Avoid Her Like the Plague

After school, Eliza made it a point to get onto Carl Jamison's bicycle in full view of me. Ignoring her antics, I got on my bicycle and rode slowly behind them, keeping a distance between us.

Eliza and I were childhood sweethearts.

My family, the Harpers, and Eliza's family, the Stewarts, both came from the countryside and moved into the city for a better life. At the time, our families maintained a good relationship. They decided to let Eliza and me get engaged to each other, even though we were still children.

However, as we got older, the relationship between our two families slowly changed. It had been 13 years since our families became neighbors in the city. I could sense that the Stewarts didn't like me.

They continued to treat me fairly courteously. However, they had long since begun taking Eliza to various social events and introducing her to the sons of powerful and influential families. Among the ones they met, they were most pleased with Carl.

In my previous life, I had no clue this was happening. I even became estranged from my own family just so I could dedicate myself to taking care of Eliza.

Thus, when Eliza and Carl were busy flirting with each other, her parents fully supported their relationship and completely disregarded me. Carl even showed up at our wedding to steal her from the altar, and right in front of everyone, her parents stopped me from intervening.

"Carl is a key figure in charge of a national research project. How can you compare to him when you're just a househusband who can do nothing but cook and clean?"

"You should already be thankful that we allowed you to be a part of the family for this long! Just stay at home and take care of the kids!"

My parents were also infuriated by my behavior.

"Look at you! You're acting like a total loser right now! Who would choose you?"

"We told you to focus on your studies, but you refused to listen! You brought this whole mess on yourself."

By then, I was too dependent on the Stewarts. All I could do was weep in silence and agree to their request, hoping that Eliza would turn around someday and acknowledge the sacrifices I made for her.

Ten years passed without Eliza showing any sign of coming back to me. Instead, I was diagnosed with cancer from having overexerted myself throughout the years.

To my shock, my son and daughter immediately celebrated that.

"How marvelous! Mom and Mr. Jamison can finally get their happy ending!"

"Hurry up and sign the divorce papers. That way, even if you die, we won't have to settle your affairs for you."

Even Eliza, who was a doctor, remained silent through it all.

Their words and actions cut me deeply. In the end, I was forced to sign the divorce papers. They joined forces to kick me out of the house. I ended up dying on the streets on a snowy night.

…

Blinking, I saw Mom scowling as she berated me, "Why are you just standing in the doorway instead of coming into the house? We don't accept fools into our family!"

When I first announced my decision to become Eliza's househusband, my parents spent ages trying to talk me out of it.

Pressing my lips together, I said earnestly, "Mom, I've decided to apply for college and major in education."

Mom stared at me for quite some time. Once she realized I was serious, a smile bloomed across her face. Grinning with joy, she pulled me into the house while shouting the good news to Dad.

For the first time in a long time, my family shared a blissful dinner with smiles all around. As I watched them around the table, I had to take huge bites of food to stop myself from crying.

I failed to be a good son and take care of them in my previous life, but I wouldn't be making the same mistake this time.