Chapter 3
989 Words
I couldn't believe it. I said, "I didn't splash her. She's framing me!"
"Apologize! Don't you want your mother's medical expenses?" Charles replied coldly.
I felt humiliated, tears threatening to spill as I murmured an apology. I rushed away, trying to hide my face from the mocking gazes around me.
At that moment, I realized how lowly I seemed next to his first love.
I had once been cherished until my dad's business collapsed, leading to his suicide. My mom was devastated and jumped from a building. Though she was saved, she could only receive treatment in a sanatorium.
Once a proud Fiona, I had become a worthless housewife.
Julia was determined. "Fiona, let's see who wins in the end." With that, she turned and left without looking back.
That night, Charles came home furiously. He threw me to the ground, demanding, "Did you meet Julia? Did you threaten her?"
I shot back, "What did she say to you?"
He sneered, "She didn't say much. Just that her eyes were swollen from crying. Fiona, you should know you're just my toy."
I was enraged, throwing a pillow at him and shouting, "Then divorce me! Give me the alimony, and I'll leave right now! Stop pretending to be deep. You care only about your business!"
Charles responded coldly, "If you apologize to Julia, I'll pretend nothing happened."
I laughed in anger, shaking off his grip. "Charles, are you really helping the mistress pressure your legitimate wife?"
I took out my phone to call the sanatorium for an appointment. I had no time to deal with him. Tomorrow was my day to visit my mom.
Charles snatched my phone away. "Apologize to Julia."
I slapped him, shouting, "Charles, if you have a problem, go see a doctor! Don't waste my time. Just get lost!"
His face went pale, and in a sudden rage, he smashed my phone onto the floor. The screen shattered instantly.
I looked up at him, almost breaking down. "I can't turn off my phone. You know the nursing home can call me at any time."
Charles replied coldly, "I thought you didn't care about anything. Turns out you do. Well, think it over, and when you're ready to apologize, we can talk."
With that, he turned and walked out the door. I heard a click, and when I rushed over, I realized he had actually locked it. I pounded on the door. "Charles, are you crazy? Open the door!"
He stood indifferent outside. "You're being too willful. Calm down for a couple of days. Everything you need is at home. Once you've settled down, I'll come back."
"Charles, let me out. I have to see Mom.
"Charles, please open the door. You can't keep me locked in here. Open the door!"
No matter how much I shouted, there was no response. He had locked me in the empty house and left.
It poured rain outside, with thunder rumbling overhead. I leaned against the door, murmuring, "Charles, open the door. Let me out."
My voice was starting to go hoarse, and the flashes of lightning cast eerie shadows on the curtains, making it feel like ghosts were surrounding me. I held my knees. "Mom, I'm scared."
In the past, whenever there was thunder and rain, Charles would always come back to keep me company. But now, I knew that wouldn't happen.
I had heard that Julia was even more frightened. Any little noise would make her cry, and she would call Charles in the middle of the night to come be with her.
Charles returned on the third day. The moment the door opened, I rushed out without even putting on my shoes. He grabbed my arm tightly. "Aren't you going to admit your mistake?"
I pulled away fiercely. "I didn't do anything wrong. You believe everything Julia says anyway. Let go of me. I need to see Mom."
Charles squeezed my chin. "You're becoming more disobedient, Fiona. Do you still want to be locked here? Julia was in the hospital because of you. She's pregnant with my child, so don't make her angry. She's been really unhappy."
I struggled violently and bit down on his hand, causing him to loosen his grip in pain.
I pushed him away and ran outside, waving for a taxi. "To the Evergreen Care Center."
I hadn't been able to contact the nursing home for three days, and my heart had raced with worry during that time.
When I arrived at the nursing home, my mom wasn't in her room. The doctor saw me and said seriously, "How could you have your phone off, and why are you behind on payments?"
I replied, "How could we be behind on payments? Didn't the transfer go through a few days ago?"
The doctor explained, "We haven't received your transfer. You know how the nursing home operates. Without payment, we can't even get medication from the pharmacy. I called you, but your phone was off. I called your husband, and he said to talk about it later. The patient has been without medication for three days, and her condition is very serious. You need to pay the fees right away."
This expensive private nursing home had a skilled and professional team of doctors, but there was no compassion. Without money, everything stopped immediately.
I borrowed the nursing home's phone to call Charles. Tears blurred my vision, making it hard to see clearly, and I ended up dialing the wrong number. I shook my hands, pressing the buttons repeatedly until I finally got through.
When Charles answered, I pleaded with him, "Charles, I was wrong. I'm begging you, to transfer the fees to the nursing home. I'll go apologize to Julia."
Charles was cold and unyielding. "Then go apologize first. I'll transfer the money right away. If you had softened up, things wouldn't have reached this point."
I cried out, "My mom is dying, Charles. Please."
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