He Called Me Gold Digger I Left Him

Chapter 3

The red light above the operating room door went out.

The doctor said we were lucky, the tumor hadn't ruptured. Mom just needed to stay in the hospital for 48 hours of observation, and then she could go home.

My mom's eyes swam with thick, unspoken guilt. "Juliana, I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to have to go through all this pain."

I shook my head hard. "You won't have to suffer any more hardship, not ever again. Mom, once you're all better, let's leave this place for good, okay?"

Once my mom had fallen asleep, I picked up my phone and submitted a transfer request to my company.

*****

Two months back, my old department head had gotten promoted and transferred to New York City.

Nervous as hell, I sent her a message expressing my interest in transferring to her team.

She got back to me almost right away, saying yes.

I was so grateful for the chance, I promised I'd report for duty exactly one week later.

Before the sky fully darkened, I headed back to my rental apartment.

The second I pushed the door open, I saw Harris sitting on the couch, his face thunderous.

I glanced around the tiny space. For the first time, it hit me how wildly out of place he looked in this 30-square-meter shoebox of an apartment.

The second he spotted me, he sneered, voice sharp with sarcasm. "What's that supposed to mean, 'you used to like practical gifts because I was too poor'?"

I answered offhandedly, "It means exactly what it says."

He shot to his feet so fast the couch creaked, then clamped his hand tight around my jaw, forcing my head up to look him dead in the eye.

"Oh, so now what? All that 'I'll love anything you give me' crap you used to say? That doesn't count anymore? Why do you think I pretended to be broke this whole time, huh? It's because I knew I'd end up seeing this ugly, money-grubbing side of you!"

A wave of pure absurdity washed over me, and I let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

I wrenched myself back out of his grip, then gestured lazily at all the stuff scattered around the room.

"Take a good look, Harris. That shoe cabinet we built from parts I bought off sss? Those storage bins I made out of old milk tea bags? That instant coffee you always turned your nose up at? And that cast iron pan we've used for three whole years…"

I still remembered him scratching the back of his head, grinning like an i***t and telling me how smart and capable I was for making do with what we had. Now the memory just tasted like ash in my mouth.

I didn't feel like holding back anymore. The words spilled out sharp and unfiltered.

"I've cooked for you for years, haven't I? What's so wrong with wanting a little compensation for that?"

He ground his teeth so hard I could almost hear the enamel c***k, his eyes blazing like he wanted to tear me apart with his bare hands. But he didn't say a single word.

He went quiet for a long, heavy beat, then reached into his pocket like he was going to pull something out.

In that dead silence, I picked up a faint, high-pitched of static coming from the living room security camera.

I frowned and glanced up, just in time to see him lunge for the camera to turn it off.

He was too late.

Audrey's voice drifted out of the speaker.

"Hold your ground, Harris. Using past shared daily moments and emotional manipulation to swindle people out of money? That's standard gold digger behavior. Don't lose too quickly, okay? I haven't even thought of what I want for my prize when I win this bet."

'Bet. Security camera.'

Ice flooded my veins all at once, so cold I swore my blood turned to slush in my arteries. I couldn't move. Not even a single finger.

He stepped forward, reaching out to pull me into his arms.

I thrashed out of his hold like I was wild with terror.

He must have been scared I'd actually snap right there.

He hurried to explain, "Juliana, don't get me wrong. I only let them check the feed every now and then."

I clenched my fists so tight my knuckles went white, over and over again.

I remembered when he'd installed the camera in the living room. I'd even asked him, curious, why we needed one in the first place. We had nothing expensive lying around, no pets to keep an eye on.

He'd told me he wanted to record every little moment of our life together.

I'd been so naive, I'd been thrilled for days afterward.

My stomach chose that exact second to turn on me. The stale alcohol I'd downed earlier churned in my gut, burning like fire, and I gagged hard, bile rising in my throat.

A glass of water was held out to me almost immediately. I didn't take it. I just stared daggers at the camera, my voice shaking as I forced the words out, "How many times… how many times did you show them the feed?"

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Harris rubbed at his temple, looking annoyed, like I was overreacting. "None of that matters. Relax, I knew what I was doing. I never let it film anything private. I only turned it on when I gave you gifts. I just wanted to figure out if you loved me for who I am, or for my money."

That was the last straw. I snatched the water glass right out of his hand and hurled it straight at the camera. It shattered with a sharp crash.

"Harris, you're disgusting. Get out."