Chapter 4

Mom was stunned.

I had never seen her face that pale before. Her already frail body was on the verge of collapse.

Megan looked even more pleased with herself.

“Gerald made it clear that my baby will inherit all his assets once he’s out. However, he won’t break off his marriage with you.

“You might have the status of Mrs. Gadbury, but nothing else.

“So you'd better give up pursuing that car accident if you know what’s good for you. Otherwise, Gerald won’t spare you.”

Mom shut her eyes. The tears that seemed to shimmer at the corner of her eyes vanished when she opened them.

“I see.”

She smiled.

Yet, as the smile deepened on her face, tears started streaming down her face.

Soon after Megan left, my maternal grandparents called. They had called to give Mom an earful.

“Tina, have you gone mad? Gerald has been so good to you, what are you discontent with? So be it that you’ve lost your child. Why must you torment another innocent soul? Do you know that you’ve thoroughly embarrassed your father and me? Apologize to Gerald at once!”

They weren’t the only ones. Even Mom’s old friends called her to persuade her.

“Ever since you two got married after graduation, Gerald has been the one supporting the family so that you can stay at home and be a housewife. You really should be content.

“I’m sure he feels terrible about losing the baby, but you shouldn’t throw such a huge tantrum just because he chose to stand up for justice. That’s just too selfish of you.

“You have to consider Ann as well. She’s only seven years old.”

Dad eventually came looking for Mom too.

He stood in our shabby rental apartment and looked piercingly at Mom with nary a trace of guilt in his eyes.

“Tina, do you recognize your mistake after all the fuss you’ve kicked up?”

Mom remained silent.

Dad glanced my way. “Ann is my daughter. If you’re still agitated and not thinking straight, I’ll have no choice but to send you for treatment.”

Mom’s head snapped up. “You’re sending me into an asylum?”

Dad stood silent for a moment before saying, “Tina, it’s for your own good.”

Mom’s body started trembling. She only managed to calm herself down when she looked at me.

“Fine. I’ll go back with you.”

Dad looked satisfied with her response.

“Tina, you should have been like this right from the beginning.”

Mom really stopped kicking up a fuss.

She brought me back to Dad’s new house and life went on as though nothing happened.

Mom did everything Dad told her to. She ignored all of Megan’s provocations.

Dad praised her for finally learning how to be a good wife, but I alone knew that the spark in Mom’s eyes was gone.

She hadn’t become obedient. She was waiting.

After Megan was discharged from the hospital, she complained that it was boring being stuck at home, so Dad brought her overseas for some fresh air.

Before he left, he reminded Mom not to misunderstand things.

“After Megan gives birth, we’ll try for another one.

“Our seventh wedding anniversary is right around the corner. I’ll come back on that day and throw a huge celebration.

“Tina, stay at home with Ann and wait for me.”

Mom listened to him quietly and said nothing.

After Dad left with Megan, she walked to the guest room and pulled out her luggage case she had packed long ago.

I slung my bag over my shoulders.

Before we left, Mom placed the divorce papers which she signed on the dining table.

She took my hand and said, “Let’s go, Ann. I’ll take you away from this place.”

At the airport, the plane that carried Dad and Megan had just taken off.

Mom and I, on the other hand, were headed in a completely different direction.