Chapter 5
On the fourth day, Andrew's mother showed up at the bank.
She didn't come alone.
She brought along Andrew's aunt, his aunt by marriage, and two other relatives who always loved to watch the drama unfold.
They crowded into the bank lobby, causing a scene in front of everyone at the bank.
"Get Charlotte out here!" one of them shouted.
"Does she have any conscience? After all those years as his wife, she won't lift a finger to help, and now she's out to ruin my son's company!" another yelled.
When Mr. Carter rushed out, he looked pretty pissed off.
"Mrs. Collins, please calm down," he said, trying to keep things under control.
Andrew's mother's voice was so sharp it cut right through the air.
"Calm down? My son's company was perfectly fine until she refused to sign. She lived with us for three years, ate our food, slept under our roof, and now that she's divorced, she's trying to push our family to the brink!" she shouted.
Nina lingered nearby, her eyes swollen and red from crying.
"Mrs. Collins, please, don't be so upset. Maybe Charlotte's just acting out because she's angry," Nina said softly.
Andrew's mother grabbed her hand.
"You're just too soft-hearted! If you hadn't come back to help Andrew, who knows how long that woman would've kept stirring up trouble!" she snapped.
By the time I got to the bank, the lobby was already packed with people.
Sophie was right behind me, looking even more pissed off than I was.
As soon as Andrew's mother saw me, she came charging straight at me.
"Charlotte! How dare you show your face here?" she yelled.
I sidestepped her hand.
"This is a public place, not the Collins living room," I said.
Mrs. Collins was shaking with anger.
"Stop pretending! Isn't your whole plan just to make Andrew back down? Listen up, so long as I'm alive, you'll never come back to our family again!"
I looked at her.
"Relax, I don't deal with trash anymore," I said.
The onlookers around couldn't help but laugh.
Mrs. Collins's face turned red.
"Who are you calling trash?" she snapped.
I ignored her and turned to Mr. Carter.
"Mr. Carter, can you print another copy of yesterday's statement for me?" I asked.
Mrs. Collins froze.
"You actually signed it?" she snapped.
"Yeah, I already did," I replied.
I looked at her, without fear at all.
"Just in case you didn't understand before, I'm here to tell you again, right to your face," I said.
Mr. Carter brought over the statement.
I took it and spread it out on the table.
"Starting today, I'm done being a personal guarantor for any new loans, extensions, or renewals for Andrew or his company," I said, with my face serious enough.
Mrs. Collins lunged at the table, reaching for the paper, and seemingly trying to tear it up.
Sophie caught her hand mid-air.
"Mrs. Collins, please behave. The bank's got cameras watching everything," she said.
Nina spoke up softly, "Charlotte, Mrs. Collins is just worried. The company's really in trouble right now. Can't you help Andrew get through this? After all, you two used to be in marriage."
I turned and looked at her.
"If you care about him so much, then you sign it," I said.
Nina's expression froze.
And Mrs. Collins, also, was stunned.
I took out a blank guarantee contract from my bag and pushed it toward Nina.
"It's a big amount. Joint liability," I said.
"Ms. Hughes, didn't you say you could help?" I asked.
"Go ahead, sign it," I continued.
And it could be seen that Nina's lips seemed have drained all their colours in an instant.
"I don't have that much money," Nina stammered.
I nodded.
"So all you're good for is standing on stage and accepting awards," I said.
Mrs. Collins finally snapped out of it, jabbing her finger at me and shouting.
"How could you be so cold-hearted? My son was married to you for three years, he never wronged you, did he? And now you're making a scene and airing our dirty laundry for everyone to see?"
I looked at her, and suddenly, it all felt pointless.
I pulled out my phone and opened my photo album.
The first photo was a transfer of 900,000 dollars I sent to Andrew three years ago.
Note: [Loan]
The second photo was for office rent and equipment, 1.2 million dollars.
The third photo was an ER bill from last December 17th.
With note written: [Stomach bleeding]
The fourth one was a message screenshot that screened the message between me and Andrew.
[I'm at the hospital. My stomach's bleeding, they might keep me overnight.]
Twenty-six minutes later, he replied:
[Stop making a fuss. I've got really important thing to deal with today.]
Mrs. Collins's face went pale seeing these.
The whole place went dead silent.
I put my phone away.
"You asked how the Collins family ever wronged me," I said.
"Is that enough for you?"
Mrs. Collins opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Nina moved her lips as well, trying to break in.
But I stared at her, and climbed in.
"You, too. Just keep quiet."
Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Charlotte, why are you so hostile toward me?" she asked.
"Because I can't stand thieves," I answered.
"Stealing someone's man doesn't make you special," I said.
"But stealing someone's name, taking credit for their achievements, and using their money just to prop up your own reputation? That's what's truly disgusting," I continued.
Nina's face went ghostly pale.
Mrs. Collins was completely lost for words.
I picked up the statement and handed it to Mr. Carter.
"If the Collins family comes here to cause trouble again, just call the cops," I said.
With that, I turned and walked out.
As I reached the door, I heard Mrs. Collins sobbing into her phone, calling Andrew.
"Andrew, you need to get here right now. Charlotte's gone crazy."
I didn't look back.
'Crazy? Whatever. Let her think what she wants.'
'This time, I am not going to be the sensible one anymore.'