Chapter 3

Adam's eyes were cold.

I met his glare with one of my own, filled with equal parts disappointment, rage, and hurt.

He turned toward the door and slammed it shut behind him.

I thought about a lot of things that night.

I had tolerated so much bullshit for the sake of this family. I had believed that if I kept agreeing to whatever he wanted, he would finally notice how good and understanding I was.

However, that was a delusion. He simply took my compliance as permission to keep up his crap and do even worse.

Tomorrow was Ron's birthday. The day after that was my mother-in-law's funeral.

Once that was over, I would leave this house with my son.

…

Ron wanted to visit the amusement park for his birthday. I was in no mood for it, but it was his big day, so I took him.

Neither of us expected to run into Adam and Yolanda at a nearby shopping mall. He did not even remember that it was his son's birthday.

Ron hesitantly spoke up. "H-Hi, Dad. It's, um, my birthday today... Will I be getting a present?"

Adam turned sharply toward him, his eyes turning cold. "Your mother taught you to demand things now?"

Ron quickly shook his head. "N-No!"

Adam grabbed his hand, pulled it toward him, and angrily slapped his palm several times.

The poor child winced and yanked his hand back as quickly as he could. Tears welled in his eyes from the pain.

Adam scolded, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to make money? What kind of values have you been learning? You're acting like money grows on trees!

"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you're owed a present. Why don't you ask your mom to add extra cheese to your pasta when she makes dinner later?"

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the shopping bags hanging from Yolanda's arms. They were filled with clothes and cosmetics from luxury stores, and there was no doubt Adam had bought them for her.

Yet somehow, that same man suddenly couldn't spare enough money to buy a modest gift for his own son.

Ron was already four. He was smart enough to see the hypocrisy and brave enough to call it out even after Adam had punished him.

"But why is it okay for you to buy so many things for her? Why can't you buy a few more things for me and Mom?" Ron demanded. "Aren't we a family?"

There were too many people around for Adam to lose his temper with Ron without drawing judgmental looks, so he changed tactics.

He crouched down and wiped the tears from Ron's cheeks. "You're just a kid, Ron. There are a lot of things about grown-ups that you don't understand.

"For example, Yol lives alone, and that's tough for a girl her age. She has to pay rent, buy food, and send money home to her family.

"Daddy's been in her shoes before, so I know how hard it is. That's why I'm just trying to help."

I was so sick of his habitual carrot-and-stick routine.

Adam did the same thing to me. He would shout at me for wasting money, only to turn around and patiently comfort me in that gentle voice of his. He counted on how much I loved him and how easily that love could become an endless supply of forgiveness and tolerance.

Well, good for him. There wasn't much love left for him here.

"For crying out loud, what's wrong with a son asking his dad for a birthday present? He was hoping you'd surprise him!

"Think about it. You could buy him something nice with just ten percent of what you've spent on Yolanda and this shopping spree!

"You're not trying to teach him how to be smart with money. You just don't care about us at all."

With that, I took my son's hand and marched away.

Over the years, I had never bought myself a decent dress, let alone cosmetics. Hence, I took Ron to a store and bought him something I had always wanted to give him. After that, I headed to the other stores.

"I'd like this, this, and this!"