Chapter 3

That evening, they didn't even call me for dinner.

When I woke up from my nap and went out, they were just returning from outside.

Mom and Dad's hands were full of gifts, their faces beaming with joy.

Melody was arm-in-arm with Garrison, laughing and chatting, looking every bit like father and daughter.

Grace saw me and her face showed a hint of apology.

"Our daughter said she was hungry, and you were sleeping. We didn't want to wake you up."

As she spoke, she pulled out a plastic container from behind her back. It was covered in condensation, clearly having been cold for a while.

I glanced at it and asked coolly, "Leftovers?"

To my surprise, Melody spoke up before her mom could: "You should be grateful you have anything to eat! That's what you get for sleeping like a pig for so long!"

Grace lightly tapped Melody, with a force that probably couldn't even kill a mosquito.

"Is that any way to talk about your father?"

My parents, eager to dote on their granddaughter, quickly hugged her.

"She's not wrong, you know. Kellan woke up late, he's lucky to have anything to eat. Back in our day..."

Suddenly, I felt like everything was so pointless.

I'd always been respectful to Grace's parents and took great care of Melody.

They bring me back leftovers, and when I simply ask about it, I'm made out to be the unreasonable one.But I didn't feel like arguing with them anymore.

I took the leftover food and tossed it in the trash, then turned to go to the kitchen and start making noodles.

When I came back with the noodles, Melody approached me looking very apologetic. She even brought me a cup of hot milk.

She insisted that I drink it, then skipped back to her own room.

I saw Grace take sheets and pillowcases to Garrison's room, and I realized once again that Garrison was right.

When I was completely submissive to Grace, she needed me to do everything for her.

But now, she was able to make Garrison's bed for him.

I knew my daughter too well. Her heart was only with her mother who worked hard outside to support the family. She saw me as nothing but a parasite clinging to her mom.

Unsolicited favors are either deceptive or malicious.

I poured the milk down the toilet in my private bathroom, finished the noodles alone, then contacted a lawyer to draft divorce papers.

Late at night, I couldn't sleep because I had napped too long in the afternoon.

I heard the sound of a door opening outside, so I quietly peeked through a crack in my door.

Garrison was standing outside Grace's room in the freezing cold, wearing a thin, low-cut V-neck.

Though Grace's actions seemed reluctant, the burning desire in her eyes was impossible to hide.Garrison curled his thin lips, tilting Grace's chin up. "Don't worry, Melody gave Kellan a sleeping pill. He won't hear a thing."

With that, he leaned in close to Grace and shut the bedroom door.

My feet felt like lead weights. Even after a long while, Grace's door didn't open again.

I quietly closed my own door and booked a flight ticket home.

Grace had originally promised to come home with me this year, but that was clearly off the table now.

The next morning, I saw Garrison wearing the new clothes I had bought - the matching New Year's pajamas I'd picked out for us.

He strutted around in front of me provocatively, forcing me to notice the cluster of hickeys on his chest.

Garrison licked his lips and said sheepishly, "I had no idea your place had so many little bugs in winter."

My heart was too numb to feel anything. I wanted to say something.

But it was as if I'd lost my voice. I couldn't utter a word.