“This baby looks just like you.”
“Really? I thought people said babies resemble the first person they see. Michael, maybe he looks like you.”
I kicked the door open with a loud bang. Both Sarah and Michael jumped in fright, and Ethan woke up crying loudly.
Ignoring Sarah’s murderous glare, I gave Michael his marching orders.
“Michael, we’re going home. We don’t need your help anymore.”
“No!”
Sarah stopped me quickly. I stared at her in disbelief.
“He’s an outsider. Are you saying he’s supposed to come home with us too?”
I looked at Michael through gritted teeth. He tilted his head, smiling at me with open provocation.
We both turned our eyes to Sarah. Without hesitation, she sided with Michael.
“I asked him to come back. You’re always busy with work. With Michael here to take care of me and the baby, you don’t have to worry.”
A wave of anger and sorrow nearly drowned me.
To outsiders, it would look like I had neglected Sarah during her pregnancy.
But the truth was, I hadn’t worked for half a year just so I could take care of her.
And even if she needed help now, we could’ve hired a nanny. Why bring in her first love?
I blurted out my frustration, only to receive Sarah’s eye-roll in return.
On the way home, Michael sat in the back, holding Ethan and chatting happily with Sarah.
I kept my hands clenched tighter and tighter around the steering wheel.
When we got home, while Michael eagerly offered to change Ethan’s diaper, I pulled Sarah aside.
“Be honest—are you still hung up on Michael? Are you trying to rekindle things with him?”
My blunt words made Sarah flush with anger. She slapped me hard across the face.
“Do you think everyone is as twisted as you? Michael and I are just friends. If you keep making these nasty accusations…”
“Divorce!”
“That’s right, divorce… you—!”
Sarah had been about to threaten me, but I said the word first. She froze, then gave a cold laugh.
“Trying to play games with me? Careful, or you’ll get burned.”
With that, she stormed out. I stood frozen, punching the wall in frustration.
No matter how unwilling I was, Michael still moved into my home.
He and Sarah took turns looking after Ethan, while I, the baby’s father, was left on the sidelines.
When Michael saw me standing awkwardly, he mocked me, telling me to just go back to work.
I was about to retort when Mrs. Johnson showed up. Hearing our exchange, she rolled her eyes at me.
“David, I hate to say this, but if you don’t go back to work, how do you expect my daughter and grandson to eat? Michael’s not even holding a grudge and is willing to help you, but you just sit around doing nothing. Aren’t you ashamed?”
After scolding me, she turned to Michael, her face lighting up with a smile.
“Michael, thank you for everything. You must let my daughter treat you to dinner sometime.”
The two of them carried on chatting warmly as if I didn’t exist. Just then Sarah came downstairs.
“Mom, perfect timing. Michael and I were about to take Ethan for a walk. Want to come with us?”
The three of them bustled out together without even glancing at me. I shivered as I looked around the empty living room, my mood sinking to rock bottom.
Even a fool could see it now—Michael, as Sarah’s so-called first love, was clearly favored far above me, her husband.
