Chapter 2
After that day, Peter and I started an unspoken cold war.
He slept in the study, I took the master bedroom, and when we brushed past each other, not a single word was exchanged.
On the third day, Nina came home for a break.
As soon as she walked in, she could sense something was off. Usually, I'd be busy in the kitchen, but that day, I was sitting on the couch, flipping through channels without really watching anything.
She shot me a strange look, like she wanted to say something but held back.
At the dinner table, the atmosphere was more awkward.
I kept my head down, eating in silence.
Peter sat across from me and handed the toast to Nina. Struggling for something to say, he asked, "How's school going?"
"It's okay," Nina replied.
"Do you have enough money?"
"Yeah."
Nina glanced at him, then at me, and put her fork down.
"Dad, did you do something to make Mom mad?" she asked.
Peter's fork froze mid-air, and he gave a couple of awkward laughs. "No way, I wouldn't dare upset her. If you don't believe me, ask your mom."
"Mom?" Nina looked at me.
I still stayed quiet.
I knew exactly what she wanted to ask, but I didn't want to talk about it right now.
Noticing my silence, Nina sensibly dropped the subject and kept eating, though her eyes kept flicking between Peter and me.
After dinner, she helped me clear the table. The moment we got into the kitchen, she pulled me aside and whispered, "Mom, what's really going on?"
I decided to tell her the truth. I pulled up the photo of the will on my phone and handed it to her.
"Your dad changed the safe's password to Emily's birthday. The will gives 60% to Emily, 10% to me, and the last 30% to you," I said.
Nina took the phone, glanced at the screen, and her expression grew uglier by the second. "That widow?" she said.
I nodded.
She threw the phone onto the stove and stormed out.
"I'm going to confront him!" she snapped.
"Nina!" I called out.
But before I could say anything more, she was already out of the kitchen.
By the time I followed her out, she was already standing in front of Peter.
"Dad, is what Mom said really true?" Nina demanded.
"What are you two talking about now? Susan, what nonsense have you been spouting to Nina?" Peter looked past Nina, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"If you really did it, why are you so afraid of people talking about it?" Nina stepped in front of me. "Dad, I'm asking you, did you take out a $1.5 million insurance policy on Emily?"
Peter shot up from the couch, his expression turning uglier. "This is between adults. You don't need to get involved."
"I'm your daughter. I have every right to be involved."
"Can you stop believing your mom's nonsense? It's a small thing, but she keeps blowing it out of proportion and making the whole family miserable."
"Dad, Mom's been with you for thirty years, and you go and buy a $1.5 million insurance policy for another woman? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Nina, it's not like that. The insurance is to make sure Emily and her kid are taken care of. Her husband died—"
"What business is it of yours that her husband died young?" Nina cut him off. "What are you to her, really? Are you planning to be her next husband or something?"
That line hit a nerve. Peter's face flushed bright red. "Nina! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Dad, I'm asking, did you buy that insurance policy on your own? No one forced you, right?" Nina pressed.
Peter, clearly fed up with the interrogation, shouted, "Yes. I bought it of my own free will! So what? It's my money. I can spend it however I want, and it's none of your business."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he raised his hand and slapped Nina hard across the face.
Nina's face puffed up right away.
He didn't say a single word, gave her a cold look, and walked out.
I rushed forward to block his way. "Peter, you hit your own daughter? That's really tough, huh? If you need to vent, do it to me!"
I tried to grab him as I spoke.
Peter, furious, pushed me so hard I went sprawling. I hit the floor, my head slamming into the coffee table.
"Susan, cut it out! Stop making a scene," he snapped.
"Peter, if you walk out that door today, don't bother coming back!" I shouted.
He sneered, turned, and walked out. "I've been wanting to leave for ages."
He stepped out the door without looking back.
Nina rushed over to help me up, crouching in front of me, her eyes red from holding back tears.
"Mom, whatever you decide, I'm with you," she said. "If you want a divorce, I'll stick with you. I've got your back, so don't be afraid to do what you need to do."
I paused for a second, then breathed out and smiled, feeling a wave of relief.
At least these thirty years weren't a total waste.