are you mute? Say something!"

My dad lowered his head and coughed. He smiled apologetically and said, "This is their business. Let Jeremy and Madison solve it themselves."

I almost doubted my ears. Why did it sound like he was helping me?

"What do you mean by that?" My stepmother jumped to her feet and glared at my father with teary eyes. "Are you really allowing your daughter to pester my son? What a pair you are!"

Jeremy clenched my hand and scolded her, "Mom, it's I that latches on Madison. Don't be so rude."

My stepmother turned her head and pointed at me. "Rude? Jeremy, wake up. She doesn't deserve you. A girl like her will bring bad luck wherever she goes."

Most of the time, words spoken out of anger were the most genuine thoughts in one's heart. Other times, one could rely on rationality to choose their words more carefully.

After living with me for more than 10 years, it turned out that was what my stepmother thought of me.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I gritted my teeth and didn't let them fall or allow myself to speak.

I waited quietly for the farce to end, for the announcement of the winner, and for Jeremy to give up on me and kill the tiny hope in my heart.

It should be the most decent thing I could do.

"Bullshit!" My dad suddenly stood up, and his chest heaved violently. "Selena, when we got married, we agreed if I was good to you, you would treat my daughter as your own daughter. Can you hear yourself? Are you talking like a real person?

"What's wrong with a girl like my daughter? She just didn't know how to grow into a gentle girl without her birth mother's guidance. But so what? I like her feisty character. Doesn't your son like her too?

"I'm telling you. If my daughter wants to be with your son, I'll support her. If she doesn't, all the better. In my eyes, your son is not worthy of my daughter."

My dad's voice was loud and clear as if he had been holding back for a long time, and finally, he wished everyone could hear him clearly.

I stared blankly at everything in front of me. Did I hear him wrong? Were his eyes filled with tears?

Was he really defending me?

My stepmother was as incredulous as me. She looked at my father in horror, and her body swayed. After a while, she cried and shouted, "Do you think I don't know your daughter will become a lunatic sooner or later..."

"Shut up!" my dad interrupted her sternly.

My stepmother collapsed heavily on the sofa. She twisted her hands and breathed heavily. It could be seen she was trying her best to control her anger.

"Dad?" I asked softly, "Was Mom really..."

Before I could finish my words, Dad shook his head repeatedly. "No, it wasn't like that. Your mother was just disappointed in life and depressed. It was my fault. Don't listen to that nonsense."

Depression?

I was suffering from depression too. Was there a generic reason?

Or was my stepmother right? Would I also become a psycho?

In fact, if they knew I often collapsed in despair because of a small matter and had all kinds of terrible thoughts in my head over the long nights, they would have long regarded me as a lunatic.

As the first wave of fighting subsided, everyone fell silent again.

Jeremy held my hand the whole time. Even though my nails had unknowingly sunk into his flesh, he still didn't release his grip.

I suddenly came up with a definition for our actions: we bravely faced death.

Jeremy initiated the second wave of war.

He took a stack of things from his suitcase and handed them to my father. There was a card, a real estate certificate, a bank card, and a photo album with photos I took with him from different times.

Judging by the marks on the album, one could tell the owner often looked through it, and some photos were also carefully marked with what had happened at that time.

"Dad, I've chosen Madison as my life partner," said Jeremy.

Unfortunately, I didn't dare to be distracted from experiencing the emotions in this situation. I only felt extremely nervous.

I didn't even dare to move, fearing that I would make a mistake and make things worse.

But Jeremy was different. He was confident in what he said and did. He was frank and fearless.

After flipping through them individually, my dad said softly to my stepmother, "They are in love with each other. We're their parents. Let's not make things hard for them."

My stepmother ignored him and just stared at Jeremy quietly. After a long while, seeing that Jeremy didn't feel guilty at all, she couldn't stand it anymore and swept the things off the coffee table. She shouted at my father, "I'm getting a divorce! Now! If you let them stay together, I no longer want to be part of this family."

Jeremy dragged me out of the house without waiting for my dad's response.

He showed no hesitation and was extremely calm.

But I knew that was only for show. He just disguised himself very well. When he held my hand, his hand was actually shaking violently.

When we left the neighborhood, Jeremy suddenly bent down and hugged me tightly. He breathed heavily on my neck.

"I knew she was very sad, but I couldn't back down now. I'm afraid I'll lose you," he said.

Every word was like a heavy hammer hitting my heart.

I was both touched and distressed.

He was so certain about his choice.

It turned out I could meet someone who would choose me no matter what.

"Jeremy, the better you treat me, the more I'm afraid you'll regret it in the future."

After saying those words, I immediately regretted them.

Why couldn't I be more proactive?

The issue between us seemed to be me, right?

What should I do now?

10

The streets were noisy. Children were playing, and clowns were dancing. New Year's atmosphere was everywhere.

Jeremy looked into my eyes seriously. "Madison, I love you very much. You're the most important person in my life. If you don't believe me now, wait for me to get old and repeat it."

In addition to being moved, I was also a little confused. "Why, Jeremy? Why did you..."

I didn't know what was so good about me that he valued me so much.

I couldn't find my own value, so in this relationship, I had been uneasy and worried about gains and losses.

"Silly girl." He smiled sadly. "Because only you can make me feel like the world is safe."

"Only me?" I asked.

"Yes, only you," he replied.

In the evening, we talked on the bed for a long time, as if we wanted to make up for the separation in the past six months.

In the end, I forgot how I fell asleep.

I vaguely remembered Jeremy comforting me by saying, "Everyone should be responsible for their own lives. As for how other people choose, it's none of our business. But I'll talk to my mother and try to talk her around. Don't be stressed."

When I woke up, Jeremy was gone. There was my hot breakfast and a note on the table.

"Be good and have breakfast. I'm meeting with my mother, trying to make everyone happy. Wait for me."

By three o'clock in the afternoon, Jeremy hadn't come back yet. He just sent me a message saying that he had something to do and that I should care for myself and not wait for him.

I had a bad feeling and quickly dialed his number.

No one answered.

I dialed my dad's number, but no one answered either.

After thinking for a long time, I gritted my teeth and dialed my stepmother's number. Soon, the call went through.

"Mom..."

After that, I was at a loss for words.

A sneer came from the other end of the line. "You don't even bother to go home. You always get my son to fight your battles for you. Typical."

I immediately stood up, packed my things, and ran out. "I'll be right back."

When I arrived in the neighborhood, I looked at the familiar house and felt sad.

Why did I feel so depressed every time I returned home?

Didn't they say that home was a safe haven?

I suddenly understood what Jeremy meant. I was the only one who could make him feel the world was safe.

Both of us firmly believed we were children without a family.

The living room was empty. Only my father was sitting on the sofa, smoking with an absentminded expression. I didn't see my stepmother or Jeremy.

I asked nervously, "Where's Jeremy?"

My dad gave me a meaningful look and patted the empty seat beside him, signaling me to sit there.

"Is our family a failure?"

After I sat down obediently, he suddenly spoke.

The atmosphere became heavy. I pursed my lips and didn't want to answer this question.

"You never talked to me about your feelings. I'm not as sensitive and meticulous as Jeremy's mother. Forget it. I won't ask anymore. You're already an adult. It's too late for me to tell you what to do. You can do whatever you want."

"Okay," I replied after a long silence.

There seemed to be tears in his turbid eyes. He opened his mouth a few times before making a sound. "Jeremy is upstairs in the attic. Both of you are making our life so much harder..."

Hearing this, I didn't delay any longer. I quickly ran up to the attic, my heart beating wildly.