Leaving the Golden Cage

t Christmas Eve dinner

meal with smile

ediately threw the divo

igned them and said harshly in ange

uth raised to revea

lived off me, how could he

I stood up to serve Kayla Holden, the mother of

t and tossed it ba

d me under the watchful eye

miling, "Kayla, it's Christma

to say. My son doesn't even come home for C

my son wouldn't make himself so busy with work

ercing through my facade of having a

been married f

ars, I juggled work and

d myself a

ter three years, despite not using any p

the doorb

ing the tense atmospher

door, I saw Cecil

, "Shouldn't you be w

behind him, smiling, "I called Cecil back. It's so l

ly, "As Cecil's wife, you

e, wondering wh

was through a picture o

hool uniform, s

ed this photo into h

ing Cecil's laundry,

him with the photo, a

month before he finally tol

and he had liked her

young love di

dies after high school, and the

that I learned her n

never saw he

it later, he said

d so, I didn't

reality, Zoe pushed past

a low voice, "W

to the country recently. It's lonely for a girl to sp

ure, I returned to the

had already t

r laugh, even bringing a rare smi

able was a stark contra

ide, watch

ed more like part of the fami

w Kayla didn

ideal daugh

nor endearing. I couldn

the type who could nev

my good family background, which could pro

me with unease and surprise, "

ied to stand up a

And you're our guest. Just take this s

words, Zoe smiled

at me earnestly and waiting f

me under moral blackmai

Christmas Eve. Why should I sta

the dishes on the

day, my back aching and legs sore

cook after ma

nd said takeout was unhealthy, so I enrolled in a

master chef, my

, I agreed, "It's fin

nking me, "Thank you so

t smile flashing

through the Chris

stepped out of the kitchen, I saw the Holden family's rel

box from somewhere a

e motions before ha

od by, blissfully watchin

ed at the si

ment longer, so I found an

ive in the same neighborhood. Why don't you give me a ride? Won't you worry about me if letting

a Zoe lived in o

d in hand, a surge of

llowed by the overwhelming s

, my eyes blazing with ang

me, and then guiltily turned his

g arms with Cecil a

self to hold back my emotions until we were home. It woul

allowed

ator, I realized I ha

rn back to

taking my phone, I hadn't walked f

I saw a man and a

I realized they were n

re always meant to be mine. If I hadn't gone abroad, we would

er wo

referrin

utterly convinced that

s me as much as she used to. If we got married, we'd all be so happ

Cecil's expression, but I saw him

her head up to kiss Cecil, a

ed to rush over and scold them harshly,

alm. Confronting them now wou

hey had no shame. In that case, my outburst would only ma

myself. A cold smile played on my

this despicable couple

called out Ceci

rtled and hurriedly kept a

le, pretending not to have s

't you answer? It was so dark. I alm

a calm facade, my words

directly addressed Zoe, "

ange of target, or perhaps out o

u're just being paranoid. Why are you talking to Zoe like

e prick him when he ma

urther, he hurriedly u

unk and wanted to sleep,

led in, I pretend

hem the opportunit

long before they started hol

, even daring to hold ha

ut my phone and hit

a red light, and

e me a show, kissin

wave of

disgu

hone and continue

eighborhood, Zoe join

cil hasn't told you, has he? I live on the floor just ab

aiming to work late and avo

he had another

s Eve was another excuse of his. The truth

ade me sick t

one so without asking me. So what's the point of asking fo

en tears welling up in her eyes. "If you

diately pulled the crying Zoe into

ere filled with disdain instead

u drop your arrogance? Zoe isn't your se

o leave him, but seeing how muc

or doors opened, and

nd in that elevator with

g figure. She said caringly, "She's upset. Go comfo

're too considerate. Why bother with her? Co