Chapter 14
Ryan knew how to play the victim perfectly. He admitted to some minor problems but never acknowledged his infertility. He blamed the root of those issues on me.
“Mom, do you really think I’m that kind of person?” I asked.
She snorted coldly. “You’ve always been troublesome since you were a kid. All those boys kept coming to our house.”
I wiped away my tears and asked, “Is that really how you see me?”
She fell silent for a moment, then said harshly, “We mustn’t forget our roots. Ryan helped your brother pay off so much debt. How could you betray him behind his back?”
I couldn’t deny my involvement with Luther, but it wasn’t betrayal. Ryan was the one who handed me over to Luther.
Mom snapped, “That’s enough! You need to go to Ryan and beg him not to divorce you. Do whatever you have to. Your brother’s getting married in a couple of years, and the family’s counting on you both to help out.
“These days, weddings come with big expenses. They need a house and a car too. It all adds up to well over a hundred thousand dollars. You absolutely can’t divorce Ryan.”
I shot back, “Mom, why can’t Sam find a job himself? Can’t he just work hard and make his own way?”
She scoffed. “Work? Do you really think your little brother is like you? We’ve raised you in vain. You can find a good family and get to enjoy life. But do you honestly think we can rely on your brother to support us?
“You need to be realistic. The only reason you’re allowed to be out there is because your brother’s got your back at home. He’s here for us so you can go out. If you were our only child, you wouldn’t even be allowed to go anywhere.”
I was speechless. Finally, I realized I was truly insignificant to my parents.
“Also, Sam wants to open a restaurant in the village. You need to send him some money to rent a storefront and hire a cook and staff. It’ll cost about 150 thousand dollars. Transfer it tomorrow.”
I had gotten part of the divorce settlement from Ryan as a down payment, but I had already used most of it to pay back friends and family. What was left was less than 70 thousand dollars.
“I don’t have that kind of money,” I said.
She snapped, “Don’t lie. Ryan makes tens of thousands a year. How could you not have anything?”
I let out a sigh. “Mom, I divorced Ryan. I don’t have the right to ask him for money anymore.”
She retorted, “Who told you to divorce? You two aren’t even at that point yet, right? Hurry up and make up with him, then borrow some money.”
I replied, “I won’t beg him. The divorce is final. Don’t ask me to borrow money from him.”
My mom’s tone was colder than the dead of winter. “If you’re not going to ask him for money, then you need to pay up yourself.”
“I don’t have anything to give. I’m just a regular employee. My monthly salary barely covers my living expenses,” I explained.
“You managed Ryan’s money after you married him, didn’t you? Didn’t you secretly save a little for yourself?” she pressed.
“No,” I replied firmly.
“Are you stupid? If you handled the money, why didn’t you save a little on the side? What if something happened? Who do you expect to borrow from?” she snapped before changing the topic. “How did you split your assets in the divorce?”
I briefly outlined the division according to the divorce agreement. When Mom heard I got back 150 thousand dollars as a down payment, she immediately set her sights on that.
“Lend that money to your brother to open a restaurant. He can pay you back once he starts earning,” she suggested eagerly.
“Mom, I only have 70 thousand dollars left after paying back friends and relatives. I want to keep that for a house down payment. With my current
salary, I can save enough in a few years for a small apartment in Jaloria,” I explained patiently.
“When did you pay them back? How come we didn’t know anything about that?” she asked sharply.
“I didn’t tell you because you never helped when I borrowed the money. Why should I inform you when I pay it back?” I said coldly.
She snapped, “Your father and I don’t have the means. Where do you expect us to borrow from?”
“What’s the problem with me not telling you? I’ve always handled my own problems since I was little,” I answered defiantly.
“You’re really holding a grudge against your father and ine, aren’t you? We raised you from the very beginning.
“You didn’t grow up in the wild or come from nowhere. We gave you everything. Is this how you repay us? Your father was right. You’re nothing but ungrateful,” she said sharply.
My heart ached with anger. Holding my head, I shot back. “If I’m ungrateful, then whose money paid for the house you live in now, the monthly living expenses, and everything else at home? When Sam caused that huge trouble and owed millions, who paid it off?”
She retorted, “Don’t flatter yourself. Ryan paid for everything. It had nothing to do with you.”
Chapter 1
My words were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t reveal that Luther helped me pay. If they knew I relied on such a powerful benefactor, they might demand money from him.
“I’m the reason Ryan paid off millions of dollars for Sam. What do you mean it has nothing to do with me?
“When he paid that money back, we weren’t divorced yet. It was our joint property. I don’t owe you anymore. Any debts of gratitude have been repaid,” I explained firmly.
My mom couldn’t argue with that and softened her stance. “No matter what, Sam is your brother. You have to look out for him. If he’s found a way to earn money, that should ease your burden too.” Mom insisted.
I repeated firmly, “I can’t help him. If he wants to succeed, he has to work for it himself. He’s in his 20s now. It’s time for him to build his own career.”
“How can you be so cold–hearted? Sam is your brother. Compared to him, you’re downright heartless,” she scolded.
Istood up, steadying myself on the floor, then walked over to the wine cabinet and poured a glass of red wine.
“Don’t you dare say I’m heartless. I’m divorced now, with no one to rely on but myself. I can’t be your cash cow anymore. He’ll have to figure it out on his own,” I said bitterly.
My mom’s anger exploded into a tirade.
“You’re really stubborn, young lady! Who told you to get involved with that no–good guy? If you were sensible, Ryan wouldn’t have divorced you. You threw away a good life yourself, and now you want to act like you’re in the right?
“You better transfer me whatever money you have right now. If it’s not in my account by tomorrow, I’m coming to your workplace!” Mom barked.
I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t let her come to my workplace.
“Don’t come. I’ll send the money, but I only have 70 thousand dollars. The rest is Sam’s problem,” I replied firmly.
Mom insisted. “No way. You promised 150 thousand dollars, and I expect nothing less.”
Before hanging up, she warned coldly, “If it’s less than 150 thousand dollars, I’ll come to your company myself. Let’s see who’ll be in disgrace.”
I sat by the window, drinking half a bottle of wine. Luther came home and turned on the light. I quickly wiped the tear stains from my face, but he noticed immediately.
He crouched down in front of me and brushed my hair aside. “Are you crying?” he asked.
I sniffled and shook my head. “No,” I replied.
Luther glanced at the wine glass on the floor and said with a sneer, “Are you thinking about your ex–husband or perhaps an old flame?”
I was already holding back so much anger inside, and his sarcasm made my blood boil. I grabbed the wine glass and threw the remaining wine in his face.
He fell silent.
After that, panic and calm both hit me at once.
He paused, staring at me with anger in his eyes. The wine dripped from the tips of his hair.
I crawled over and wiped his face with a tissue, sobbing uncontrollably. “Sorry, I wasn’t in a good place just now,” I admitted.
Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist tightly. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded.
I shook my head and braced myself to be pushed away.
Luther pointed to the corner.
“There’s a security camera there. Do you want me to check it, or will you admit it yourself?” he asked.
I looked up and followed the direction of his finger, spotting the surveillance camera tucked away in a hidden corner.
There was no hiding the truth anymore, so I told him about the call from my mother.
Luther remained silent the entire time. When I finished, he picked up his phone and transferred 200 thousand dollars to me.
“Give it to them,” he ordered.
I didn’t want to owe him anymore, so I said, “I can’t pay it back.”
“If you can’t pay me back, then offer yourself to me,” he said
Luther pushed me down and pinned me beneath him. The strong smell of alcohol hit me.
Though his words were cold and harsh, I genuinely felt moved at that moment.
