He Chose His Assistant, I Took Back Everything

The rescue team dropped us off at the car dealership. The rain was still coming down hard.

I got Mom settled and called Derek.

"We're at the dealership on Lakeshore Drive. Come pick us up."

"I'm on my way home. Megan's place is leaking, so I brought her to stay for a few days. Just take a cab."

He said it like it was nothing.

"Didn't we agree you'd pick my mother up? Where is Megan going to sleep?"

I gripped the phone tighter, keeping my voice low.

Mom was sitting nearby, wet hair plastered to her face, her pants soaked through.

Derek was clearly losing patience.

"Your mom can take the bedroom. Megan will sleep on the couch. Happy now?"

"Oh, and grab some kitten food on your way back."

The moment he finished, a tiny kitten mewed through the phone.

My voice shot up.

"You brought the cat home too? Don't you know my mother has asthma?"

He went silent for a few seconds.

"Vivian, calm down. It's not exactly convenient having your mom stay with us anyway. Tell you what, I'll book her a hotel."

My phone buzzed with a hotel booking confirmation.

He'd had this planned all along. He never intended to let Mom stay.

After hanging up, I sat down beside Mom and took her hand, struggling to find the words.

"Mom, things are a little tight at the apartment right now. Let me put you up at a hotel for a few days."

Mom caught on right away and started making excuses for him.

"Derek never liked being disturbed. He's always been that way, locking himself in his room to paint for days on end."

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine anywhere. You two take care of each other."

Years ago, Derek had come to the city to study art. My father spotted his talent right away, took him on as an apprentice, and let him move in with us. He stayed for ten years.

My parents treated him like a son. Once Derek and I got engaged, they doted on him even more.

And now, for a stranger, he was shutting my mother out.

The thought left an ache in my chest.

After I dropped Mom off at the hotel, I took a cab home to grab a change of clothes.

When I walked in, Megan was in the apartment I'd bought for our wedding, wearing my pajamas, lounging on the leather couch and playing with the cat.

"Did you get the cat food?"

Derek came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of fried rice.

He didn't notice my drenched clothes. He didn't notice my hair still dripping water.

All he asked was whether I'd bought the cat food.

Megan suddenly put on the look of a child caught doing something wrong, clutching the cat as she stood up, all flustered.

"Vivian, I..."

I didn't say anything. Derek stepped in front of her and raised his voice.

"She left in a rush and didn't bring any clothes. I lent her yours. What are you staring at her for?"

"I'm the one who gave her the clothes. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Your mom's all set. Was it really worth racing back here to throw a fit?"

Then he turned to Megan and softened his tone.

"Don't mind her. Sit down and eat."

I didn't move. Megan lowered her eyes as if she'd been gravely wronged.

"Maybe we should just leave. I don't want to upset Vivian."

Derek frowned.

"Vivian, can you show a little empathy?

"She's fresh out of college, her place is flooded. Where's she supposed to go?"

He pulled Megan to the dining table and sat her down.

The cold crept up from my soaking wet pants and spread through my entire body.

"So my mother can be sent to a hotel, but she can't?"

I took a deep breath, swallowed my anger, and went back to the bedroom to pack some clothes.

While I was at it, I sent a text.

"I accept your offer. I'll come find you after this exhibition wraps up."