Chapter 2

Irene sat down on the floor at once just so that Cody could use her lap as a pillow while lying on the ground to keep his breathing even.

However, my eyes were filled with contempt and sarcasm.

Whenever Cody got "sick" like this, she would immediately disregard everything and get frantic with worry, fussing over him like a mother hen. Meanwhile, if I suffered from gastritis and was covered from head to toe in cold sweat, she'd just look at me in disgust and blame me for being slow with my work.

The ambulance arrived quickly that night.

Cody lay quietly in the hospital bed while Irene gently tucked him in as if he were more fragile than glass.

Moments later, she suddenly reached out and flung the transfer agreement in my face, growling as she chided, "It's all your fault! What did you have to bring out the transfer agreement out of the blue for?

"Cody would never have gotten such a shock if you hadn't suddenly acted so strangely and pulled this stunt on him!"

I ducked slightly, turning my head to the side, letting the agreement barely graze my ear before hitting the ground behind me.

I knew that she was just taking out her anger on me because Cody was ill.

In the past, I would have been extremely jealous of her excessive concern for him and gotten into an argument with her.

But now, I felt listless and exhausted. I simply hummed in response.

Irene looked at me in surprise.

After a pregnant pause, she rubbed her fingers together and softened her tone, picking up the agreement and handing it back to me.

"Cody is just a young man, and he's way too easily embarrassed. I can't possibly refuse to eat the cake from him, can I? He's suffering from a heart condition after all. He wouldn't be able to accept the rejection.

"But don't you ever use your shares for terrible jokes like this anymore. I'll reluctantly forgive you this one time."

I knew that this was Irene's way of "giving me a way out". However, I was done compromising all the time.

I said calmly, "Anything else? If not, then I'm leaving now."

Irene stared at me for a long time. Then, she finally sighed and said, "That's enough. Why do you have such a dark look on your face? You're making it seem as if I'd just wronged you terribly or something.

"Don't you know that I'm just doing this for your sake? You're so immature and unreliable. You'd never be respected even if I were to promote you.

"Here. Take this extra money and go buy yourself some cigarettes."

Then, she took her phone and began tapping on it.

Seconds later, I received a Venmo notification that she'd just transferred 2,020 dollars to my account.

During the years we'd been married, she always said that she was afraid I'd spend all my money on useless things, and so, she didn't just take all my salary from me—she also only gave me 2,000 dollars a month for my expenditures, and she always had to review every expenditure I made.

I was responsible for handling all three meals a day and paying for all the household utilities, and yet, every time I asked her for more money if the cost went a little over, she would glare at me with an icy, scrutinizing gaze that made me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles all day.

And now, she was even being reluctant about giving me the extra 20 dollars for "cigarettes".

However, all it took was for Cody to whine to her, and she would readily pull out her credit card for him to use however he liked.

It wasn't that I'd never gotten into an argument with her over this before.

But every time, she would glare coldly at me and say that Cody was her assistant at work and, therefore, responsible for her social engagements and living expenses. So, it would only be right for him to take more money from her than I did.

Then, she would blame me for all of my unreasonable spending afterward.

I had no other choice but to take up side hustles to supplement my income. I worked non-stop every day without a second of rest, and I could feel my body beginning to give out.

Yet, Irene would still nag me nonstop, telling me to spend less money because it was hard for her to keep the company going as it was.

I stared at the 2,020 dollars displayed on my screen and found it hilarious and laughable. Then, I unlinked our accounts with a cold expression on my face.

I didn't need her money. I didn't even care about her money anymore.

I simply looked up at her and said, "Okay."

After turning and walking out of the ward, I placed a call to one of my old friends, Zachary Cook, and said, "Zach? I've thought it through. Help me schedule my onboarding at the company next Monday."

Zachary was delighted and immediately agreed. He then told me how excellent the conditions were at his company in Merunica and how much they would welcome talent like me.