Chapter 4 Not Happening

My mother and I stayed in a hotel for the night, and I took her for an endoscopy the next day. It was the same process, and we got the results in just two hours. It wasn't cancer. It was a gastric polyp.

I could rest easy after hearing that. Meanwhile, Lorelei kept calling me through the process.

"We're adults now! Don't run away from home over every little thing!"

Any affair about me was nothing to her, while the Grays were important.

"Chris wants your limited edition coat. I gave it to him. It's not like you're wearing it anyway."

That was new. I was going to wear it during the holidays.

"Chris wants to be the best man, but he has no suit, so I gave him your three-piece."

That was the only piece of groom attire I had. She asked nothing about my mother. All she talked about was the Grays.

I replied to none of her messages. My focus was on my mother's surgery. When she was pushed into the operating room, the nurse stopped me in a hurry. "Mr. Samson, you'll have to pay the surgery bill first."

"I deposited thirty grand into my tab."

"Someone emptied it out this morning."

I paid that using the family account, which meant only Lorelei could take it. Sweat drenched my body. My savings were cleared out after the downpayment and deposit for the wedding planning company.

If I had no money, the surgery would…

I called Lorelei, "You took the money I saved on my tab in the hospital?"

"Yes."

"Give it back. My mother's surgery is today."

"It's too late. I bought a watch for my godfather and spent the rest on Chris' wardrobe."

"What about my mother's surgery?"

"Take out a loan or borrow some money."

"You're a monster! My mother paid 500 grand for your PhD program, and you won't even pay for her surgery?"

She paused for a moment and quickly continued, "I can, but this is punishment. What would the others think if you let another doctor perform on her but not me?"

The nurse was urging again. I held down my fury and pleaded, "Lend me some money. We can talk it out later."

"Sure, but I need you to sign something."

"What is it?"

"My godfather likes our house, and he wants to live out his retirement here. Sign some papers and give him the house."

"Why should I?"

"Because you've been in love with me for ten years, and you won't give up on me."

The sun was scorching outside, but my whole body felt cold. Not enough that they squeezed me and my mother out of that house, not enough that she took the money meant for my mother's surgery, and now she wanted to take the last thing I had.

I closed my eyes and hung up, then I called the bank to mortgage my home and get a loan.

The staff answered, "I'm sorry, but we don't give out two loans on the same house. Someone took a 300-grand loan yesterday."

My hand was shaking. Lorelei had prepared everything. She knew I would never agree to give the deed to another person easily, so she got a loan and bought a house with it, but I had to pay the price.

I hung up and called one of my family's friends back at home. Five minutes later, I got 50 grand and quickly rushed to the nurse's station.

Lorelei was still discussing which property to purchase. The Grays were there too.

"Are you sure he won't make a fuss about mortgaging this house, Lorelei?"

"Nah, we're getting married tomorrow. He can't wait to marry me. He won't start anything."

Chris' father patted her shoulder. He praised, "You're a leading surgeon, and he's just a regular employee at a corporation. He should feel lucky he has you!"

Lorelei nodded.

Our wedding was the next day. It was eleven, and all the food was already served, but none from my side showed up, let alone me and my mother.

Only Lorelei's colleagues were there.

In a panic, she quickly made a call. Our mutual friend roared, "You bitch! You took his house and money for his mother's surgery. Do you seriously think he'd still marry you? Fuck off!"