Chapter 2
Suppressing my anger, I firmly shook Max's outstretched hand. "That's right, I'm Marvin, Joanna's boyfriend of five years."
Max violently pulled his hand away, scoffing, "Just a backup, and you have the nerve to call yourself Joanna's boyfriend."
Seeing Max act so brazenly arrogant, I clenched my fists, seething with anger, almost ready to strike.
But before I could even react, Joanna stood in front of Max, holding the baby, and glared at me.
"Marvin, show some respect! If you scare the baby, I will never forgive you!" she snapped.
I was so angry I laughed. "You won't forgive me?"
"Living with me for five years and having a child with another man before we even broke up—I should be the one who won't forgive you!"
Joanna gave me a fierce glare, then raised her hand and started pushing me.
"Let's talk about this at home. No need to make a scene here and give everyone a show."
"Give everyone a show." This was Joanna’s most frequent remark to me.
She was always critical of me, never satisfied.
Her most common complaint was that I behaved improperly, and taking me out would embarrass her.
I always believed Joanna was straightforward and honest. I used to just smile at these accusations, never taking them seriously. But now, I feel utterly ridiculous and sorrowful.
When I returned home, an unspeakable pain spread from my chest to my entire body. I agonizingly clutched my head, as if it were about to split open. In a fit of anger, I grabbed a delicate ornament from the table and threw it against the wall!
Bang!
The ornament instantly shattered into pieces, scattering fragments across the floor. It carried our shared memories, and at that moment, it also symbolized our broken relationship.
Looking at the photo on the wall, I suddenly realized that Joanna's usual indifference was not a pretense.
As I looked at the mess on the floor, a strange sense of satisfaction inexplicably rose within me.
To further vent my anger, I found all items related to Joanna.
Whether they were souvenirs from our travels together or carefully selected small ornaments, I picked up each one and, with all my might, threw them against the wall.
Just as I violently smashed another music box symbolizing our memories, the door was suddenly flung open.
Joanna happened to be standing at the doorway and was almost scratched by the flying shards.
She was terrified, holding her baby tightly, and quickly darted to the side, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. When she saw the entire room covered in glass shards, Joanna's face instantly darkened.
And she yelled at me angrily, "Marvin, are you crazy? What on earth are you doing here?"
This time, I didn't back down as I usually would when Joanna got angry.
I also put on a stern face and retorted in a cold tone, "You don't get to tell me what I do in my own home."
My defiance completely enraged Joanna. She fumed, accusing me, "Marvin, you're getting bolder and bolder! How dare you talk to me like that!"
Just then, Max rushed in from outside, hugged Joanna tightly, and gently comforted her.
"Joanna, don't be angry. You're still breastfeeding, so getting upset isn't good for your health," he said.
Max took the child, turned his gaze to me, his eyes filled with disdain. "Look at you, so emotionally unstable, do you have some psychological issues?"
Joanna's tone immediately softened, and she said playfully to Max, "For the baby's sake, I won't get angry.
"Take the baby and leave quickly; I'm afraid she'll get hurt if she stays here."
The two of them acted intimately in front of me, as if I were the one who didn't belong.
I finally couldn't take it anymore, pointing at Max. "Get out!"