They Lost Me in the Fire

Hearing the sarcasm in my voice, Dominic did not flare up like before. Instead, he stared at me, stunned, as if he could not process what just happened.

After all, I never even laid a finger on him before. If he so much as bumped into something, I would fuss over him endlessly.

"You pushed me? How could you push me?"

His face was filled with confusion and a hint of hurt.

Maya quickly pulled out a packet of spicy snacks and waved it in front of him.

"Don't waste your energy on someone like her, Dominic. Here–have some spicy strips. Don't be upset."

"Hmph, Aunt Maya treats me the best! I like Aunt Maya the most!"

Dominic snatched the snack from her hand and started eating happily. But his eyes kept drifting toward me, as if he were waiting for my reaction.

He had a weak stomach. I rarely ever let him eat junk like that.

However, I did not care anymore. I only gave him a cold glance before turning and walking away.

As I reached the door, I ran straight into Leo, who just came back from the supermarket, his hands full of snacks, vegetables, and fruit.

He clearly did not expect to see me here–he froze for a moment.

Dominic, as if spotting his lifeline, immediately ran to complain–

"Dad, you're finally back!

"When I opened the door earlier, she pushed Aunt Maya to the ground! She even pushed me just now!

"I don't want her to be my mom anymore. Can you divorce her and let Aunt Maya be my mom instead?"

Maya stood to the side, looking at me with barely concealed triumph.

"Shirley, your temper is getting worse and worse.

"So what if you were injured in that fire? You've already been discharged from the hospital. Maya's family is in trouble, and she's struggling with depression–she's already having a hard enough time on her own. Why are you still making things difficult for her?

"Can't you be a little kinder?"

I did not look at Leo. My gaze fell instead on the bags he was holding.

So many times before, I asked him to go shopping with me–there were things at home that needed buying, and I couldn't carry them all myself.

However, he always had an excuse. Either he was too busy with work, or he did not have the time.

Even on the rare days he had off, he would say he was too tired to go out.

Now it was clear–he was not too busy, and he was not too tired.

He just did not want to go with me.

A faint, mocking smile curled on my lips again, though I didn't know what about it set him off.

Leo's expression darkened immediately.

"Shirley. Apologize to Maya."

He spoke like it was an order–just like he had countless times before.

I could not help but wonder, was I too accommodating all this time?

I rolled my wrist, then swung my arm without hesitation and slapped him across the face.

Leo froze. Dominic froze. Maya froze.

None of them expected me to lay a hand on him.

"Leo, we're getting a divorce. The child is yours–I don't want custody."

I walked out the door without looking back.

However, I still heard their voices behind me–

"Leo, don't be angry. Shirley is just throwing a tantrum."

"Exactly. If she really wanted a divorce, how could she not fight for custody?"

"Sigh, if she really does divorce, that'd be great. Then Aunt Maya could be my mom."

I let out a small laugh.

I hoped he would get exactly what he wished for.