6
The show was getting good. I decided to step in. “Alright, that’s enough. Lilian only did it because she cares about you. She’s just a girl; she’s insecure. It’s understandable that she made a mistake.” I turned to my brother, “And you’re so talented, Mark. You can find another job anywhere. It’s their loss for letting you go.”
You
Lilian shot me a grateful look. I wasn’t helping her, of course. She and Mark were a match made in hell, and they needed to stay locked together, far away from inflicting themselves on anyone else.
My words seemed to soothe Mark’s temper slightly, but he still hadn’t forgiven her. He stormed into his room and slammed the door.
“Sarah, what do I do?” Lilian whimpered. “Mark is so angry with me.”
“Well, you did go too far this time,” I said. “He treats you so well, and you still suspect him.”
“I was just so in love!” she insisted, still hot seeing her fault. “Why are you scolding me too?”
I just smiled “Don’t worry. Hell cool down. Give him some time.‘
Lilian was a master of manipulation, and Mark always fell for it. It wasn’t long before they made up.
But she wouldn’t stop causing trouble. To avoid getting caught in the crossfire, I made an excuse and moved out. My mother wasn’t happy–how could she leech off me if I wasn’t there? But Lilian spoke up before! had to “It’s for the best. What kind of grown woman lives with her brother and his wife anyway? When I have a baby, we can use your room for the nursery
I seized the opportunity. “She’s right, Mom. Mark’s a married man now. It’s not right for me to live here.”
After I left, all the housework fell on ray mother, a burden she seemed to relish.
Mark, having been fired, was now constantly job hunting. His early departures and late returns once again triggered Lilian’s sensitive nerves.
“Okay, tomorrow afternoon then. It’s been a while, we can catch up. Dinner’s on me tonight.”
“Great See you tomorrow”
Lilian was eavesdropping by the door as Mark talked on the phone. She instantly assumed it was a woman. Her whole body tensed.
She pushed the door open “Who were you talking to?”
She was right, it was a woman. Afraid of her reaction, Mark instinctively denied it. “No one.”
་
But his denial only confirmed her suspicions. It sounded like guilt. Especially when he added, ‘I have something tomorrow night, so I won’t be home for dinner.
Lilian said nothing, but her mind was already spinning
The next afternoon, after Mark left, she followed him. She tailed him to a coffee shop. He sat at a table, and a few minutes later, a woman in a business suit joined him. They started chatting animatedly, clearly old acquaintances.
They didn’t touch. They just sat at a table, talking and drinking coffee. But to Lilian, it was an unforgivable betrayal
In her eyes, it was no different from catching them in bed.
Rage burned in her eyes. She strode into the coffee shop. “Well, well, Mark. Caught you red–handed. What do you have to say for yourself now?*
Before either of them could speak, she grabbed the woman’s coffee and threw it in her face
Thankfully, it was iced coffee.
What the hell is wrong with you?! the woman screamed.
Lillen was defiant. You filthy home–wrecker! You try to seduce my husband again, and next time it’ll be boiling water
Mark lunged forward, clapping a hand over her mouth. “That’s my college classmate, you psychol What are you doing?!”
He had finally managed to contact a well–connected former classmate who could get him an interview at a major corporation. Now, that was all ruined. He’d been out of work for a while and was broke, especially with Lilian’s constant demands for new bags and shoes.
His good fortune, destroyed again and again. Mark couldn’t take it anymore. Forgetting to even apologize, he grabbed Lilian and dragged her out of the cafe.
“You’re insane! Your brain is filled with nothing but imaginary affairs! You know what? That’s it! We’re getting a divorce! Right now!”
He ranted as he dragged her down the street.
Hearing the word “divorce, Lilian’s eyes went wide. She immediately started begging. “Honey, I was wrong! I don’t want a divorce! I only act like this because I love you so much! You can’t leave me!”
But she was no match for his strength. She was being hauled towards the car, towards the courthouse. In a last–ditch effort, she dropped to the ground, wrapped her arms around his legs, and started wailing. “Honey, I’m so sorry! You can beat me, kill me, but please don’t divorce me! I married you without a bride price! Are you really going to leave me over one little mistake?!”
A crowd started to gather.
“Come on, young man. Every couple fights. Just comfort your wife.”
“She married you without a bride price? What a good woman. This guy’s a real piece of work.”
“He’s probably got someone on the side. Leaving a beautiful wife like this for a mistress.”
The bystanders‘ comments made Mark’s face burn with shame.
“Honey, I don’t want a divorce!” Lilian wailed louder, playing to the crowd. “I won’t even care if you find a mistress anymore, just as long as you stay with me!”
‘Fine, fine! No divorce! Just get up! Let’s go home!”
Seeing someone in the crowd raise their phone, Mark surrendered. He had to get her home before this became an even bigger spectacle
A triumphant smile flashed across Lilian’s face as she followed him home. She was so clueless she thought the matter was settled. “Don’t meet with other women behind my back anymore,” she said matter–of–factly once they were inside. “It makes me angry.”
Her words were like gasoline on a fire. Mark spun around and slapped her. “You curse! I must have been cursed for eight lifetimes to marry a walking disaster like you! Will you be happy only when you’ve completely
ruined me?!”
Lilian stared at him in disbelief, clutching her cheek. “You hit me?!”
At that moment Mark wanted to kill her. “I’m divorcing you!”
In my past life, when this woman cost me my life, he just watched. Now, just losing a job was enough to make him snap. But divorce takes two. If Lilian refused, he couldn’t force it. And my mother was there, counsel-
ing him. They’d only been married a short time, a divorce would be embarrassing.
My mother disliked Lilian, but she knew a daughter–in–law who didn’t demand a bride price was a rare find. It was better to just tolerate it.
