This Love Is Dead

Sharon Tomlinson touched Tasha Holden's forehead, clearly pleased, and praised her in Aurelian without thinking.

"You're such a good girl, Tasha. Your Uncle Curtis and I are really proud of you. When you're a little older, we'll give you a pretty little sister. Then you'll have company when you go to school."

Tasha clapped excitedly and replied in clumsy Aurelian, "Yay, that's great! I love you and Uncle Curtis so much. I'll also love the pretty sister you'll have. If only I didn't have such a scary, bad dad. I don't like him at all. Just seeing him annoys me!"

I froze when I heard that, unable to believe my ears for a long moment.

Maybe she noticed my gaze lingering on them. Sharon smiled and placed some Brussels sprouts on my plate, her voice gentle.

"Oliver, what's wrong?"

I shook my head.

I felt as if my heart were being torn apart, a suffocating pain flooding my chest.

Sharon must have forgotten that I was the first person in this house to learn Aurelian. She must have also forgotten that I hated Brussels sprouts.

My face went cold.

Seeing my silence, Sharon immediately grew nervous. She reached for my hand carefully.

"Honey, why do you suddenly look so pale?"

I pulled my hand away and forced a smile.

"It's nothing. I just can't believe you forgot I don't like Brussels sprouts," I said lightly. "By the way, what were you just talking about? Was that Aurelian?"

Sharon stiffened, guilt flashing across her face. She didn't dare look at me.

"Oh, nothing. Laura was just saying how jealous she was of how close we are. That's all."

After brushing it off with a random excuse, she quickly switched to an apologetic tone.

"I'm sorry, honey. I forgot. I'll remember next time. I won't ever make you eat Brussels sprouts again. I promise I'll only make your favorite dishes."

She spoke softly as she picked the vegetables out of my plate.

Tasha rolled her eyes at me and snorted. "Hmph, so dramatic. Eating it once won't kill you. How could a grown man be so picky? That's embarrassing."

Sharon's gentle expression vanished instantly. She snapped at Tasha.

"Tasha, how can you talk to your dad like that? Apologize, now!"

Tasha rolled her eyes and unwillingly muttered a stiff, "Sorry."

Laura Heptinstall, Sharon's best friend, couldn't help commenting, "Alright, alright. We get it. You two are in love. No need to show off. Why yell at the kid?"

Sharon shot her a look, clearly proud. "Please. You're just jealous I have such a handsome, thoughtful husband. I'll show off all I want. I'm a proud wife. I could show him off a million times a day."

I set my fork down and looked at Sharon calmly.

She put on a picture of affection. The moment she noticed my gaze, she ladled a bowl of soup, blew on it, and brought it to my lips.

"Honey, do you want some soup? I just want to thank you for taking care of Tasha and me for the past seven years. I know it wasn't easy. Now, I can finally stand again. Don't worry. From now on, I'll love you with my whole life."

If I had heard this before, I would have been moved to tears.

Now, all I felt was a sharp, bitter ache and deep irony.

Her act was flawless.

For a moment, I almost believed the Aurelian conversation earlier had been nothing but my imagination.