The Unveiled Rose

Luna made a move as if she was about to walk forward.

But Leander stopped her. "No need."

Nigel also ran over, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Mom, this bedroom has been yours and yours alone from the day you moved in!" Leander clearly agreed with Nigel, "The kid's right."

Luna apologetically turned to me. "I'm sorry, Amara. It's not that I want to hog your master bedroom. It's just that they won't let me." Leander frowned. "You don't have to apologize to her. It's not your fault."

He was clearly displeased with my behavior, his voice raised in reprimand. "Amara, I don't recall it being time for you to leave the hospital yet."

"So what?" I wasn't about to take any more from him. "Now that you bring your mistress back home, I can't even come back to my own house?" Leander bluntly concluded, "You're back, so you can sleep in the guest room with me! It's a simple solution, yet you make it uncomfortable for everyone. I really don't know what you're thinking."

After saying that, he and Luna turned and headed towards the living room.

Ha!

I scoffed, "You know exactly what I'm thinking, don't you?"

Leander turned back.

"Nigel has told you countless times that he wishes you would divorce me." Calmly and deliberately, I laid out my case. "Clearly, Luna's the only one in your heart. If that's the case, then why not just agree to the divorce? If you'd agree, many problems would be solved." Across from me, Luna looked at Leander expectantly. The kids were also staring intensely at him.

Nigel was bolder, pleading outright, "Dad, just agree to it, please!"

But Leander remained silent.

I continued, "After the divorce, I won't step foot in this house again. So, whoever you bring home is your prerogative. I naturally won't have a say in whoever sleeps in the master bedroom." Having said that, I turned and entered the bedroom, leaving behind a frustrated family of four at the door.

They angrily accused me of insisting on sleeping there, knowing full well the room was Luna's, and calling me shameless. But...so what?

As long as Leander doesn't divorce me and I'm still in this house for a day, then I'll make it unpleasant for them one last time!

Consider it their interest for hurting me.

...

Habit is indeed a fearsome thing.

Even though I decided to rest a bit more, I still woke up promptly at six.

As I opened the bedroom door, Leander was there, clearly disapproving. "Honey, I've thought about it all night, and I still think you should apologize to Luna." What?

Did he spend the whole night sleeping his brains out?

I looked up at Leander disdainfully.

Leander met my gaze. "I know you're upset about losing the child, but Luna is a guest. Your behavior last night was too rude."

Throughout our marriage, I would unconditionally accept whatever advice Leander gave.

Leander had probably gotten used to it, believing that I would relent as soon as he spoke up.

So, he even stopped what he was doing, obediently waiting for me to apologize.