Before the Bells Could Ring

"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?"