I came back from my business trip and found my five-year-old daughter Lily home alone, eating expired bread. My heart broke. I rushed over and pulled her into my arms. “Where’s your dad?” Lily started crying. “Daddy’s downstairs getting married to Vanessa. He told me to stay home by myself… Mom, I’m so hungry…” After I settled Lily down, I ran downstairs to the hotel banquet hall. And it was true! Ryan stood there in a full tuxedo. When he saw me, panic flashed across his face. He quickly pulled me aside. “Miranda, this isn’t what it looks like. I’m just helping Vanessa put on a show. Her mom’s been pushing her to get married. I had no choice…” I laughed bitterly. “Congratulations to you both.” Later, at my wedding to his brother Dylan, Ryan got on his knees and begged me to take him back. And I made him listen to Dylan and me having sex all night long. “Congratulations! I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!” Everyone at the wedding thought I was just a late-arriving guest. They all smiled at me warmly. Only the groom, Ryan, stared at me in disbelief. He thought I was joking. When he saw my serious expression, he reluctantly let go of Vanessa’s hand and pulled me into a corner. His brows furrowed. “Miranda, what the hell are you doing?” He had some nerve asking me that. Last week, I went on a business trip overseas. I was worried about their safety at home, so I took a shortcut to get back early. I almost died in a foreign country. And what did I come home to? My five-year-old daughter eating expired bread by herself while Ryan was busy having a wedding ceremony with his first love, Vanessa. When I walked into the hotel, I saw them kissing sweetly and making sincere vows. “Whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health, through good times or bad, I promise to spend my life with Vanessa…” He looked so devoted. I could see the focus in his eyes. But when we got married, he asked the officiant to skip the vows entirely. Said it was too much trouble. Turns out it wasn’t the vows he had a problem with. It was the person he was making them to. When he greeted Vanessa’s parents, he called them “Mom and Dad” so naturally, so smoothly. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. But in our six years of marriage, he’d never once called my parents that way. If this thing with Vanessa was just an act, then what were all these years with me? My heart turned to ash. I said flatly: “I made myself perfectly clear. You two should be together. I’m bowing out.” Ryan frowned and scoffed. “Miranda, can you stop being so damn dramatic? My patience has limits.” “I already explained everything. Vanessa and I are fake married. It’s just to put her parents’ minds at ease. And you’re making this into some huge thing!” I smiled coldly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I really am done. Don’t worry, I’ll file for divorce as soon as possible. I won’t hold you back.” Ryan looked shocked, like he couldn’t believe I’d actually say that. “You…” Before he could finish, I turned to leave the hotel. But Vanessa grabbed my arm. Her eyes were red. She kept apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Miranda. Please let me explain.” “My parents have been so worried about my marriage. I didn’t want them stressed anymore, so Ryan and I staged this. We should have talked to you first. I’m really sorry.” Ryan pulled the apologizing Vanessa close. His voice was ice cold. “Why are you apologizing to her? She’s just petty and loves to throw tantrums. Let her be mad. Ignore her!” I knew from the day I married Ryan that he still carried a torch for his first love, Vanessa. I thought after we got married, I could win him over with my love. But what did he do? He took everything I gave him for granted. I was done with this one-sided relationship. If someone else wanted to keep it going, they were welcome to it. Faced with his shameless behavior, I felt nothing anymore. No anger. No excitement. I just wanted to cut ties with this man completely.
