Chapter 2
I sat at the table, unfolded a blank sheet of paper, and picked up my pen. I wrote "IOU."
Just as I finished writing, Charles walked over, fresh out of the shower.
He wrapped his arms around me from behind and placed a property deed in front of me.
"Susan, this is the wedding gift. Do you like it?" he asked.
I opened it, took a look, shut my eyes, and threw it back at him.
I'd just seen the exact same property deed in Anna's social media post yesterday.
He sure made things convenient for himself, putting his wife and his mistress in the same building. He didn't even care if we'd dislike it.
Seeing I wasn't happy, he didn't get mad. Instead, he pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"You don't like it? If you want, we can go pick out another one together sometime," he offered.
"No need," I cut him off.
I cut him off and slipped the IOU I'd just written into his hand.
"This covers my brother's medical expenses from the past few years. I'll figure out a way to pay you back," I said.
His face clouded over. He ripped the IOU to shreds and threw the scraps at my face.
"Susan, I'm running out of patience. If you keep acting like this, don't count on me to cover your brother's treatment anymore," he warned.
"You don't know, do you?" I cut him off, fighting back tears as I met his eyes. "My brother's gone now."
*****
Two weeks ago, on the first night Charles was away on a business trip, the hospital called and said my brother was in critical condition and being rushed into emergency care.
It was pouring that night. I didn't even have time to grab an umbrella. I raced to the hospital in the rain.
I was so desperate that I even lost one of my shoes along the way.
The doctor said they needed to operate as soon as possible, and thanks to the hospital's hard work, they'd already found a matching bone marrow donor.
But the surgery would cost 150,000 dollars.
I called Charles, but instead of him, it was Anna who answered.
"Susan, Mr. Kent is drunk. He's asleep now," she said.
I didn't even care why she was the one picking up. I just started crying, pleading with her to wake Charles and tell him I needed the money.
Charles finally picked up, sounding pissed.
"Susan, it's late. Can't this wait till morning?" he snapped.
He hung up on me before I could say a thing.
When I tried calling back, he didn't pick up again.
I sat curled up in the hospital hallway, hugging my knees, waiting all night until dawn. I watched helplessly as my brother died right before my eyes.
I fell to my knees in front of him, sobbing until I passed out.
When I finally came to, I knew everything was over.
Charles kept his head down, his face pale as a ghost.
He didn't even ask me why I hadn't told him.
There was no way he'd forget how many times I called that night.
But nobody picked up.
When he looked up again, any trace of guilt had vanished from his face.
"Susan, you should be grateful. If it wasn't for me, your brother wouldn't have survived this long," he said.
His icy, detached tone made my blood boil in an instant.
I swung my hand and slapped him across the face with all the strength I had, unleashing years of pent-up anger in that single blow.
In the past seven years, every time we argued, I'd wanted to do this.
But in the end, it was always me who had to swallow my pride and make peace.
Charles's face turned cold. He pointed at the door and snapped, "Get out."
He probably thought I'd beg him not to kick me out, like I used to.
But he forgot my brother was gone now, and I had nothing left to beg him for.
I grabbed my already-packed suitcase and walked out without looking back.
*****
Charles and I had met overseas.
He was a spoiled rich kid who'd cut ties with his parents out of spite, got his money cut off, and ended up down on his luck.
And I was just a broke international student, working my ass off to pay my way through school.
Anyone could see we were from totally different worlds.
He caught me at the school gate and told me he loved me, but I just rolled my eyes at him.
He brought me flowers, and I threw them straight into the trash right in front of him.
I told him he'd go back to inherit his family business sooner or later, so he shouldn't bother wasting his time dating someone like me.
But he dug in his heels and refused to leave my side for three long years.
Right before graduation, I got the news. My brother, the one I'd always relied on since we were kids, had leukemia and needed a ton of money for treatment.
I completely broke down, sobbing my heart out. Charles held me close, trying to soothe me, and said he'd take care of the money.
He brought me back home and begged his father to save my brother.
My brother once grabbed his hand and asked, "Will you marry Susan?"
I remembered that determined look in his eyes. He told me he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.
But now, he was the one kicking me out.