Chapter 1
On a talk show, the host asked the female guest.
"Suppose you and your husband are crazy about each other, but one day his mistress shows up, causing drama and demanding you get a divorce. Would you smack her first, or just cry your eyes out?"
The female guest lifted her coffee with poise, completely unfazed.
She replied, "I'd divorce him on the spot and disappear to somewhere no one could ever track me down."
When I was a kid, I couldn't figure out why, when someone found out their partner was cheating, their first reaction wasn't to feel heartbroken, but to just drop everything and disappear.
It wasn't until Nelson Stowe's kept woman showed up at the hospital while I was desperately trying to save my dying mom that I finally understood.
I pulled off my mask and got straight to the point.
"How much do you want?"
Evelyn Ruskin's eyes flashed.
She said, "I don't want your money. I want to be Mrs. Stowe."
As I watched the monitor flatline, my voice came out hoarse.
"Okay," I said.
*****
After my mom's funeral, Evelyn stuck to me like glue, never letting me out of her sight.
She asked, "You really agreed, Nydia? Are you serious right now?
"You love Nelson so much. Are you really going to just give him up without a fight?"
I gave a helpless smile.
I said, "Being Mrs. Stowe isn't exactly a hot ticket. If you want it, it's yours."
Evelyn wasn't the first woman to confront me about Nelson.
Back then, I would've lost it on Nelson, demanding to know why he let other women challenge me.
At first, he'd try to smooth things over, but eventually he got sick of it. He started threatening me. If I kept getting jealous, he'd cut off my mom's medical bills and let us fend for ourselves.
Joanne's eyes sparkled with delight when she heard my answer.
I just couldn't bring myself to answer her.
I rode my beat-up, rusty bike home.
Before I left, I still had to retrieve my mom's keepsakes.
As soon as I pushed the door open, the laughter and moans inside cut off instantly.
The girl shrieked and pulled the covers up over herself.
I didn't even bother to look.
I brushed past Nelson and started tearing through the drawers and cabinets, searching for my mom's things.
Nelson absolutely hated it when someone barged in during an intimate moment.
The last person who tried that? Nelson sent them straight to the Northern Wilderness. Rumor had it, they ended up as wolf food.
Nelson frowned, his eyes, normally mesmerizing, now brimming with impatience.
Nelson said, "Nydia? Still causing trouble, huh?"
The air was thick with an awkward, stifling bitterness.
I replied sullenly, my voice dull.
"Just looking for something. I'll be out in a minute."
Nelson suddenly looked amused, a smirk playing on his lips.
He said, "Your excuses are getting more and more absurd. Still pretending you're just looking for something?
"Think about your mom's medical bills. Remember what happened last time? You nearly got her killed. Don't screw up again."
Nelson's words hit me like a slap. My hands froze in the middle of rummaging, and even my breath stalled for a second.
The first time I saw Nelson cheating.
His boxers were tied around her wrists.
They were entwined in a suggestive embrace, leaving no doubt about what they'd been up to.
The sexy lingerie she had on was the one I'd spent ages picking out, just to make Nelson happy.
I completely lost my mind on the spot, smashing up all sorts of priceless treasures.
Among them was Nelson's most beloved porcelain vase.
Nelson went ballistic and pulled the plug on my mom's life support.
My mom's heart and lungs were so badly damaged, and there was no way she'd ever wake up again.
In the end, I had to kneel and bow my head to the girl, groveling for her forgiveness, just to finally put an end to the whole mess.
Nelson frowned, drew the shivering girl closer, and wiped away the traces of desire from the corner of her mouth without much care.
Seeing their intimate display, my chest tightened, a sharp pain shooting through me.
"Seriously, can't you even turn on the heat for her?" I said.
As I spoke, I rummaged through my faded, beat-up bag and pulled out a worn-out shirt, handing it to the girl.
"After sex, your body gets a bit weaker for a while," I added.
Nelson grabbed the shirt and flung it hard at my face.
He sneered, "Do I really need your thoughtful doctor routine, Dr. Lowell?"
When I didn't respond, Nelson let out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders dropping.
"Just finish whatever you're doing and get lost. Don't kill my vibe."
My expression darkened as I pointed at the little metal box sitting on the nightstand.
"Where's my stuff?" I asked, my voice flat.
Nelson shot back, clearly annoyed.
"Beats me.
"Maybe some chick grabbed it for fun."
I clamped down on Nelson's shoulders, my nails digging in so hard I could've drawn blood.
"You know my mom left that for me," I said, my voice trembling with rage.
Nelson winced and pried my hands off him.
He scoffed, "Ha, when we got married, your mom tried every trick to keep us apart. All she sent with you was that busted metal box, a crumpled piece of paper, and some worthless necklace."