When I didn’t respond, Vanessa put on a pitiful act. “Miranda, how about this? I’ll tell all the guests the truth and apologize to you in front of everyone.” “It’s no big deal for me. I’ll just never be able to show my face in front of my family and friends again. My elderly parents will worry themselves sick. But as long as it doesn’t hurt your marriage, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.” She sounded so tragic, but all I heard was fake nonsense. Ryan ate it up though. He glared at me, about to lay into me, when Vanessa’s dad walked over. “Ryan, what’s going on? Why are you arguing with some woman at your wedding?” Ryan immediately switched to obedient mode when he saw Vanessa’s parents. “Dad, this is just a friend of mine. She was passing by and wanted to congratulate me.” He could introduce me like that without missing a beat. All for Vanessa. I guess in his mind, I was just some stranger who happened to live under the same roof. I looked at him, and for a split second, I saw panic in his eyes. Whatever. I’d let them have their moment. Facing the confused looks from Vanessa’s family and friends, I decided to play along. “That’s right. I’m just his friend. I came to say congratulations. I’m leaving now. You all have fun.” Maybe my decisiveness got to Ryan. For a moment, it looked like he wanted to chase after me. But Vanessa held him back. “Ryan, don’t go. Everyone’s waiting for us to greet them.” “After the ceremony, I’ll come with you to talk to Miranda. Once she calms down, everything will be fine.” Ryan stopped in his tracks. I walked out of the hotel without looking back. When I got home, Lily threw herself into my arms. “Mommy, you’re finally home! I don’t have to sleep alone tonight.” “Mommy, the wind was so scary at night. I was so scared hiding under the blankets by myself.” Looking at Lily’s sweet little face, my heart ached. I regretted going on that business trip and leaving her alone with her useless father. I saw that all the food I’d prepared for her was gone. I praised her: “Wow, you ate everything I made for you. Good job!” Lily pouted. “Mommy, I’m so hungry. Daddy hasn’t made me food in three days. He said he was busy with that lady…” My nose stung. Guilt washed over me. I stroked Lily’s head and pressed my cheek against hers. “Then Mommy will cook for you right now. I’ll make you something really good for lunch.” Lily jumped up and down with joy. “Yay! Mommy’s home, I can eat now!” Hearing her words made my heart ache. I turned and went into the kitchen to make something good for Lily. But when I opened the fridge, it was empty except for two eggs. Clearly, no one had cooked here in days. I had no choice but to make Lily some simple egg noodles. Even so, it made her beam with happiness. “Mommy’s the best! The egg noodles are so yummy.” Looking at Lily’s innocent smile, I felt a mix of emotions. Just then, the door clicked open. Ryan walked in with a long face, carrying a takeout container. He tossed it on the table and glared at me. “What’s this? This is all you’re feeding Lily? What kind of mother are you?”
I didn’t want to fight in front of Lily. I just gave him a warning look to back off. Seeing my expression, Ryan seemed to remember our rule about not fighting in front of Lily. He didn’t say anything more, but his eyes still looked defiant. Vanessa followed him in. She quickly inserted herself between us with a big smile and opened the takeout container. “Miranda, we had the hotel save this for you. We knew you and Lily hadn’t eaten, so we brought it up.” I glanced at it. A fish with nothing left but bones and a few chili peppers. Clearly leftovers from the banquet. Lily was allergic to fish. I was worried she’d react even being near it, so I pushed the container away. Seeing this, Ryan assumed I was deliberately trying to humiliate Vanessa. He lost it. “Vanessa, ignore them. Eat it or don’t!” I didn’t want to say another word to him, but I couldn’t help myself. “Ryan, did you forget that Lily’s allergic to seafood and fish?” Ryan’s brows furrowed slightly. He seemed to remember something. Everyone in my family breaks out in hives from fish. Lily was the same. I’d repeatedly told Ryan not to let Lily near fish, but he never took it seriously. And of course, Vanessa loved fish. Whenever they went out to eat, they’d order it. Sometimes they’d even bring Lily along. Every time they came back from those meals, Lily’s face would be covered in red hives. I’d apply medicine to her, heartbroken, and criticize him for taking Lily to eat fish. He’d just shrug it off. “A few hives, a little itching. It’s no big deal.” Until one time, Lily’s allergic reaction got so severe her throat swelled up and she couldn’t breathe. We got her to the hospital just in time. After that, Ryan seemed to learn his lesson. He stopped bringing Lily along when he went out to eat with Vanessa. But that didn’t last long. To keep eating out with Vanessa, he started leaving Lily home alone with a pile of snacks and toys to keep her occupied. Once, Lily choked on a snack while home alone. Luckily, I came home from work just in time to save her. And now he was bringing fish home for Lily again. Clearly, Lily and I both mattered less to him than a single finger of Vanessa, the woman who’d abandoned him once before. Vanessa saw Ryan’s embarrassment and quickly came to his rescue. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was the one who packed it. I forgot Lily was allergic to fish…” Ryan looked at Vanessa gratefully. His tone softened. “Vanessa meant well, Miranda. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” “Today was my fault for not thinking things through. Tomorrow I’ll cook a big meal at home to make it up to you and Lily. That should be fine, right?” Just then, a commotion came from outside the door, followed by the sound of keys in the lock. I was confused. Who else besides Ryan and me had keys to our place? The answer came in the form of Vanessa’s parents bragging to their friends and family. “This is my baby’s new home. Over 1,400 square feet!”
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