Ten Years of DINK, Then He Regrets; I Buy His Family Huge Insurance1
My husband and I were staunch supporters of being child-free. After ten years of marriage, he changed his mind.
"Let's just adopt one. I just want to fulfill my dream of being a dad."
My in-laws pushed my parents, relatives, and friends to pressure me. In the end, we adopted a boy.
They assured me I didn't need to worry. The in-laws would take full responsibility for the child.
It wasn't until I died in a car accident that I discovered everything had been a lie.
My husband had adopted his biological son.
"Dad, you're the smart one. You put that huge insurance policy on her, and now all the money is ours. Mom's already picked out her wedding dress..."
When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my husband brought the child home.
...
"Lainey, look, this is Adam, seven years old. He's got a strong, handsome forehead, so polite and obedient. He'll definitely be well-behaved and take care of us when we're old.
"I spotted him at the orphanage right away..."
My husband, Rowan's constant praise and obvious fondness for the boy filled my ears.
I stared in a daze at the young boy's innocent face, and suddenly realized I had been reborn.
His wide, innocent eyes were studying me, though I could see a flicker of disgust in them.
I watched this "loving father and son" scene, pinched myself hard, and barely managed to suppress the overwhelming hatred I felt inside.
Slap!
I slapped Adam across the face.
Rowan's smile froze, and he immediately questioned me angrily.
"What are you doing? It's the kid's first day here, and you're hitting him? Don't you know how to be a mother?"
I calmly opened my hand, revealing a dead mosquito.
"Honey, I was just trying to keep Adam from being bitten by mosquitoes. Why are you so tense? Don't tell me having a kid means you don't love me anymore?"
I pretended to tear up. Rowan glanced at both me and the child, flustered, before gently trying to comfort me.
"Honey, that's not what I meant. Adam isn't even our biological son. How could he be more important than you?
"Tell you what, I'll take him to my parents' place. That way, you won't get jealous, and you won't have to worry about anything. You just focus on your career. I'll handle things at home."
He was about to leave when I grabbed his arm.