Chapter 5 You Should Learn from Aunt Alexis

"Don't worry, I'm fine," I comforted him softly. Just as I reached out to grab the band-aid, Charlie flung it in front of me. "I'm leaving." "Charlie." I grabbed his head, my heart softening as I tried to open up to him. "Do you feel like I'm too strict with you sometimes?" He nodded. "Not sometimes but most of the time." I gently patted his head, but he instantly ducked. My heart ached, but I kept my tone gentle. "Then how about this? I won't be so strict with you anymore, okay? This is my first time being a mother. I might not have done everything right, and maybe that made you unhappy. But I promise you that I'll change—" "Alright, I get it," he abruptly cut me off. "It's easy if you want me to like you. Don't control me or scold me. I want to eat and play whatever I want. I agree that you really aren't a good mother. You should learn from Aunt Alexis about how to be one." With that, he pushed me aside and ran off, screaming that he wanted to play games. The moment he left, William walked in. "Is your neck okay?" "I don't need your concern." Thinking about last night's messages made my chest tighten. Just being in the same room with William made me feel disgusted. I rarely ever talked to him in this tone. "What's the matter? Did Charlie upset you again?" "It has nothing to do with him. You know what you've done. Don't touch me!" I glared at him with rage. He froze, seemingly innocent. "Did I upset you? Is this about the ice cream last night? I'm sorry." "It's not about the ice cream!" Tears welled in my eyes as I continued to ask, "Why didn't you answer me when I asked why you secretly met Alexis behind my back?" William sighed and reached out to hold me. "So, this is about that? You should've just said so." "It's not just about that! I saw your messages with Alexis on your computer last night." I stared straight into his eyes, refusing to let him escape. "You snooped on my computer?" "Yes!" Despair overwhelmed me. "When did this start between you two?" "Nothing is going on." He frowned and explained, "It was just playful banter last night, nothing serious." "Banter? Since when does banter include asking for kisses from your sister-in-law? Do you think I'm stupid, William?" By the time I finished speaking, I was trembling uncontrollably, and my voice was choked with emotion. He panicked when he saw the tears drop from my eyes. "She's your sister and Charlie's aunt. How could I have those kinds of thoughts about her? You've misunderstood the situation completely. If I really had those kinds of thoughts, do you think you'd ever be able to log into my computer and see those messages? "I trust you, which is why my phone and computer passwords are your birthday. I made a mistake for making jokes that went too far. I won't make stupid mistakes like that again. Please don't cry. My heart breaks when you cry." William tried to soothe me and gently wiped my tears away. "I admit that this is all my fault. Please don't cry and get upset because it'll only hurt your body. You should've woken me up last night and scolded me right away after seeing those things. You probably didn't sleep well at all, didn't you?" I stared into his anxious eyes, but instead of feeling soothed, a greater loneliness overcame me. Yes, I shouldn't be crying. What was there to cry about? For a cheater? It wasn't worth it. What really bothered me was Charlie. He was only four years old and so young. If I divorced William, what would happen to him?