Before the Bells Could Ring

"I'm going to take the kid and jump in the river, vanish from your world for good."

With that, he grabbed Sean's hand and headed for the door. Sean started to cry and scream:

"Mommy, I don't want to die, make the bad guy leave!"

Rosie looked even more upset as she grabbed my suitcase. "Malcolm, enough with the drama. I am so tired. Can't you stop causing more trouble?"

Larisse was so angry she yelled. "Rosie, let him go. I would like to see where a guy with no home can even go."

Yes, I had no home anymore.

Once upon a time, I sold the house my parents left me to pay for Larisse's medical bills.

I even used up all my savings for her and Rosie.

They thought they had me wrapped around their fingers because they believed I could not live without them.

However, they did not know that job offers kept coming, even though I stayed home.

I stayed for Rosie's love, but that love is gone now.

As I grabbed my suitcase to leave, Jeffrey tried to give me some crumpled bills.

"Malcolm, you're broke, huh? Here's some cash for a hotel. Come back when Rosie and her mom cool off."

I barely looked at him and said: "Saving to jump in the river? Keep your money for your own urn."

Rosie, who had tried to stop me, got so mad she kicked my suitcase out the door.

"Leave! And don't you dare come back!"

The door slammed behind me, and I stepped out into the chilly air with my suitcase.

I checked into a hotel and called my senior Adrian.

"Hey, I'm in for that job you mentioned."

Adrian was thrilled. "Awesome, Malcolm! You are making the right move. However, it's an overseas gig, at least three to five years, okay?"

"No problem," I said.

"We'll throw a welcome party tomorrow and you can meet the team," Adrian laughed.

I had almost thrown away my future for Rosie and her mom. It was time for a fresh start.

After a short chat, I hung up and slept like a baby, free from caring for Rosie's mom.

The next day, just before lunchtime, I walked into a restaurant and saw Rosie throwing a birthday party for little Sean, who was turning five.

Larisse kept smiling as she passed veggies to Jeffrey, telling him what a thoughtful and great son-in-law he was.

Jeffrey smiled back and said, "Of course." When he saw me, he gave Rosie a quick kiss on the cheek, just to tease me.

Rosie giggled and blushed, leaning on Jeffrey's shoulder.

Just then, little Sean in her arms spotted me and pointed. "Mommy, there's the bad guy."

Rosie turned and our eyes met. She looked like she did not know what to do.

Jeffrey, still smiling, looked at me.

"Malcolm, did you sneak here to mess up the birthday party?

"If you're mad, be mad at me, not the kid.” He's done nothing wrong.

"I'll say I'm sorry right now."

He stood in front of me and started slapping his own cheek, making everyone else look.

Rosie was going to explain, but she stopped. She helped Jeffrey up, mad at me.

"You're awful, picking on a kid.

“Jeffrey was nice enough to forgive you yesterday and even told me to forgive you and bring you home. And this is how you act?"

Larisse wheeled over, glaring at me with open hostility.

"Say sorry to Jeff, or you can forget about coming home."

Jeffrey looked a little unsteady. "I can't make Malcolm say sorry. Just please don't be mean to my kid anymore. He is only five and does not understand.

"It's my fault. I upset you. I'll drink this whole bottle of wine right now to say sorry to you."

He grabbed a wine bottle from another table, opened it, and drank it all in one go.

Rosie dashed over; her eyes filled with worry. "Jeffrey, please think twice! That drink is too strong for you.

"Malcolm, why are you just standing there like a statue?

"Apologize now! Do you want to hurt him?"

I stood by, watching the commotion unfold.

The room was buzzing with people when Adrian hurried over to clear things up:

"Everyone's got it wrong. Malcolm's here for his new job celebration."

Rosie paused, her anger melting away, and she turned to me with curiosity.

"They're throwing a party for your new job?

"Why didn't you talk to me before job hunting? If you're not home, who's going to look after my mom?"

I was about to answer.

However, Larisse spoke up first, beaming with pride. "Rosie, don't bother with him.

"If he wants to go, let him. Jeffrey will take great care of me."

Jeffrey, smelling strongly of alcohol, quickly thumped his chest.

"Mom, looking after someone isn't hard at all. From now on, you can count on me for these little things."

Rosie laughed and complimented him. "Jeffrey, you are so kind-hearted, not like Malcolm, the selfish one, only thinking of himself.

"If I'd known what he was really like, I never would have agreed to marry him."

She was clearly trying to get a rise out of me.

She wanted me to get jealous and compete with Jeffrey.

However, I just found it funny.

They believed no child could tend to the sick for too long, especially when the one in bed was not their own flesh and blood.

Caring for someone for a day or two might seem doable, but over time, it could drive anyone mad.

I wondered how long Jeffrey could keep up his charade of deep affection.

Next to me, Adrian suddenly gave me a knowing look with a raised eyebrow.

"Malcolm, you mentioned you're not married, correct? Married individuals cannot be sent overseas, and if you are not truthful, you might lose your job. Please do not entangle me in this," he expressed with a concerned expression.

Their company enforced a stringent policy on this matter, and I had told them I was not married.

We were supposed to get our marriage certificate, but Rosie ditched me for Jeffrey and his son. So, we never got it, and she even forgot the whole thing.

I was about to clear things up when Rosie's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"If you try to leave, I'll tell on you, and you'll lose your job. You wouldn't want to get the senior who helped you in trouble, would you?" she taunted.

I had given up so much for her, and then she wanted to clip my wings and keep me trapped forever.

I just smiled and said, "Tell on me? Rosie, don't you remember we're not together anymore?"

However, Rosie looked upset. "Even if we didn't finish the wedding, it doesn't matter. I'm still your wife, and you can't leave me and my mom to go abroad," she insisted.

I coolly took out my family register, pointed to the word 'unmarried,' and said, "Rosie, did you forget we never actually got our marriage certificate?"