Chapter 3

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital ward.

I heard a voice of accusation sound out behind the curtain.

"Why can't he be content being a son-in-law of our family? Must he fight for favor with a widower?

"He bled so much after his appendectomy. We have to pay for his follow-up treatment.

"I told you a long time ago that I don't like him. I told you right from the start to marry Eason instead!"

Another woman's voice cut her off.

"Alright, Mom. You should head home first. This is a hospital."

"I'll be off, then. Let me know when you're almost home tonight, and I'll have Eason head over to serve you."

That was when I found out that it was my mother-in-law who had been arranging for her favorite Eason to "serve" Joanne while I wasn't around.

Each time I left the house, Eason will turn up on the dot to "serve" Joanne.

I had been kept in the dark on this for four years.

I laid hopelessly on the hospital bed and decided to bring up divorce when Joanne pulled the curtains back.

"I heard everything you said. I don't want anything aside from the two children."

Joanne looked at her swaddled infant and said in tears, "Honey, can we not get a divorce? You know I can't leave you.

"It's my mom. She kept urging me to marry Eason before we got married. You know you were the only one I wanted to marry at that time.

"Now my mom wants me to take Eason in.

"She threatened to take her life if I refused to agree to it. I had no choice. What's more, it is really tough on Eason to raise his daughter single handedly…

"Forgive me just this once, won't you?"

I shut my eyes in hopelessness, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Since your mom likes Eason, then spend the rest of your life with her and Eason. We'll get a divorce. I only want the children."

Jordan hid behind Joanne.

I tried to hold his hand. "Jordan, come to Daddy."

The children were my only hope.

Even before I could stretch my hand weakly toward Jordan, he avoided my touch.

"Daddy, you're making trouble again. Why must you divorce Mommy for no reason?

"Uncle Eason is gentle and Grandma likes him. So do Mommy and I. Why don't you like him?

"You're the big, bad guy!

"You're always so fierce to me, forcing me to practice my piano and draw, and you even bullied Uncle Eason. I'm not leaving with you!

"I want to be with Grandma and Uncle Eason."

Joanne put on a show of reprimanding Jordan, telling him to stop talking.

I felt a part of me die inside, feeling a kind of hopelessness that no words could describe.

I said nothing after that.

After I was discharged, I left with my daughter in my arms.

With no money to my name, I had no choice but to rent a room on the basement floor in a secluded location.

With a daughter in tow, I couldn't even find a job as a waiter.

Eventually, a boss of a construction firm pitied me and allowed me to move bricks to earn money while my daughter stayed in his office.

I wasn't left with much after paying the rent with my salary each month.

On top of scrimping and saving, I also had to buy milk powder for my daughter.

That was probably the reason I was struck with stomach cancer.

Thankfully, my daughter was obedient and sensible. She started caring for me when she was just three.

I vowed never to let my daughter suffer like this again in the future.

-

I was brought out of my reverie when Eason spoke to me from the door.

"Miguel, Joanne brought me here to move in. We should get along well from now on," he said to me with a look of victory on his face.

"Sure. Welcome, Mr. Chandler," I greeted him calmly. "Which room are you staying in? I'll tidy it up for you."

"No need for that!" Joanne's icy voice rang from behind me.

"Eason will take your room. The doctor said he has calcium deficiency and needs more sunlight. Your room gets the most sunlight and is best for him.

"As for you, move to the nanny's room."

"Sure, whatever you say," I said respectfully with no trace of anger or resentment.

Pretending not to see the mocking smile on Eason's face, I turned around to pack my belongings.

Just then, I accidentally knocked over my bottle of painkillers.

Joanne bent over to pick it up. "What medicine is this? Whose is it?"

"Just some vitamins for our daughter," I blurted before I could stop her.

The look on Eason's face darkened, but he quickly recovered and turned to smile at Joanne, gently pushing her out of the room.

"Joanne, I'll tidy the room up. Go watch cartoons with the children."

I quickly picked up the bottle.

Joanne's eyes were still filled with doubt, but she found herself swiftly pushed out of the room.