My Wife Doesn’t Want Her Childhood Friend Anymore

Olivia’s expression turned cold. She replied with irritation, “Robert, Lisa, Hugh and I just have different roles in this family. Today is Hugh’s birthday as well. There’s no reason the birthday boy should be the one running around.”

Seeing Olivia standing up for me made a deep bitterness bubble up.

Since I was very young, I had known that while my parents loved me, they loved David more.

I used to think Olivia was my savior, who had healed the pain inflicted by my family.

She was the one who told me that I had to love myself even if no one else loved me. She even made a vow at our wedding to make up for everything my family had denied me.

For a time, I thought I had been saved. I thought I would never have to envy anyone again.

Unfortunately, the salvation I believed in turned out to be just another form of torture.

The love I believed was mine, and mine alone, was divided into two parts. Perhaps in the future, it would be divided even more.

After Olivia spoke up, my parents did not dare say anything further.

The birthday dinner ended in a cold, awkward silence.

After dinner, when my parents were about to leave with David, Bryan started whining. He wanted to go with them too.

Olivia furrowed her brow, but she was already used to playing the good cop. “Bryan, if you keep acting like this, your dad is going to get upset. He doesn’t like it when you act this way.”

“Why would I be upset? If the kid wants to go, let him.”

In the past, I would never have agreed. Bryan had a weak constitution. If no one kept an eye on him, his routine would fall apart. On top of that, my parents spoiled him rotten by providing him with unlimited amounts of junk food. I used to worry he would eat himself sick.

This time, I let him be. I agreed without a second thought.

Why bother? Everyone else got to be the good guy. Only I played the villain.

Before they left, David suggested Olivia see them home.

“Hugh, David wants me to send them home. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I glanced at her and replied in a neutral tone, “Go ahead.”

She hesitated at how easily I agreed.

As if sensing my indifference, she said with concern, “Hugh, are you upset? I can just have the driver take them. If you don’t want me to go, I’ll stay.”

Her concern did not seem fake, but I no longer cared to analyze it. I forced a smile to ease the tension. “What are you talking about? Why would I be upset about you driving my parents home? Go. Don’t keep them waiting. Besides, if you don’t go, your sweetheart might get disappointed.”

Olivia thought I was talking about Bryan. She smiled with resignation.

“What can I say? He’s the fruit of our love. He’s so little, and we can’t bear to scold him. He isn’t afraid of us because we just can’t bring ourselves to be strict parents. I just hope that when he’s older, he’ll understand more and make it easier on you.”

With that, she tilted her head up and kissed me softly on the chin. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

I did not say anything, but I knew I could just go to bed early tonight because Olivia was not coming back.

Just as I expected, I had a peaceful, undisturbed sleep. Olivia never came home all night.

The system’s voice echoed in my mind.