The Silent Midnight Chapter 2

My throat like blocked by cotton.

Turns out his parents told him nothing.

"Sister-in-law, you gave birth?"

Lila leaned forward, face was just right surprise and blame.

"Such big matter, how can not let Brother Liam know?"

I ignored her, walked straight into living room, slapped divorce agreement on coffee table.

"Let's divorce."

Liam seemed just recovered, brows frowned slightly:

"Just because I wasn't by your side when giving birth, you want divorce?"

That already hollow place in heart, still stung cold by these words.

Lila followed in, naturally stood beside Liam.

"Sister-in-law, don't be impulsive. You rest, I go cook for you."

She turned to smile at Liam:

"Mr. Liam likes my Sweet and Sour Ribs most, right?"

Liam subconsciously nodded.

Lila looked back at me:

"Sister-in-law, let me take care of you these days, Brother Liam a big man understands nothing."

"No need." I raised eyes, looked at them, "Child is no longer here."

Living room instantly dead silent.

Liam sneered:

"Nina, to anger me, you even tell such lie?

"Child about to full term, how possible say gone then gone?"

His eyes looking at me dyed with distrust:

"Just because I didn't reply your message in time on New Year's Eve, hmm?"

His logic made me want to laugh, but corners of mouth heavy couldn't lift.

Turned head watching Lila leading shopping bags walk to kitchen, watching her skillful gesture opening my cupboard.

"She, lived here these days?"

Liam hand holding cigarette froze in mid-air, meaning vague:

"Don't know, I was drunk."

Seeing me not speak, he roughly pulled my wrist:

"If not you pushed me so tight, would I miss child birth?!"

He piled all faults back on me familiarly.

I lowered head, bit lip:

"Told you, child died."

Liam stunned, seemed didn't understand what I was saying.

"Ouch, burned me to death."

He suddenly got up, ran to kitchen.

I walked over, saw him carefully holding Lila's wrist, flushing under tap.

"Why so careless? Here all red."

That distressed tone, that gentle expression.

Long long ago I also saw.

I turned around, didn't want look anymore.

Returned to bedroom, started mechanically packing my own things.

Opened bedside table drawer, fingertips touched a box of condoms.

Not the brand we usually use.

Liam didn't know when followed in, meeting my eyes full of broken light and shadow, pretended not seeing.

My nose tip panicked a trace of sourness, a burst of nausea surged up.

Rushed into bathroom, I retched at toilet.

Tears physiologically bubbled out.

Raised head, wanted pull a tissue, sight fixed.

On towel rack, casually thrown a set of sexy black lingerie.

In trash can, also a ball of water-stained black stockings.

I in bathroom, facing those black fabrics, cried without sound.

Tears flowed hot, throat couldn't emit any sound.

Unknown cried how long, I pulled door out.

Smell of food drifted from dining room.

Lila sat in my seat, tone natural like hostess:

"Sister-in-law, I specially stewed soup for you, tonifying qi and blood."

I didn't move.

Liam lowered head slowly eating a piece of rib, head not lifted:

"Ignore her."

Looking at this "home" I personally decorated, now everywhere revealing strangeness and invasion feeling.

Stomach another burst of churning.

"Liam, remember sign divorce agreement."

Finished, I turned walked to door.

Didn't look back once.

Walked out of building corridor, winter cold wind scraped face like knife, sunlight swayed people dizzy.

I don't know how I returned to hotel.

Woke up again, phone popped up video sent by adoptive mother.

First a burst of noise, followed by Lila's voice carrying crying tone:

"I am mistress, I destroyed Liam and Nina family..."

She hung a board on neck, two capitalized words:

[BITCH]