Chapter 2 Barbara’s Provocation
Anthony frowned in irritation.
“Didn’t you bring this on yoursell? And it’s just soup. You could have made it yourself. “‘
Without waiting for me to say anything. Anthony turned and walioed out.
Anthony
I shouted his name, but all I heard in response was the loud slam of the door.
Anthony was.
I held my daughter tightly in my arms, suddenly remembering what Anthony had said when we were deeply in love, that for the rest of our lives, he would do everything in hur power to make sure I neve shed a tear.
Thad always been afraid of loneliness.
Chapter 2 Barbara’s Provocation
Anthong proposed, he promised to give me a home so that I would never be alone again.
But now, the sound of my daughter crying made meanin
At that moment, I felt loss, and a bitter thought crowd my mind, “What does marriage really bring to a woman?
Is this really the home I’ve always dreamed of?
That notholes but to ender takeout, asking for formula and soup.
2/6
When the delivery arrived, I dragged my aching body to get it, but as I was preparing the formula for my daughter in the room, I saw a post from Barbara on
[Thanks to my light for spending two hours making this soup just forms.]
In the photo, Anthony wore an apron, looking at Barbara with atendem had never shown ma..
I suddenly felt pathetic and foolish.
The cries of Nina, hungry and helpless, and my own struggles with postpartum recovery, Anthony ignored them all.
He didn’t care that I barely survived after being rushed into ICU, and he couldn’t even be bothered to make me a simple bowl of soup, yet he was willing to cook for Barbara, healthy and well.
It made sense, though.
From the start, I was nothing more than a stand–in for Anthony.
He didn’t love me.
And naturally, he didn’t love our daughter either.
I finished making the formula for my daughter and then forced myself to drink the soup, but tears still dropped into it, one after another.
I still made myself drink it. I knew I couldn’t break down.
Since Anthony, as Nina’s father, didn’t love her, I had
Chapter 2 Barbarah Provocation
to love her enough for both of us.
That night, after finally managing to get Nina to sleep, I received a video from an anonymous number.
I clicked on it.
The video showed Anthony, drunk, holding Barbara while complaining about me.
“Diane Heath is useless. She can’t manage anything. She just lets Bonnie cry, and her body’s gotten out of shape. She doesn’t even care to manage it. And don’t get me started on the horrible smell of milk stains on her when I get close.
“I really regret choosing her.
“If I hadn’t felt sorry for her being an orphan, I never would’ve married her. She’s ungrateful, and now she’s making such a scene.”
When I heard Anthony say that, my blood seemed to freeze.
He actually disliked me because I was an orphan.
Chapter 2 Barbara’s Provocation
But when we first met, I had never hidden that I was an
orphan.
I thought, “Yes, I am an orphan.
But I’ve never given up on myself, never wallowed in self–pity. After growing up, I became an executive in a company because of my excellent grades and work skills.”
I didn’t need Anthony to survive. I was doing just fine on my own.
I looked down at my stomach, which still had some extra fat.
Anthony was right.
My body had changed, but I had just given birth to our daughter. I hadn’t even started postpartum recovery yet. Did he expect me to lose weight by risking my life?
I didn’t understand how everything had turned out this way.
It was Anthony who had forced me to quit my high–paying executive job when he found out I was
Chapter 2 Barbara’s Provocation
pregnant, promising to care for me and the child for the rest of our lives.
In the video, Anthony held Barbara even tighter.
He said his heart would always belong to her and that he only stayed with me out of a sense of responsibility.
I nearly collapsed as I watched the video, but I covered my mouth to stifle the sobs, not wanting to wake Nina.
[Diane, I suggest you let me know when to quit. If it weren’t for the fact that you look like me, Anthony would never have even looked at you.]
I knew it was Barbara’s provocation
