Chapter 4

I had gotten used to having them around, but now I had to start adjusting to a life on my own.

"The day after tomorrow, I'm going on a trip."

The moment I said that, the tension in the room suddenly eased. The father and son exchanged a look, then turned to me, looking a little awkward.

Matthew spoke first, "Honey, for this trip, the school said only one parent can come along, so..."

I paused before I realized they thought I wanted to go with them.

I was about to explain, but another question came out of my mouth instead. "Is Vivian going?"

Neither of them said a word. I understood, and said evenly, "I'm going by myself."

Matthew seemed relieved. "Honey, be careful on your own. You've been at home for so long. You should get out more, see the world, and enjoy some nature."

I stopped short. "Before, whenever I wanted to travel somewhere far, you thought it wasn't safe and never wanted me to go."

"Even when I went to a friend's wedding, you didn't want me left on my own. You were afraid other men might bother me."

"You said hated the way other men looked at me, so you wanted me wearing my ring at all times."

He was the one who used to wish he could keep me at his side. Now, he didn't even notice whether I was wearing my ring.

I laughed bitterly.

The difference between love and indifference had never been so obvious.

Matthew seemed to take my words to heart. A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Honey, have you been unhappy? I've learned a lot from Ms. Lowell lately. She's helped me understand that love isn't about holding someone back. It's about letting them be free and happy."

He paused, his eyes sincere. "I was wrong back then, but it's not too late. You still have time to go out, socialize, travel!"

"Honey, I don't want to hold you back. I want you to be happy."

How touching those words sounded. But in reality, they were nothing more than his way of pushing me away because he was tired of me.

I laughed at that. I had held it in for so long, but the tears still fell before I could stop them.

He probably didn't realize how his eyes softened with affection every time he mentioned Vivian. It was the same look he'd once given me.

I hadn't seen that look in a long time. Now, it had come back because of Vivian.

"Honey, why are you crying?" He panicked, unsure what to do, and reached out to wipe away my tears.

I turned my head away and wiped my face myself, my expression numb.

Matthew froze. "Honey, what's going on with you? You're not yourself today."

The old me would never have pulled away from him.

He was about to press further when our son suddenly ran over. "Dad, someone's calling you. I'll take care of Mom."

Matthew stopped, then got up with an odd look on his face. "Honey, it's probably work. I'll be right back."

But the call went on for over an hour. While it was still going, I sent Matthias off and saw Matthew leaning against the wall.

I couldn't tell what was being said on the other end, but his eyes were full of tenderness.

"Viv, promise me you won't let those men get near you while I'm not around. I don't like it."

"The day after tomorrow, we'll take Matthias and go have some fun."

I walked away in silence and didn't listen any further.

Yet after the call ended, he came back with a smile. "Honey, someday I'll take you to the Rockies. I know how much you love the scenery there. If you get tired of walking, I'll carry you on my back."

Matthias excitedly swung my hand. "I want to ride the Ferris wheel with Mom. I want to go to Hawaii!"

They were both smiling, happily making plans for the future. I listened in silence, my heart growing colder by the second.

They probably would never know that day was never going to come.