Chapter 4

Yet I wasn't as happy as I had expected after all that shopping. I even felt a bit disappointed.

With his arms wrapped around his present, Terry nuzzled against the back of my hand. "Daddy, I don't want Mommy's presents anymore. I don't care about them."

I couldn't bring myself to tell him about Sophie and my impending separation.

Sophie didn't return home until late that night. Maybe it was because of what had happened earlier that day, but she was unusually gentle.

My eyes landed on the battered robot sitting on the table. It looked like something that belonged in the trash, yet she had picked it up and brought it home.

Terry had already fallen asleep after finishing his cake. But if he saw the present, he would probably hate it.

I was lost in thought when Sophie took out the ledger again. "I'll put this gift on your tab and deduct it from next month's expenses. Oh, right. I'll give you an extra 100 dollars starting next month. That should be enough, right? Don't ever call me stingy again."

With that, she laughed as she walked into our room.

But just seconds later, she marched back out, fuming, with the shopping bags in hand. "Aaron, you've been wasting money again! Can't you wear the clothes in your closet? Or use the kids' moisturizer in the bathroom? I've told you so many times. You need to be more careful with money."

I sneered. "What about the money you spent on Ron? Why didn't you apply the same rules to yourself? Every time Emily got into a fight, you'd bail her out immediately. If you really tallied it up, the settlement costs alone must have reached 500,000 dollars by now.

"Not to mention renting an apartment and buying clothes for Ron. You're just his boss, yet you're more attentive to his needs than his girlfriend would be. Why don't you ask yourself whether you are following your own rules well enough? What right do you have to demand that of me?"

I sank onto the couch once I was done. I had thought of these things countless times before. Yet, every time, I didn't say them out loud because I lacked the heart to say them.

Sophie's eyes widened. She seemed unable to believe that I would say such things. I had always been considerate and kind, never arguing with her over anything. I also had never once lost my cool with her, not even when it came to money.

But after a moment of silence, she snapped, "Why are you so twisted? Ron is younger than me, and he only recently joined the company. What's wrong with me helping him? You know the company policy. Interns don't get paid. Am I supposed to stand by and watch him starve to death?"

I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore. No matter what I said, she would always take Ron's side. There was no point in saying anything more.

Silence enveloped the room.

Sophie began checking the price tags and writing everything down in the ledger. "You've spent 40,000 dollars, so you won't have any living expenses for the next two years. You'll have to offset the entire amount first."

I dragged myself back to the bedroom without looking at her, and Sophie continued updating the ledger.

I didn't catch any sleep that night.

The next day, the funeral home notified me that the burial had been scheduled, and once again, I couldn't get through to Sophie. I didn't waste any more time. I just sent her a message. "Mom is being laid to rest today. If you have any shred of conscience left, come and say goodbye to her."

I selected a nice burial plot for Gina, visited her grave with Terry, and then went to a law firm to have the divorce agreement drawn up.

My marriage to Sophie was over.

…

Sophie was beside herself with frustration because Emily had gotten into another fight. Not only did she have to pay up again, but she also had to cover the medical expenses.

"Ron, this is the last time," she warned. "If Emily causes trouble again, I won't get involved."

Ron took her hand and apologized, "Ms. Devine, I promise this won't happen again. You just have to help her this time. She's still so young."

Sophie sighed, but she still transferred the money to the victim.

When everything was over, Sophie walked out of the hospital room, feeling incredibly annoyed. She was leaning against the windowsill when she overheard a conversation between passing medical staff.

"Money really works wonders. One can get away with a fight, and as long as one has enough of it, everything can be settled."

Another nurse suddenly recalled something, her voice turning sympathetic. "I had a patient who met a really tragic end a few days ago, though.

"She was rushed in after a car accident. She could've been saved, but her daughter refused to pay. In the end, the patient died. I don't remember her name, but I do remember her son-in-law's. I think his name was Aaron Parker."

Sophie spun around and quickly walked over, grabbing the nurse's arm. "Where is that patient now?"

The nurse shook her off, looking a bit displeased. "Where else? It's been days. I'm sure she's already been buried."

Sophie suddenly remembered the message I had sent her and immediately ran out of the hospital.