“You’re one of the best engineers in this company, Brandon,” his supervisor had once told him. “Why do you keep holding yourself back?”Brandon remembered smiling faintly back then.“Because my daughter needs me more.”Over the five years Brandon had given up three major promotion opportunities at his own engineering firm choosing lower-paying stable hours so he could take full responsibility for raising their daughter. He cooked every meal, washed every load of laundry and comforted Maggie through every midnight nightmare.He did all of this for Maggie and for Lyra.More than that, when Lyra's company was on the verge of bankruptcy two years ago Brandon did not hesitate. Brandon emptied his personal savings account hundreds of thousands of dollars left to him by his late father to keep Lyra's business afloat. He had sacrificed his career, his financial security and his own dreams for Lyra and for Maggie.What did Brandon get in return? Lyra had gradually come to treat Brandon's sacr

“I’m fine,” Jake said, rubbing off his arm as he made himself look hurt.Lyra then turned to Brandon, her eyes full of anger.“Why are you acting like this in public? Look what you just did. You ruined everything. Say sorry to him immediately, and you have to apologize to everyone in this party.”But Brandon did not say anything. He looked at Lyra helping Jake and sneered at them.That was when Brandon shoved past the overturned table, grabbed Jake by the suit, and punched him across the face.Jake cried out, his head snapped to the side, but Brandon was not done. He threw Jake to the floor and started to punch him even more.“Brandon, stop! Get off him!” Lyra yelled, jumping on Brandon’s back as she tried grabbing his arms away.But it was useless.“Security! Someone help us!”Two male bouncers finally rushed over, grabbing Brandon’s shoulders and pulling him back. Brandon didn’t resist. He let go, breathing hard as his knuckles were scraped.Jake laid on the floor, his nose bleeding

“Yes,” Maggie said, turning to her dad. “All of us have to go as a family. Mommy looks tired. Daddy should drive us.”Brandon gave a little chuckle and nodded.“Fine. I will drive. And mommy will sit in the passenger seat like a passenger princess, and you stay at the back like a good girl.”She held both her parents’ hands as they all walked to the door like a normal family.Just as Brandon was about to open the door, a loud ringing sound cut through the quiet house as Lyra’s phone buzzed inside her purse.She pulled her hand away from Maggie and grabbed her phone, Maggie’s smile froze, while her little hand remained open in the air, empty.Lyra looked at the screen and her face changed. Her eyes got wide.“Jake, what’s wrong?” Lyra asked as she picked up the call.Brandon’s heart sank.Just when he thought he was finally about to break through she was doing this.He stared at Lyra and listened to Jake on the phone.“What? Oh my God, is he okay?” Lyra panicked. “Don’t panic, Jake. I

“Yes, that is very true.” The nurse nodded, writing on the chart. “You know so much about the child and his medicine. You must be his mother. You have taken good care of him.”Lyra stopped for a moment as she looked like she was about to say something before Jake placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.“Thank you very much, nurse. Thank you for taking care of our child. We really appreciate it.”The nurse smiled.“Of course. You three look like a happy family. I wish most families were like you.”Lyra did not move away from Jake’s arm. She did not tell the nurse that she was not his wife, either.She just stood there and let Jake hold her while looking at the papers with a gentle smile on his face.Brandon stood a few feet away and felt a chill run through him.Standing there, Brandon suddenly felt like the outsider in his own marriage.He was a third wheel, standing in the hallway, watching Lyra live her life with the person and people she cared about.Suddenly, a lit

Jake looked at Brandon one last time as he had a smile on his face. Then he followed Lyra back into the room. The door closed behind them. Brandon was alone in the hallway.Brandon stood still in the hospital hallway. The lights above made a noise that bothered him. He looked at his hands and saw they were shaking a little. Then a sad smile came on his face.He thought about what his wife Lyra thought of him. She thought he was just a househusband. She thought he was not a partner because he did not help her with her career.Brandon leaned against the cold wall as he chuckled quietly. He thought about all the years he spent taking care of their family. He gave up a lot of things for them. He turned down promotion after promotion so he could stay home with Maggie while Lyra chased her ambitions. Lyra did not care about any of this.He remembered when Lyra was very upset because her company was in trouble. He helped her by giving her all his money. He got this money from his father. He