The Years You Promised, The Betrayal You Delivered

When Mom and I arrived home, Dad was already there.

He bought a box of Mom’s favorite pastries that went viral online.

Dad used to be very disapproving of Mom eating this, complaining that it was troublesome having to queue and wait for a long time to buy it.

Yet, he took the initiative to buy it today. He pushed the box eagerly toward Mom.

“Tina, what happened today was my fault. I’m sorry for putting you through this, but I saw the latest evidence released. You were at fault for the car accident, too. I can’t file a lawsuit against my conscience.”

Mom smirked and said with a sneer, “Gerald Gadbury, there’s no need to find excuses. You’re doing it for Megan Lindt.”

The look on Dad’s face stiffened. He sighed when he saw Mom’s eyes reddening.

“Tina, Megan has health issues and she’s pregnant. She’s been feeling horrible about the car accident and even got hospitalized a few times. I owe her parents a debt of gratitude. I can’t repay them with evil by suing Megan. I’ll give you compensation to make it up to you.”

Mom shoved Dad away.

“Gerald Gadbury, that’s our child we’re talking about! How could your compensation make up for that?

“You knew how tough this pregnancy had been, and how many injections I’ve had to bear with to keep our baby. My body is covered in pinpricks!

“You felt terrible when we lost our child too, claiming that you’d seek justice for me. What happened in the end? You’re now accusing me of causing the accident just to extort money from her!”

Mom’s chest heaved with anger as she spoke.

Dad glanced at me, a tinge of displeasure in his cold, calm eyes.

“Tina, don’t be emotional. Ann is here, she’ll get scared.”

Mom sneered. “Why didn’t you consider that when you let her witness her own mom being accused of staging an accident scam?”

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Megan was standing outside the door.

“Gerald, I couldn’t help but worry that you’ll fight with Tina because of me.”

She walked in and approached Mom.

“Tina, I really didn’t mean for the car accident to happen. I was feeling extremely unwell because of the fetus that day… Gerald's just being considerate toward me. Please don’t be mad at him.”

She put on a look of apology as she caressed her belly, but a smug look flashed past her eyes.

When she saw the pastries on the table, she held Mom’s hand and said gleefully, “Look, Gerald still cares very much for you! These pastries made me feel nauseous and he immediately brought them back for you instead, knowing you love them.”

Mom’s body trembled. She bit her lip and tried to pull her arm free, but Megan suddenly yelped and fell backward.

“Megan!”

Dad immediately held Megan steady and turned around to glare at Mom, his eyes full of reproach.

“Tina, are you mad? Megan is pregnant and you pushed her? How could you be so wicked?”

Mom was stunned by his piercing accusation, in utter disbelief that he refused to trust her.

I tried to explain things. “Mom didn’t push Ms. Lindt. She fell backward herself. Dad, you’re wrong.”

Tears welled up in Megan’s eyes. “Gerald, Ann is right. I deserve this…”

Dad gave Mom a dressing-down instead. “Tina, are you happy now? Ann has learned to lie at such a young age because of you!”

Mom pulled me behind her and said resolutely, “I know my daughter. She won’t lie. As for the lawsuit, I’ll be going ahead with it anyway.”

Dad was annoyed, but he said as calmly as he could, “You’re being emotional right now, so I won’t argue with you. I’m bringing Megan to the doctor. Stay here to cool off.”

He then left with Megan.

When the door shut behind them, the tears in Mom’s eyes finally fell.

She crouched down and folded me in a tight embrace, as though she had made her mind up on something.

“Ann, I’ll take you away, far away from Dad, okay?”