Chapter 3

I never expected that after I turned him down, Timothy would go straight to Cathleen Rosenstein instead.

I was just about to lie down on the empty bed beside Gary's when her taunting message came through.

Cathleen: [Amanda, tonight's your wedding night, and yet Timothy came to keep me company instead. You're not mad, are you?]

She'd sent along a few photos: Timothy sprawled on top of her, fast asleep with a thoroughly satisfied look on his face, his bare chest marked with a few faint scratches. It wasn't hard to guess how intense things had gotten between them just before.

Me: [Cathleen, do you have any shame left at all?]

Me: [You couldn't even afford your own tuition. I used the money I'd saved from part-time jobs to help you. And this is how you pay me back?]

The Cathleen I used to know had been naive, sheltered from the world. We'd met through a club activity in school. She used to trail after me, calling me "Sis" all the time, and something about it always reminded me of my sickly little brother, who was just as obedient and sweet. So I'd gone out of my way to look after her.

I never imagined I'd end up helping someone so ungrateful.

Her reply came quickly.

Cathleen: [Sis, I just love seeing you angry.]

Cathleen: [I used to wonder why you always got to act so effortlessly composed, why you could hand over a small fortune to help me out without even blinking.]

Cathleen: [Meanwhile, I nearly had to work as a hostess at some club just to make ends meet.]

There was a faint smugness in her tone now.

Cathleen: [Then I saw your rich boyfriend, and I understood exactly what your composure was built on. Since you're so kindhearted, I figured you wouldn't mind letting me bask in a little of that good fortune too, don't you agree?]

I sat there holding my phone, not sure whether to laugh or cry. A good deed I'd once been proud of had, in Cathleen's eyes, somehow become the final straw that finished off whatever conscience she'd had left.

Me: [Do whatever you want.]

I texted back, then deleted and blocked her without another word.

A person like that was a parasite. Once Timothy got tired of her, where would she even go?

I thought that would be the end of it, that I'd cut all ties with her.

But the very next day, she showed up at the hospital room, claiming she was delivering a meal.

By the time I got back with Gary's nutrition meal, she'd already been feeding him herself.

"Amanda, Timothy arranged this special meal delivery service for me. You won't have to run out for food every day anymore." My foolish brother grinned, delighted. "Timothy really does dote on you. He's even worried about you tiring yourself out buying meals."

"That really is something to envy," Cathleen added, watching me with a smile, her voice full of false agreement.

I had no idea what she was really doing there. But the moment I laid eyes on her, my stomach turned with revulsion.

"Get out and tell Timothy I don't need this."

I stared at Cathleen coldly. "I'm not an invalid. I can buy my own food. He doesn't need to trouble himself over it."

Just yesterday, I'd told myself I could tolerate Timothy, as long as it meant Gary got to live. But he only kept pushing further.

Gary, not understanding what was going on, looked at me in confusion.

"Amanda, why are you upset? Did you and Timothy fight? It's not because of me, is it?"

Gary was too perceptive for his own good, and I was afraid he'd figure out something was wrong. So I grabbed Cathleen by the arm and pulled her outside.

"We need to talk. Now."

She didn't resist at all, a faint smile still playing at the corners of her mouth as I dragged her away.

"You care about your brother so much. I knew coming here was the right move.

"I know exactly what Timothy's planning. Once you've finally accepted things, he'll take my child and hand him over for you to raise. But I'm the boy's real mother. How could I ever bear to let him go?"

There was something terrifying and unhinged flickering in Cathleen's eyes.

"If you agree to divorce Timothy, I'll make sure Gary lives peacefully until his surgery is over. Otherwise, he. will. die."