Chapter 27
If we can just get through this year, we’ll
I finally be able to
able to live a peaceful life, okay?” he said,
I was still straining to hear more when I suddenly heard a few coughs behind me. It was Kimberly.
There was nowhere to hide outside the bathroom, and she was already opening the door and walking toward me. In a panic, I quickly slipped into the nearby storage closet.
The closet was a mess, with things scattered everywhere since it hadn’t been tidied in ages. A faint, musty smell lingered in the air. I pinched my nose, trying to stifle a sneeze, and held my breath.
Kimberly reached the bathroom door and knocked.
Dexter opened it. “Mom, why aren’t you asleep
1 need to use the bathroom. Why are you still here, talking to I
Leah? Be careful, what if that
woman finds out?”
Kimberly was giving him a serious warning. “Now that Sylvia’s mom is living here too, you need to be more careful. Don’t let anything slip. understand”
My heart skipped a beat. I thought. Even Kimberly knows… Who can I trust in this house, othe
is house, other than my own mother!
Dexter reassured her again, and Kimberly finally seemed to relax. There’s plenty of time for that. Sylvia’s an idiot–she doesn’t know anything except how to love you.
“If it weren’t for that, how else could you have gotten her to marry you so easily? Let’s not forget, her father left behind a huge inheritance, and she’s good at making money too
She laughed cruelly, and every word felt like a jab aimed right at me.
By now, I was freezing all over. My hands hung limply at my sides, cold and
clammy
with sweat
The man I thought I could trust had betrayed me, and Kimberly–someone I’d considered family–was in on it too. They were conspiring against me, and who knew what else they were planning.
I wondered. “What do they think of me! A wife? A daughter–in–law? A mother? Or just a cash cow they can still squeeze dry?‘
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to calm down.
Outside, they chatted for a few more minutes before Kimberly went into the bathroom, and Dexter returned to the room.
as he was out of sight, I quickly slipped out of the closet, turned, and walked into the child’s room
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Dexter came rushing in, his face dripping with sweat, “What are you doing in here? When did you wake up?” I bet he panicked when he saw I wasn’t in the room.
I lowered my eyes, deliberately avoiding his gaze. The lights were off, and the only light came from a null crack under the door, so it was too dark to ser clearly.
I said casually. “I had a nightmare. I dreamed something happened to our son, so I came in to check on him. When Epassed by the bathroom, i beard you and Mom talking, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”
I kept my tone steatly, and Dexter seemed to calm down. “It’s okay, just a bad dream. Don’t worry
“Okay” I gently La
brudlard my hand over Juno’s
i praceful face.
I thought, Juno – my precious baby: Muminy will do everything to project you. I’ll make sure we leave this house safely: I had already made up my
the room. I finally managed to fall asleep again, this time all the way through until morning
The next day, early in the morning. Dexter handed me a bank card. “Honey, didn’t you say you wanted to buy a l This is all the money I’ve saved up since we got married Take it and see
I was shocked. I didn’t expect Dexter to actually
a hone in a good school district?
e if it’s enough?
give me money. I took the card and asked, “How much is in here?”
1/2
9:34 AM
Chapter 27
He smiled awkwardly. “Well… I’m no financial expert. After all these years, I’ve only managed to save up 100 thousand dollars.”
