“Of course. Andreas must have had a purpose with this damn invitation, but openly threatening like that? Damn it! You must have been the one who ordered him to do it, Amanda!”
“Me?”
Amanda snapped. Her sweet face seemed to convey irritation.
“Don’t you see how Andreas himself has belittled me? Considered me powerless all this time? And you think I told him to do all that?”
Didn’t that sound unreasonable? Especially since Amanda herself was ashamed of what had happened that night. She had never expected Andreas to do something like that.
“Don’t blame anyone, Bryan. You know who’s the cause of all these problems.”
“You.”
Bryan growled. He clenched his fists when he could not continue his words for a moment.
“That damned child. I won’t let him do it again. He’s really out of line!”
Amanda turned away. “Watch your words. Andreas is my child. You can continue to praise the child of your lover, but don’t curse my child.”
“Indeed, the child who has no manners is clearly your child. He even dared to do such a thing to his own mother. You’re really pathetic, Amanda.”
It was embarrassing, but Amanda could only control herself. She tried not to remember the events of last night’s dinner.
Andreas had embarrassed almost all of his guests. Except for Noelle and Vian, he did not hesitate to mock Amanda, whom he had always appreciated. Ironically, his mockery was accurate. Painful, but true.
“I’m glad you said it so clearly, Bryan. I am indeed pathetic. Even for your treatment all this time, I just accept it. I just put up with it.”
Amanda’s chest burned. Her breathing was ragged. It seemed as if emotions had taken over her mind. But similar emotions also brought her to her senses.
“Maybe Andreas is right. I should never have tried to stay married to a man like you.”
Bryan growled but did not react to Amanda’s words. On the one hand, he clearly knew the risks of confronting Amanda about this matter. On the other hand, his self-confidence was high.
You can’t leave me, Amanda.
Years had passed. If Amanda wanted to leave Bryan, it should have happened long ago. But in reality, it hadn’t.
In fact, more than one or two people were puzzled by Amanda’s actions. Regardless of the moral burden she carried, how could a woman endure a marriage filled with deceit? She smiled in public, but wept behind closed doors.
Perhaps love is truly blind. So blind that it made Amanda ignore everything in the belief that Bryan still belonged to her. Lydia was only a shadow.
But that shadow grew with time. It was spreading and Amanda had to be careful not to drown in its darkness.
Amanda closed her eyes. Now she realized that “pathetic” was not enough to describe her situation. She felt like a woman with no value. No self-esteem whatsoever. Then what was the point of everything she had been doing all this time?
It was exhausting. It gnawed at her physically and mentally.
Amanda took a deep breath. She tried to calm herself and let it all out of her mind.
Silence. Silence. There was no more conversation for the rest of the ride home.
Vian looked through the rearview mirror. Sitting in the passenger seat, all he could do was remain silent as his parents fought again. He watched Amanda’s tired face and the quiet fear creeping through him.
Is this what marriage being like?
It was nothing like the sweet picture Vian had as a child. When the nanny read him bedtime stories and told him how the princess lived happily ever after with the prince.
In reality, marriage would always bring many possibilities. It wasn’t just about happiness; it was also about suffering and fighting.
Of course, Amanda and Bryan weren’t the only ones to experience this. On the other side, in another place, a mother and son were also arguing.
“I said it, Jonas. We don’t have to go. Do you see what Andreas has done to us?”
Jonas clenched his jaw. He threw his jacket on the sofa and snarled. Curses were on the tip of his tongue, but he was too angry to speak.
Andreas’ behavior was vivid in Jonas’ mind. Even Andreas’ mocking grin was still in his mind.
“No, mom. On the contrary,” Jonas said with a trembling voice, holding back his emotions. He stood with his hands on his hips and his disheveled shirt sleeves at his elbows. “The invitation to dinner tonight is a good thing.”
Lydia looked at Jonas. “What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you seen what dad is doing, Mom?”
Jonas’ face grimaced. His jaw tensed and a bead of sweat rolled down there.
“Dad doesn’t defend us. Dad hasn’t said a word to defend us while Andreas embarrassed us.”
Jonas’ words made Lydia stagger. She sat down on the sofa in shock, her face tired.
Lydia had almost missed something important. Just as Jonas said, she realized it too. Bryan did not say anything to defend her. Bryan did nothing. Bryan just watched as Andreas humiliated her.
“Coward.”
Jonas’ curse was the last thing Lydia heard. Then Jonas got up and left her alone in the living room.
A feeling of silence accompanied Lydia’s loneliness. She remained silent for a while. Everything was swirling in her heart and mind.
Slowly, ever so slowly, everything that had happened and Jonas’ words brought a spark of anger.
Lydia stood up and went to her room. Without a second thought, she immediately called Bryan.
The call went through. Lydia did not need much time to hear him answer.
“Lyd-”
“Do you look what that bastard child has done to Jonas and me?”
There were no usual affectionate greetings. Lydia immediately interrupted Bryan and scolded him.
“Andreas humiliated us and you didn’t defend us at all, Bryan! You’re really heartless.”
“Lydia, calm down. I know Andreas went too far, but you-”
“After what happened tonight, Bryan, do you still not want to divorce that woman, huh?”
“Lydia.”
“How much longer do I have to wait? Isn’t thirty-five years enough, Bryan?”
Eyes closed; Lydia was startled by her own words.
Has it been that long? Has it really been thirty-five years?
*