The Door at Midnight

I was six months pregnant when my husband's childhood sweetheart showed up on Christmas Eve, pregnant too, demanding her place in his life.

Smiling, I welcomed her in. "Come on in. Make yourself at home."

In my previous life, I had forced my husband to kick Shirley out. She collapsed from low blood sugar and froze to death that very Christmas Eve.

Matthew did not hold it against me. On the contrary, he softened, stayed by my side and took care of me while I waited to give birth.

However, when the baby came, despite being an obstetrician himself, Matthew sent our healthy newborn son straight to the morgue. I begged him desperately, but his face was twisted with hatred.

"If you hadn't been so petty and dramatic, Shirley wouldn't have died along with her baby!"

"You're heartbroken over your son? Then go freeze to death too. Pay for Shirley’s life with your own life."

Just like that, I opened my eyes again, back to the moment Shirley arrived on Christmas Eve.

When I opened the door, a blast of cold air hit me like a wave.

It reminded me of that scary time after a really tough delivery, when I was shivering and truly thought that I might not make it.

Matthew Smith's voice came from behind me, sounding totally surprised.

"Shirley? It's freezing out there. Come on in!"

He did not even seem to care that I was sporting a six-month old baby bump. He pushed me aside roughly, but he was super gentle with the person he was bringing inside.

As he led the person to the living room, Matthew gave me a stern look.

"It's Christmas Eve, so be good, okay? We don't want any trouble."

I took a deep breath and put on a smile.

"Why would I cause trouble? Shirley's like family to you, and we're so happy to have her here!"

I beat him to the punch this time, saying the words he had once said to me in my previous life.

Matthew stopped in his tracks, staring at me in shock.

Finally, he just snorted and said, "I’m glad you understand."

At dinner, everyone was super friendly to Shirley.

Matthew was extra nice, getting her a bowl of soup.

However, then Shirley turned white as a ghost and gagged.

Matthew was right there, rubbing her back, asking what was wrong.

Shirley smiled, kind of embarrassed, "I'm pregnant. About two months along."

The room went quiet for a few seconds.

Matthew looked shocked, but then he was grinning from ear to ear.

Shirley looked at me, tears streaming down her face.

"Cindy, I'm so sorry about that day... we were both drunk, I could... I could get rid of it."

My mother-in-law shot me a fierce look.

"Get rid of it? No way! That's my grandchild!"

Matthew put his arm around Shirley, but when he looked at me, his face was like ice.

"Cindy, I have to do right by Shirley! Don't even think about making a fuss..."

Before he could finish, I simply said "Congratulations," and then calmly took a slice of meat with my fork.

Matthew was so shocked that he nearly choked. "I said that this baby is mine. Didn't you hear me?"

I gave him a smile and assured him I heard.

"Then why aren't you..."

Matthew looked puzzled, probably wondering why I was not upset anymore. The truth was, I had always known Shirley was the one he truly adored.

Even my in-laws, who were always so tough on me, treated her like their own daughter.

I used to think that with love and patience, I could gradually change Matthew's heart, and that especially after we had our own child, he might come back to me.

However, then I found out that Shirley was pregnant too.

In my previous life, that was when I had lost it completely.

I, who had always been kind and forgiving, suddenly broke down and screamed in front of everyone, smashing pots and throwing dishes.

I even threatened Matthew that if he did not send Shirley away right then, I would jump off a building.

My craziness frightened everyone.

They did not want a tragedy on Christmas Eve, so they convinced Matthew to have Shirley leave for a while.

However, nobody expected that Shirley would faint from low blood sugar while walking in the neighborhood.

With no one around to find her, she froze to death on that Christmas Eve night.

It was a heartbreaking loss.

After hearing the news, I was filled with remorse.

However, Matthew, he changed for the better. He did not blame me and turned into the perfect husband.

He was the head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, always busy at work.

Every day, he made me special soups to help me stay healthy for the baby. He told me my health was great and that I would have an easy time giving birth. I trusted him, but when the time came, I had a really hard birth and bled a lot. I cried out in pain for two long days and nights.

When my baby finally came, Matthew did not even try to save him. He just looked at him like he was nothing and said that he was gone.

I begged him to help our son, but he just pushed his assistant away and came at me with a scary look in his eyes, full of hate. He yelled, "Worried about your son? Then go to the morgue with him! Shirley died because of you, and now you're going to feel the pain she felt, twice as much!"

In this life, I just wanted to get away from those monsters.