Chapter 5
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Benjamin called again. This time, he wasn't angry anymore; there was a hint of pleading and panic in his tone.
"Lillian, don't bother Vivian. This has nothing to do with her," he said.
"Is that so?" I retorted. "We're both your wives. We're all tied together now. And you say it has nothing to do with her, huh?"
"What on earth do you want from me?" Benjamin finally snapped, losing his composure.
"I don't want anything," I replied. "I'm simply going through the legal process to reclaim what's rightfully mine.
"Benjamin, did you forget I also paid for this house? Your parents have been mooching off me for six years, and I haven't even asked them for rent.
"Your dad is in the hospital now, and it's expensive. As his son, shouldn't you be paying for it?"
Every sentence I said hit exactly where it hurt him most.
I knew that money was the one thing he was desperate for.
He'd drained his savings to start over with Vivian abroad.
Benjamin was speechless with rage.
"Tomorrow." I gave my final warning. "If I don't see the money for your dad's medical expenses transferred to my account by noon, I'll halt his treatment immediately.
"If anything happens to him after that, that's on you, not me."
"Lillian, you wouldn't dare," he roared.
"Try me," I shot back.
I hung up again, then switched off my phone.
For a guy like that, nothing worked better than using his parents against him.
After finishing all this, I stepped into my daughter's room.
My daughter, Anne, was already asleep with a sweet smile on her face.
She was my only weakness in this world, and also my strongest protection.
I sat by her bed, gently stroking her hair.
No matter how ugly this battle got, I could not let it reach Anne. I had to protect her from it.
*****
Early the next morning, I took Anne to one of the city's most elite private schools. The environment and teachers there were top-tier in the city.
Of course, the tuition was just as high.
Benjamin always said there was no point in spending all that money and that a regular public school was good enough.
Now I no longer had to listen to him. I would give my daughter the very best of everything.
As I left the school, my phone rang; it was Ashley. Her tone was no longer hysterical or abusive, but filled with tears.
"Lillian, I'm begging you. Can you get Benjamin to send the money?" Ashley pleaded. "The hospital keeps calling, saying if we don't pay soon, they'll stop his medication.
"Grant needs his medicine. He can't go without it."
I listened coldly, unmoved. "Go talk to your son. Don't involve me."
"Lillian, you can't be so cruel. We're still family," Ashley said.
"The moment he lied to me, schemed against me, and got my parents killed, we stopped being family," I said, every word sharp and clear.
Ashley suddenly stopped crying on the phone.
I could feel her shock and fear.
"What did you say? I don't get it," she mumbled.
"Doesn't matter," I said, checking the bank notification on my phone.
Benjamin ended up sending the money.
"You'll understand soon enough," I said.
I hung up, looked out the window, and took a deep breath.
Ruth was right. No one could keep a secret forever, especially when the people who knew it started suspecting each other.
Benjamin was already falling apart, and my fight had just begun.
*****
I put the house up for sale online. That afternoon, the real estate agent called.
The next day, a sharply dressed agent showed up with a professional photographer. They snapped photos of every corner, measured the rooms, and took notes.
"Mrs. Collins, it's a nice layout, lots of light, and it's not far from schools. It should sell fast," the agent said, grinning.
"I want to sell it as soon as possible," I said.
"No problem. Leave it to us," he replied.
Once they left, I started packing up Anne's things and my own.
Every piece of furniture and every object in this house felt like a silent mockery of the past six years. I only wanted to leave as soon as possible.
My phone rang. It was an unfamiliar overseas number.
I picked up, but didn't say a word.
After a few seconds of silence, a woman's voice came through. "Lillian, let's talk."
It was Vivian. Her voice was calm, almost polite. It was nothing like the meltdown I'd expected.
"There's nothing left for us to talk about," I said coldly.
"There is," she replied. "I know you're angry and sad right now, and I totally understand."
She sounded like she was winning and trying to comfort me.
"Benjamin messed up, but he had no choice," Vivian said. "We only wanted to be happy. We didn't mean to hurt you."
I almost laughed from how ridiculous and shameless she sounded.
"You stole my husband, tore my family apart, and now you claim you never meant to hurt me, huh?" I snapped. "Ms. Larson, you're so shameless."
She froze for a second, but quickly pulled herself together. "There's no point in arguing. Name the price, Lillian. How much will it take for you to divorce Benjamin and let go of the past?"
She had finally revealed her true intention. She wanted to pay me off.
They thought money could fix everything.
"Really?" I drawled deliberately. "How much are you offering?"
She thought she had a chance and sounded a bit more relaxed. "Benjamin's company is worth about 10 million, and he owns 40% of it. We can give you one million in cash.
"And the house? It's all yours. This is more than enough for you and your child's future."
She sounded like she was doing me a favor.
"One million and a house?" I scoffed. "Ms. Larson, do you seriously think that's all my parents' lives are worth?"
The phone went completely silent.
I could practically hear her gasp.
She didn't know.
Benjamin never told her about the dark secret the Collins family was hiding. All he ever mentioned was that he had an annoying ex-wife.