When Jake’s son was three, Jake’s company
won a lot of bids, and he became a local
industry leader.
<
A few months later, news of Sarah returning
to the country after graduating from film
school spread through the media.
Someone asked in an interview: “Miss Sarah,
I’ve heard that you turned down a famous
director overseas. Can you tell me why?”
On the camera, the tall girl said, “I returned to
the country to make up for what I did.”
That report was broadcast as Jake was on
the sofa, drinking coffee and reading the
newspaper.
Jake was usually a calm and composed
person, and he wasn’t someone who would
ever show his emotions.
But the fact that he was clutching the
く
newspaper so tightly and his arms were tense
showed that he wasn’t indifferent.
Shortly after Sarah returned to the country,
she took Jake’s son out to play for the whole
day, without asking.
She appeared at the door, holding his hand,
and looked very smug.
“The little guy likes me a lot. Jake, you can
forgive me now.”
I looked for my son for a whole day, and I was
going crazy. I wanted to slap Sarah, but Jake
stopped me.
“Karen, take him back inside. She’s crazy;
she’ll do something. If she hurts you, it won’t
be good.”
<
I don’t know what Jake and Sarah said, but
when he came back his face was really dark,
and there was a line of bite marks on his
neck.
After Jake’s son went to sleep, I went to pull
the curtains, and I saw Sarah kneeling
outside. She looked up, glaring at me.
I reminded Jake: “She’s still out there.”
Jake looked emotionless: “She likes doing
things like that. Just ignore her.”
Perhaps, the only person who cared about her
in that house was Jake……
It started raining at night, and the sounds of
the rain woke me up. Turning on the lights, I
found that Jake wasn’t there, and when I
<
round that Jake wash there, and when i
looked outside, Sarah was gone.
I just smiled to myself in mockery, and turned
off the lights.
Jake and I didn’t have any feelings for each
other, so I couldn’t be sad.
When his son started elementary school,
Jake’s mom took care of him, hiring college
professors to teach him every subject.
I was afraid that he couldn’t take it, and I
wanted to tell him a bedtime story to help him
relax. But he said that I was wasting his time.
Before, I would always make him a birthday
cake when it was his birthday, and then give
it to him after the birthday party was over.
<
But he didn’t even take it, backing away in
disgust.
“This cake is ugly, and Grandma says that
things that are a waste of time shouldn’t be
done.”
I patiently explained, “Honey, not everything
needs to be measured by how efficient it is.”
“Then you mean like you? Just living a normal
life? Can’t you be like Sarah? Her and my dad
make a good pair.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but
Jake’s son just scowled, throwing away my
cake, and turned around to leave.
“You’re annoying; don’t give me a birthday
anymore!”
<
Thinking back to that, and looking at the look
in his eyes that he wanted to celebrate his
birthday, I smiled faintly.
“We’re just a normal family. Having a birthday
for you would make you lose face.”
“And, you’re supposed to celebrate your
birthday with family, and sorry, we aren’t your
family.”
Alex’s face was pale, and it seemed like he
remembered all the horrible things he said to
- me.
