"No! I don’t want Mom and Dad to get divorced! I don’t want to be laughed at for being that kid!"
She turned to look at my dad for help, realizing that he must’ve slipped out earlier just to brainwash her and bring her in at the right time.
"Anthony, you’re a father now. You have to think about your child. Don’t be so selfish."
My father’s words hit me like a hammer, piercing straight into my already shattered heart. He could choose to live blindfolded and play the cuckold. But I wasn’t going to keep lying to myself. That was my freedom, too.
I squatted down and tried to lift Olive, but she scratched and bit me like a panicked little animal.
"You’re a bad dad! The worst dad!"
"Anthony, that’s enough."
Ralph suddenly cut in, grabbing my arm with fake concern.
"So many people are jealous of you for having a wife like Miranda. How can you be so ungrateful? Is some other woman really worth throwing all this away?"
His words were like oil in a frying pan, setting off an instant explosion in the room. Just like that, the conversation spiraled. And somehow, I was now a cheater. How shameless!
"Miranda, your marriage needs to end! Anthony is clearly abusing your love and already hurting you. Don’t be soft-hearted!"
However, Miranda didn’t utter a single word. Instead, she just stared at me with crimson eyes as if she'd been deeply hurt.
"Babe, is what Ralph said true?"
"Call her over. I’ll help you check. As long as she passes my test and truly loves you, I’ll grant your marriage! But our daughter is the fruit of our love, so I absolutely won’t agree to you taking her!"
After that, Miranda immediately hugged our daughter and burst into tears.
Anyone who witnessed the scene would’ve blamed me. Meanwhile, Ralph’s eyes gleamed with pride. He leaned in toward me again and said, "Anthony, break up with that bitch! Living a good life with Miranda is better than anything else!"
"Get lost!"
I couldn’t help but shake his hand off as my long-suppressed anger finally erupted.
"Ralph, don’t think I’ve got no idea on what you’ve done behind my back?"
Eventually, my patience had worn thin and I ended up kicking him in the shin.
"If you dare meddle in my family affairs again, I’ll make you pay!"
Ralph stumbled back, landing squarely on the seafood platter, turning the entire spread into a mess.