Chapter 3

"You're back. Come eat," Felix said as I walked in.

When I got home, there was half a plate of ribs and half a plate of greens on the table.

Felix brought over a steaming bowl of mashed potatoes and urged me to dig in.

I peeked into the bedroom.

Felix caught on instantly and said, "They're all asleep. Ivan wouldn't stop asking for you, so I had to tell him stories for two hours before he finally calmed down."

I just wanted to ignore him and go clean up before sleeping, but Felix blocked my way.

He said, "I asked the director. There was no dinner in the cafeteria tonight. I know you're pissed at me, but you don't have to take it out on yourself."

His words really hit home. He was right. Why should I wreck my own body over him?

I hadn't had any dinner, and my stomach was on fire.

I headed to the table, sat down, grabbed a rib, and took a bite.

As soon as I took a bite, I heard Felix let out a long sigh.

"Devon, I know these years have been tough on you. I'm really sorry for everything you've had to go through because of me," Felix said.

Well, Felix actually felt guilty for once. About time he realized how exhausting it was to keep a whole family going.

He said, "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. You have to work and take care of the family. It's just too much for you. So I want to talk about quitting my job."

Here we go. I knew this dinner was going to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Felix said, "Ivan's about to start elementary school, and he'll need help with his homework. My parents' health is getting worse every day. If you quit your job and focus on the family, it'll take a load off your shoulders."

In the previous timeline, he convinced me just like this. And what happened?

As soon as I quit, he immediately let Serena step into my shoes.

He spent every day glued to Serena, playing the perfect couple.

And then, when the Staawood development came around, he took the chance and eloped with Serena to the frontier.

He was out there chasing glory, while she stuck to him like glue, playing the devoted partner in the wilds.

All those years, he didn't send a dime back home.

Meanwhile, I was left with nothing, forced to keep the family afloat by washing clothes for other people.

My hands were cracked and rough, scrubbing laundry from summer to winter and back again, covered in chilblains and calluses.

I could still remember it like it was yesterday.

The day Felix came back from Staawood with Serena, I was a wreck, dirty, tired, wearing clothes covered in patches.

Meanwhile, Serena looked radiant in the trendiest windbreaker, her skin so fresh it seemed to glisten.

I shot Felix a cold, mocking smile. "Oh, but your parents would much rather have their precious son at home, wouldn't they?

"We make about the same money anyway, so what does it matter who's paying the bills? How about you quit your job and let me support the whole family?"

Felix's face fell in an instant. "I'm a man. No way I'd let a woman be the breadwinner," he shot back.

I couldn't help but laugh even harder. "Oh, right, you're a man. You don't need a woman to support the family. But tell me, where's your paycheck been all these years? Did you ever put a single cent into this home?"

Felix was stunned, already feeling guilty. "It's all saved up, okay? I'll use it when we really need it, trust me."

I set down my fork, headed inside, and grabbed the locked cash box.

Popping it open, I pulled out Felix's savings book and slammed it down in front of him.

"Every month you get paid, and every month you pull out all the cash. So why don't you tell me where it all went? Or better yet, show me your secret stash, if it even exists," I said.

Felix just sat there, silent.

I didn't wait for him to answer. I said, "You gave it all to Serena and her daughter, didn't you? That's why they get to eat meat every meal and wear new clothes all the time.

"Meanwhile, your wife's shoes have been falling apart for two years, and she still can't get a new pair. Your son just stares longingly at other kids drinking milk powder.

"You can't buy your dad a wheelchair, let alone take your mom to the hospital for an eye check. All your talk is just empty words. I'm the one who takes care of your parents and does all the real work for you!"

Felix's frown deepened.

When he finally spoke, he was still acting like he was totally in the right. "Serena's husband is gone. They've got no income. What, you want me to watch them go hungry?"

I looked him straight in the eye. "Go ahead, keep funneling all your money to Serena and her kid. See if I care.

"But if you're just handing everything over to them, and I quit my job, what's this family supposed to eat? Are we supposed to live off grass? Or maybe mud pies?"

Felix held his breath, his face flushed bright red, but he couldn't get a single word out.

After a long moment, Felix looked at me, confusion written all over his face. "What's up with you lately? You used to just agree with whatever I said or did, never argue, never talk back.

"Now you're always standing up to me, pushing back at everything. What happened to the way you used to be?"

He was right.