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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
A drop of eye drop landed on my lower eyelid. Dexter’s hand trembled,
I pretended not to notice. “Ah, take it easy! If you can’t do it, let me handle it.”
Dexter reassured me, “It’s fine. I just squeezed out too much earlier, I know what to do now. Just lie back, it’ll be fine soon.”
The cool sensation in my eye felt soothing. After crying, the eye drops were actually a relief. I closed my eyes and casually asked, “By the way, you are a vice president now? When did you get promoted? You didn’t even tell me.”
Dexter laughed it off, “No. They said I might get promoted in the second half of the year, but it’s not guaranteed. There are other people competing for the position, so I’m not sure I’ll get it.”
I asked, “What about your salary? How much do you make now?”
“Not much, maybe 100 thousand dollars a year,” answered Dexter.
I noted that down. “I saw that a new development near Srouver is about to start selling. I had my colleague keep an eye on it. Let’s buy one when the time comes.”
He said, “Our current place is fine, isn’t it? We’ve only been here a few years.”
“You don’t get it. In a couple of years, all the top primary and secondary schools in the city are moving over there. The area is going to be developed into a new city center.
“If we get in carly, we can plan ahead,” I said excitedly. “Juno is still young. As parents, don’t we need to think about his future? We have to get a place in a good school district as soon as we can, right?”
Dexter hesitated a bit before responding.
I pushed further. “I’ve saved nearly 700 thousand dollars in the past few years. If you take out your savings, and if it’s still not enough, we can sell this place and buy a bigger one.
“That way, even if both our moms want to come live with us, there’ll be enough space.”
Dexter didn’t answer.
I opened my eyes and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, looking deep in thought. I couldn’t help but sneer quietly, then closed my eyes again and nudged his back with my knee. “So, what do you think?”
“Oh, sounds good,” he muttered.
“Great, it’s settled then. Once Martha’s situation is stable and she’s out of the hospital, we’ll go ahead and buy the house.”
Holly was right about one thing. I couldn’t count on him anymore. I must secure the money.
That night, I finally slept well. It was the most peaceful night I’d had in days.
Maybe it was the new plan or the fact that I finally felt like I had something to look forward to–whether at the hospital or at
work.
But whenever I thought about divorce, I still instinctively shied away from it. I guessed I was not strong enough yet to pull the trigger. Not yet, anyway.
1/3
Dreame–Read Romance…
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Chapter 13
After several days of stable treatment, Martha was finally ready to be discharged. On the day the led the hospital, 1 pic Jereiny a generous sum of money, only for him to coldly refuse it and puddicly sold me
Out in the hallway, I felt like a child caught in trouble. It wasn’t until Martha stepped in, praising Jeremy wierd toes, that 1 was finally able to escape.
As we sat in the car, I couldn’t help but complain, “What’s his problem? I offer him money, and he turn it down
Clara chuckled. “Sylvia, you don’t get it. Dr. Norman comes from a family of doctors his grandfather and father are bot famous in the field. On his mom’s side, his grandfather’s a wealthy businessman. He doesrit care about money
“You really know a lot about him,” I said, speechless.
Clara lowered his head and smiled shyly, “Of course
Clara’s emotions were as clear as a drawing on a blank sheet of paper–impossible to miss,
Clara liked Jeremy, but unfortunately, Jeremy’s family background was too intimidating. Clara knew better than to get her hopes up about it. It was just a fleeting thought, nothing more.
After dropping Martha off at home, Kimberly had already prepared lunch. Once we finished eating, Clara and 1 tidied up the kitchen and made sure Martha was settled and comfortable for a nap.
Martha took my hand. “I think I should just go back. I don’t want to be a burden to you two*
“If you go back, that’ll really be a burden,” I said. “Just stay here and rest. Don’t even think about leaving, I am making good money now. How could I let you suffer? You want people talking behind my back?”
Before I could finish, Kimberly leaned in suddenly, her eyes gleaming. “Sylvia, you’re making that much money? Tell me, how much are you making in a year?”
I quickly closed my mouth. Her question was so sudden, just like her approach. With Dexter already acting distant, I had to be extra cautious about what I said, especially with Kimberly’s probing questions.
I smiled awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. “It’s going well. Dexter and I are planning to buy a new house. When we do, you and Mom can stay there too. It’ll be nice and spacious.”
Kimberly froze for a moment. “Buy a house? Dexter didn’t mention anything about buying a house.”
“It’s something we decided together,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“How can that be?” she blurted out. “Dexter’s money can’t just go into your pocket!”
I looked at her coldly.
Martha, too, was shocked, her mouth hanging open.
Realizing she’d overstepped, Kimberly quickly lowered her head and mumbled, clearly embarrassed.,
I couldn’t help but scoff. “Did you forget? Dexter and I are married. Every penny he earns is half mine.”
Kimberly awkwardly pulled at the corners of her mouth and, clearly uncomfortable, turned and left the room.
Martha looked at me with concern. “You and Dexter… are you two… okay?”
I met her gaze and smiled reassuringly. “It’s fine, Mom. It’s nothing.”
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08:52 Sat, 15 Feb 1
Chapter 13
I said that more to comfort myself than her.
Today, Martha was being discharged from the hospital. Dexter was supposed to come, but he had a company dinner he couldn’t skip, so he sent his apologies and asked for time off
I thought. What can I do? At such a crucial time, with Dexter about to take on the role of Vice President, how can i hold them back?‘
After settling Martha, I waled Clara through some advice for her new job.
Clara had passed her interview, and the job was a good one. The company was a leader in the industry, and if the woften hard, she could definitely go far in the role.
Just as I finished saying that, my phone rang. It was Holly,
“Sylvia, guess who I just ran into?” she said, her voice dripping with mischief, I could already tell it wasn’t going to be good
news.
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “Just get to the point, Holly. Don’t make me wait?
Holly added, “I was at a company dinner with my boyfriend, and guess who I saw? Your husband. But here’s the thing–I didn’t see you there. Strange, right?”
I froze for a moment. “He did tell me he had work.”
“Well, what he didn’t tell you was that this dinner required partners. And the woman with him? Not you. It was someone else. Do you want to come and see for yourself?”
Holly’s words made my heart race. I thought, ‘Dexter… how can he? Not only has he kept me in the dark about the dinner, but he’s actually brought another woman with him!”
Without thinking, I grabbed my keys, jumped in the car, and sped off to the address Holly had given me.
The entire drive, my hands were clammy with sweat. I thought, ‘Is today really the day? Am I finally going to confront this woman?‘
I threw open the door to the private dining room and immediately saw Dexter, sitting close to a woman.
