After Thirty Years of Silver Wedding, I Finally Lived for Myself

Jenson reacted far quicker than I did.

He rushed over and took Lauren's hand warmly. "Lauren, you're here. I missed you so much."

Lauren just smiled, saying nothing as Jenson took control of her wheelchair and pushed her inside as if I wasn't even there.

I was shocked.

"William, don't you owe me an explanation?" I asked.

He frowned in annoyance. "Lauren's husband has passed away. She lost my child when she was young, and now she can't have children because of it. This is my debt to her. Taking care of her in her old age is my responsibility."

Tears sprang to my eyes.

"Lauren is your responsibility? Then what about me?" I asked.

What had I been to him all these years?

Seeing my tears, William looked startled, almost panicked.

He reached out to wipe them away, but before he could touch me, Lauren's voice floated from behind him.

"William, does Kristen not want me here?" she said.

Lauren wheeled herself closer, her voice as gentle as ever. "I know it's bad luck, me coming here so soon after my husband's death, but I have nowhere else to go."

Though her words were directed at me, her eyes were on William.

She looked so pitiful. I'd never been the kind to act coy. Maybe that was why, after all these years, William had never let her go.

Seeing her fragile expression, William was quick to react. He brushed past me to comfort her, holding her hand tightly. "No, you're overthinking.

"This is your home now. No one's going to make you leave."

Then he wheeled her into the living room.

Reyna, ever the attentive woman, had already set another place at the table. My grandson looked at the new arrival curiously.

For the first time, I questioned everything I'd held onto for 30 years.

William, Jenson, Reyna, and my grandson...

The people closest to me now felt like strangers.

I felt like an outsider. I had been serving them as a servant.

William had made his decision. Lauren would stay.

He'd even given her the room next to ours.

After cleaning up the mess left behind from dinner, I dragged my body back to our bedroom.

But when I walked in, I saw William sitting at the desk, holding something.

"What took you so long?" he asked with a frown.

He didn't look happy.

He had never done any household chores, so he had no idea how long and tiring it could be.

I ignored him, walking past him with my aching back and stiff joints.

Years of taking care of this family hadn't earned me much, but they had certainly left their mark on my body.

Seeing my pale face and my hunched posture, he frowned and suggested I take a bath to relax.

I nodded weakly and headed straight for the bathroom.

When I came out, he was still sitting there, the box now open on the table.

"I picked this up while I was away," he said, lifting his chin.

He opened the box to reveal a beautifully crafted fan.

It was adorned with delicate orchids. It was elegant and sophisticated, just like the things he liked.

I barely glanced at it, toweling off my hair and heading straight for the bed.

Though William was just a university professor, he was always busy.

Since becoming a tenured professor, he had been away at least five days a week.

This was the first time he'd ever brought me a gift from his travels.

But I didn't care for such things. I wasn't cultured. I didn't pretend to be refined. And he had never missed an opportunity to remind me of that.

But I always shot back confidently, "I'm the one who puts food on the table and clothes on your back."

Tonight, I felt a strange, crushing sense of powerlessness.

I didn't feel like saying anything at all.

William, displeased by my indifference, closed the fan and glared at me. "Can you stop being so unreasonable?

"I've already explained everything. This is my responsibility. There's no way around it. Why can't you just be more understanding?"

I quietly packed my things.

"Kristen, don't ignore me. You can't just avoid this. You know that's not right," he said.

"Of course, I can," I said, cutting him off.

He was surprised and then smiled.

But before he could say another word, I grabbed my bags and stormed out, slamming the door behind me.

If this was the responsibility he chose, so be it.

I chose to be done.