Right in front of me, Michael scooped Sarah up and gently placed her on the bed. Their intimacy stabbed at me like a knife.
Sarah never once refused him, even looking shy.
Only after a while did Sarah finally think of me, meeting my gloomy stare before quickly looking away.
Michael put her down and then got up to pour her a glass of water.
I snatched the cup from his hands.
“Michael, thanks for your help, but my wife and my son are mine to take care of.”
Michael’s expression didn’t change, but Sarah’s face filled with dissatisfaction.
She said outright that I was being rude, that Michael was only being kind.
“You have to look after me and our son all by yourself. Isn’t it better to have Michael help share the burden?”
Sarah slapped the cup from my hand, ignoring the scalding hot water splashing across my skin, and then turned to Michael.
“Michael, help me pack up my things. We’re going home.”
Just then a nurse came to tell us to complete the discharge paperwork. Sarah gave me a look, and I bent to pick up the cup, swallowing my anger as I followed the nurse out.
I thought Sarah was only upset because I embarrassed her in front of an outsider. Since she had just given birth, I decided not to argue with her.
But when I returned to the hospital room, the sight that met me made my blood boil.
Sarah was cradling the baby, while Michael stood at her side, the three of them looking like a perfect little family.
Their conversation cut into my heart like knives.
“This baby looks just like you.”
“Really? I thought people said babies resemble the first person they see. Michael, maybe he looks like you.”
I kicked the door open with a loud bang. Both Sarah and Michael jumped in fright, and Ethan woke up crying loudly.
Ignoring Sarah’s murderous glare, I gave Michael his marching orders.
“Michael, we’re going home. We don’t need your help anymore.”
“No!”
Sarah stopped me quickly. I stared at her in disbelief.
“He’s an outsider. Are you saying he’s supposed to come home with us too?”
I looked at Michael through gritted teeth. He tilted his head, smiling at me with open provocation.
We both turned our eyes to Sarah. Without hesitation, she sided with Michael.
“I asked him to come back. You’re always busy with work. With Michael here to take care of me and the baby, you don’t have to worry.”
A wave of anger and sorrow nearly drowned me.