Chapter 15
Revolting?
I couldn’t believe the words coming from Tom’s mouth. I would never forget the nervous way he had once asked me if he could be with me.
“You bastard!”
I slapped Tom hard across the face. “You used my money to save someone else’s daughter and caused Monica’s death! And after all that, you still have the audacity to go to the amusement park with them?”
People around us began to stare, and Tom’s face contorted with embarrassment and anger.
“Are you done with this already? We told a little white lie to save Julie. Do you have to keep bringing this up?”
“And what do you mean by ‘your money“? We’re married. I’m spending our joint assets. Betty never nitpicks over things like you do!”
Seeing the red mark on Tom’s face, Betty started crying, full of pity for him.
“If you don’t want Tom to spend time with us, just say so. We’ll leave. But let me make one thing clear: we’re just friends. “If there was anything going on between us, what makes you think you’d have a chance?”
I chuckled sarcastically at Betty’s words. “If I remember correctly, I rejected Tom countless times. He persistently pestered me, completely disregarding you. So don’t act like you graciously handed over this trash to me!”
“And Julie? Isn’t she the result of your relationship with one of your close male friends? Guess your brotherly bond is strong enough to make babies, huh?”
Betty’s face darkened, and Tom, now furious, pulled her into his arms and glared at me.
“As your husband, I’m warning you–if you don’t want to lose me, apologize to Betty right now!”
I spat in his face.
Tom had always been a chauvinist, using his role as a husband to control me after we got married, trying to tame me.
Used to hold back, playing the dutiful wife in
front of others. But now, I didn’t care to indulge him anymore.
“Husband? You barely earn half of what I do, and at home, you’ve never fulfilled your duties as a husband or father. What gives you the right to command me as your wife?”
My words shattered what little was left of Tom’s fragile ego. He lunged at me, grabbing my collar and throwing me to the ground, kicking and punching me.
“So what if I’m with Betty? She’s a cheerful and generous woman who knows how to respect her man, unlike you, always defying your husband!”
“Then go be with her!” I screamed in rage, the pain in my body nowhere near as agonizing as what I felt in my heart. “No one’s stopping you, you disgusting pair of cheaters! I just want Monica. Give me back my daughter!”
“You’re ridiculous. How could it be such a coincidence that Julie was kidnapped, and on the same day, Monica was too?”
“If something had happened to Monica, the police wouldn’t have ignored me, the head of the family, and let a woman like you handle everything.”
Though Tom was despicable, his words gave me pause.
He was right. How could it be such a coincidence?
I crawled, bruised and broken, to Julie, clutching her hand desperately. “Julie, how many people were kidnapped that day? Was Monica one of them?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Before I could ask more, Julie suddenly clutched her chest and began to convulse. Betty sobbed uncontrollably while holding Julie close, pleading with me.
“We were wrong. We shouldn’t have spent your money. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but please, leave my daughter alone.”Material © NôvelDrama.Org.
Tom, unable to contain his anger, kicked me hard, sending me coughing up blood.
The urn I held fell to the ground, and I watched helplessly as the last memories of Monica blew away in the wind.
“What is that?”
“Our daughter.”
Tom was livid. “You crazy woman! You irresponsible mother! If you dare curse Monica again, I’ll beat you to death!”
After carrying the unconscious Julie to the ambulance, Tom, distraught, pulled out his phone and sent a message.
“Monica, come pick up your mom at the amusement park. Dad’s busy right now, but I promise I’ll take you out to play as soon as I’m free, okay?”