Chapter 3
Arnold helped the sobbing Sarah to her feet, his expression hostile.
“Cecilia, stop pretending to be broke. You have more than one card.”
I held the strap of my wallet tightly, trying to steady my heartbeat.
“Those cards are tied to corporate accounts. Using even a penny would be embezzlement-do you want me to go to prison?”
“Stop being so dramatic!”
Arnold waved dismissively. “Just transfer the money for Sarah’s emergency. She’s getting married soon! I’ll pay you back immediately when my company’s payment comes in next month.”
“It’s just a few days of borrowing-what could go wrong?”
He spoke as if it were nothing.
The onlookers nodded in agreement, and a man in black even stepped forward to defend Sarah.
‘Ma’am, it’s marital property-what’s wrong with using it?”
Sarah immediately picked up the thread, sobbing.
“Exactly, Cecilia! Arnold’s wedding gift to you was worth more than this jewelry. Why are you being so stingy?”
Your family’s wedding gift to me was $20,000.”
I cut her off sharply. “Arnold, do I need to remind you? My parents added $80,000 on the spot, making it $100,000 for me to bring back. Then there was buying and renovating houses for your family-how much did I contribute overall?”
“It was at least $800,000, maybe a million. Now you want me to pay for your sister’s wedding too?”
Arnold’s face changed, and he immediately shifted topics.
“So you want to settle accounts with me? Fine, let’s talk about your useless brother! Didn’t you secretly send $50,000 to your family last month?”
I trembled with rage. “That was life-saving money for my brother’s surgery!”
Besides, I was spending my own earned money-what business was it of the family’s?
The salary gap between Arnold and me wasn’t just a matter of tens of thousands!
“Surgery?”Sarah’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “I heard he lost gambling in Atlantic City and got his leg broken by debt collectors.”
Arnold’s accusations followed immediately, “You don’t blink when supporting your family, but cry poverty when buying my sister wedding gifts?”
“I haven’t even questioned you about that $600,000 yet!”
“Shut up!”
I shouted angrily, “Arnold, put your hand on your heart and tell me-in all our years of marriage, have I ever taken a penny from my family? Meanwhile, your family-from buying land to renovations-who’s been paying for everything?”
“What gives you the right to question me about that $600,000? With your measly $10,000 monthly salary?”
Arnold suddenly flew into a rage.
“Oh, so now you think I don’t earn enough? You spend hundreds of thousands on shoes every month, and now you’re nitpicking over this?”
The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.
An older woman pointed at me, shaking her head: “My goodness, what a spendthrift.”
“I think they should just divorce. Having a woman like that in the family is pure misfortune!”
Chapter 3
Hearing this, I laughed bitterly with anger. “Arnold, want to go check the store records right now? I’ve spent no less on you than on myself, have 17”
“Otherwise, with your pittance of a salary, how could you afford that custom watch worth hundreds of thousands?”
Caught in his lie, Arnold suddenly pulled out his phone.
“Fine, Cecilia. You win.”
I’m canceling your private hospital reservation right now. After all, it doesn’t matter where the baby is born, does it?
Watching him actually dial the hospital, my blood ran cold.
This was exactly what happened in my previous life-he’d transferred me to a small hospital at the last minute, leading to my tragic death.
“Arnold!” My voice was shaking. “You dare cancel it, just try.”
“Already canceled.”He smugly waved his phone, “What’s wrong with a public hospital? Everyone else gives birth there-what makes you so special?”
