Chapter 2

Over the next three days, I devoted myself completely to arranging Callum's funeral. Not once did Eunice ask about it.

It was just like the time I'd gotten lost in the mountains when we'd gone hiking. Shawn had insisted I was lying.

"At this hour, it's clear Finn just wants a little outdoor action. Don't tell me you actually believe he got lost," he said.

With that, Eunice hadn't bothered to check on me at all. She'd just turned off her phone and left me up there overnight. I'd almost gotten my heart ripped out by wolves.

I figured Shawn had probably made up some other story to smear me. I no longer cared, though. I just wanted to give Callum a proper goodbye.

…

Three days later, I finally returned home, my eyes still swollen from crying. The moment I stepped through the door, a pillow came flying at me out of nowhere.

"Eunice, you really are clueless about these things! How could you buy something like this without a heating function? And the size is totally wrong!" Shawn waved a sex toy around carelessly.

Eunice just gave an indulgent, helpless smile. "You're the one who asked me to buy that, and you're now blaming me for getting the wrong one?" she retorted.

Shawn was wearing a white shirt I'd ironed for Eunice.

I smiled bitterly at the sight. I'd once thought about copying those TV shows where the male lead and his wife swapped shirts for fun.

Each time I'd suggested it, Eunice had mocked me for it. "You're not some young boy anymore. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you for pulling such a stunt? And what if you stretch out my shirt?"

It turned out she'd already had someone else in mind for this sort of thing, and that "someone else" had been right under my nose the whole time.

I noticed that Eunice and Shawn had stopped fooling around because I'd come back. I didn't want to kill the mood, so I said, "You two go on. I just came back to grab a few things. I'll be gone soon."

With that, I started upstairs to pack my bags. To my surprise, Eunice followed me and grabbed my arm.

"Finn, you disappeared for three days, and I haven't even questioned you about it. What right do you have to throw a tantrum?" she demanded.

I yanked my arm out of her grip and continued up the stairs. On the landing, Shawn's pet dog was buried in its bowl, happily eating the food inside.

Shawn followed me up, slinging an arm around my shoulders as he indirectly mocked me. "Your cooking really hits the spot, Finn. My dog's always loved this dish. You'll have to make more of it from now on."

I slowly turned to look at Eunice. Knowing she was guilty, she dropped her gaze to the floor.

Back in the day, I'd burned my hands countless times learning how to make this dish for her because she'd casually mentioned liking it. Even now, I was still in the habit of cooking it for her and leaving it in the fridge.

It turned out Shawn's dog was the one who'd been eating it all along. Just like my love—it had all gone to the dogs.

A dull, throbbing pain welled up in my chest. I shook Shawn off in disgust. Unexpectedly, that light tug made him suddenly tumble backward down the steps.

It was only two steps, but he acted like he'd twisted his ankle and wailed dramatically. "I don't even know what I did wrong! My ankle hurts so badly…"

Eunice hurried down to help him up, her face as dark as a storm as she yelled at me, "How could you push him? Is this how you're supposed to treat your brother-in-law? Hurry up and apologize to him!"

I caught the taunting look Shawn threw my way. I was honestly sick of his games, so I just turned away without hesitation.

"How can someone as cold-blooded as you be a good father? How are you supposed to be a role model for Callum?" Eunice's angry screeches followed me as I headed upstairs and straight into the bedroom.

Outside the door, I could hear Eunice softly singing a lullaby to calm Shawn down. For a second, I could almost see her gently comforting Callum. Too bad that even up until the moment he died, Callum never knew his mother had never really cared about him.

I packed Callum's belongings and my own change of clothes into a suitcase, one item at a time.

Just then, Eunice pushed the door open and walked in.