Chapter 6
I leaned against the door frame; arms crossed. It looked like my little push had worked.
Alan, already furious over losing his legs, had been led to believe his condition could have been fixed if his mother had been willing to spend the money for treatment. She‘ d acted like she didn’t hear me when I said the twenty thousand pounds. was needed for his surgery, leading to his disability.
Now, as Alan tested the waters, it was clear Iris was reluctant to part with the money. His resentment towards her was bound to turn into full–blown hatred. I couldn’t wait to see how he‘ d react when he found out the whole truth about his mother, whom he had trusted so completely.
Alan’s voice was seething. “What do you mean by food, clothes, and other expenses? Don’t think I don’t know–most of that
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Chapter 6
was covered by Katrina‘ s previous salary. None of it came from my money!”
Iris‘ s face turned red with rage. “You ungrateful son! Are you siding with that filthy woman and attacking your own mother? That woman is just an orphan. What money could she possibly make?”
Alan frowned. “Her salary is about a thousand pounds a month. Her salary card is with you. With maternity leave and all the allowances, it’s a decent amount. Household expenses can’t be that high- maybe a few hundred pounds a month at most. Even after the mortgage, she should still have hundreds left over each month. I’m not going to argue about that. Just give me back my salary.”
Iris jumped up, glaring. “Alan! You‘ re getting bold, trying to argue with your own mother! Your father died young, and I
raised you on my own, from diapers to
college. Without me, would you be making this much money?”
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Chapter 6
“I gave you my whole life, and you owe me more than you could ever repay. And now you‘ re demanding money from me?”
As she spoke, she used her usual drama. She collapsed onto the floor, wailing, “Oh, I’m dying here! My ungrateful son is trying to take money from his poor mother. This is killing me–maybe I should just die…”
Alan, seething, shouted, “Cut the act! That trick won’t work on me! You‘ re avoiding the issue. If you haven’t spent the money, then hand it over now!”
Iris kept crying, her eyes darting around.
“What nonsense! I put it in a fixed deposit. Yes, it’s locked in for five years. I can’t touch it before it matures.”
She quickly got up and started to leave. “Son, take care of yourself. I‘ ll come back and see you later.”
I walked over and said softly, “See? I wasn‘ t wrong. Your mother would rather
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see you disabled than spend any of that money. And she hasn’t bought anything extravagant or played Texas Hold‘ em. So where’s all that money gone?”
Alan grabbed my arm, his face turning red with anger. “Do you know something?”
I pulled his hand away and wiped the spot he touched. “Your mom’s been a widow for decades, right? You‘ re at work all day, so you probably don’t know that besides. playing cards, she loves to dance at the community center.”
His eyes widened. Social dancing isn’t something you do alone. He was probably picturing his mom dancing with some old man, smiling with a spring in her step.
His fists clenched tightly.
“Darling, I’m sorry I ignored you before. I’ll treat you better from now on,” he said with a sincere look.
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
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He quickly swore, “I swear, I realize now that you’ve been the best to me. Let’s fix things and be good from now on, okay?”
What a joke!
After all the abuse he put me through, kissing his mistress in front of me, and now that he’s a cripple and his mistress has left, he thinks we should be a happy couple?
I slapped him hard, sending him crashing onto the bed. “Alan, you really are something else! Why on earth would I take care of a disabled, useless mess like you? You‘ re nothing but trash, a pile of garbage!
“Have you forgotten how you treated me? How you and your mother tormented me? How did you bring your mistress to bully me? How you ruined my daughter’s life?”
