When Everything Is Broken And Torn

I took out my phone and found a photo that was sent to me through the Airdrop.

It was a wedding photo; Bernard and Hanley’s wedding photo.

There was also a wedding invitation attached and the invitees included my son, daughter-in-law and my father.

I was not included and indeed I should not be included.

The wedding date was next Wednesday.

It was the day of the business trip that Bernard and I mentioned and it was also... the anniversary of the death of my and Bernard’s eldest daughter.

Bernard was actually going to marry Hanley on this day?

Looking at this photo that was sent to the wrong person, my hands were shaking badly.

At this moment, the door was pushed open and my son walked in with a swagger and patted my shoulder.

“Mom, my wife’s friend is getting married next Wednesday and we are invited to attend the wedding. Go pick out some dresses these two days. Oh, by the way, Grandpa is going too. The one getting married is a very important friend of ours, so you should pay more attention to it.”

After my son gave me instructions, he went out, leaving me and Bernard to face each other in silence. I hesitated for a moment, raised my head and looked into Bernard’s eyes.

“Next Wednesday, are you going on a business trip?”

Bernard was dazed for a moment and nodded. My heart completely cooled down and the last bit of fantasy was shattered. Sure enough, I shouldn’t have asked.

I tossed and turned all night with something hidden in my heart and I couldn’t fall asleep. Bernard couldn’t bear it anymore, pushed me fiercely in the middle of the night and got up to sleep on his side.

I fell asleep at dawn and at 4:30 in the morning, my biological clock woke me up again. I loved to sleep in before I got married. In the years after marriage, in order to serve my family, no matter what time I went to bed, no matter how sad I felt, I would wake up at 4:30.

Except for my father who went out to exercise, everyone else in the family was still asleep and I walked very lightly.

I went out like a zombie, carrying a basket of vegetables.

When I passed the park, I met my father, who was talking with two old men.

My father pointed to the photo of the dress on his mobile phone with a proud look on his face.

“My goddaughter is getting married next Wednesday and I will wear this. Isn’t it stylish enough? I didn’t sleep all night last night and picked it all night!”

“Oh, this dress is not cheap. Mr. Maldonado, you really spent a lot of money this time. Why haven’t I heard that Mr. Maldonado has a goddaughter? Don’t you have Hadley as your daughter? Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Hadley for a long time.”

My father waved his hand in disdain, spitting.

“Don’t mention her, don’t mention her. Let me show you my goddaughter, a very pretty girl and she’s also the secretary of the president of Nova Group! She’s very capable, filial, sensible and sweet-mouthed. In the future, I’ll rely on my goddaughter to support me in my old age!”

Amid the compliments of a group of old men, my father became more and more proud.

I lowered my head and wanted to leave quickly.

“Hey, Mr. Maldonado, is that your Hadley?”

My father looked over.

The moment I met his eyes, I felt a little embarrassed.

My father didn’t care whether I heard what he just said and he hooked his finger at me like he was calling a dog.

“I have a wedding to attend next Wednesday. I’m going to wear this dress. 11,000 dollars, you transfer it to me.”

“Whose wedding? Are you all going, but I’m not going?” I asked softly, but my father lost his patience.

“Why are you talking so much? The wedding is held in a five-star hotel. Have you ever been to such a place? You will behave like a country bumpkin who has never seen the world. You will only embarrass our family. Just prepare the money for the gift. I will bring it to you. Don’t go. Just show your intention. You are as fat as a pig. To be honest, I don’t even want to admit that you are my biological daughter.”

I was stunned.

My father snatched my phone and used the Bernard secondary card I bound to swipe 11,000 dollars and drove me away impatiently.

“Why don’t you go buy vegetables quickly? Is breakfast ready? I will go home and eat it later! You are so slow. Are you going to starve your dad to death? You are so unfilial!”

I mechanically moved my steps and walked toward the vegetable market.

The morning sun outlined the outline of my shadow.

I staggered, fat and bloated.

My eyes began to ache again.

After numbly preparing a large table of breakfast, my son and daughter-in-law came downstairs after a long time. They took a bite and threw away their chopsticks fiercely.

I was shocked.

“No more!”

The buns dipped in porridge were thrown on the table, soupy and messy.

“Is this for people? It’s so cold, even dogs won’t eat it!”

I rubbed my fingers helplessly on my apron. I heard footsteps on the stairs and looked back.

Bernard didn’t even raise his head, concentrating on swiping his phone.

When he came to me, he threw his phone on the dining table.

“You didn’t listen to what I said last night at all and you spent another 11,000 dollars? You only know how to eat, drink and have fun every day. Hadley, you don’t feel bad for spending money that’s not yours, right!”

I opened my mouth and wanted to explain.

“I don’t want to hear your excuses. I’m going to work.”

Bernard gritted his teeth and nodded at me, grabbed his coat and slammed the door and left.

I stood there for a long time, then staggered upstairs.

In the next few days, I kept the house in good order and worked very hard.

Bernard was a little surprised, but he didn’t mention it. He just enjoyed it with a clear conscience. When he encountered something unpleasant at work, he got angry with me less.