He grabbed Buddy and said, “I can’t hurt a
person, but I can hurt this dog! I’ll just toss him
87
<
2:56
87
He was about to push him into the center pot!
“You put him down!” I screamed as loud as I could. I was shaking as I pulled out my phone and started filming.
“Mark, if you hurt Buddy, you won’t be getting another dime from me! If you can’t pay your mortgage, the bank will take your house! If you toss Buddy in there, I’ll post this online! You’ll be getting a lot of hate!”
Mark’s jaw tightened.
He finally dropped Buddy with a thud and
angrily kicked him.
The old man picked up Buddy and held him
close.
He was also angry with Mark. He paid the bill
and took us home.
く
2:56
On the way, Lily and I were both crying.
I was asking the old man why he had paid the
mortgage for Mark.
The old man panicked. “Honey, don’t cry. I
won’t do anything for your brother anymore.
Let’s just live our own lives and just take care of your mom.”
I scoffed.
Take care of my mom?
I’d love to see that.
6
When I got home, I was so relieved, thinking
about how Kevin was screaming and Tiffany
looked so distraught.
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<
I hugged Lily and Buddy. “Mommy got her
revenge.”
Lily didn’t understand.
She was still scared about having to call the old
man dad.
I kissed her. “Of course not. Mommy only loves
Daddy.”
Lily smiled.
After that day, Mark and Tiffany didn’t reach
out to me for a while.
I didn’t mind. I was either busy at the coffee
shop, or calling my uncle to check in with him.
And, by the way, I’d accidentally mentioned that
my brother had bought a house in our school
district.
<
2:57
Almost a month later, when it was about time
for Mark’s next mortgage payment,
My mom called the old man.
86
“Mark was thinking about having you guys back
over to the old house for dinner, but it’s too hot
and there’s no air conditioning. How about we just have some cold noodles?”
Yes, since I’d gotten with the old man, my mom
would always call him.
And, she’d always suggest things.
The old man was smart, he would usually agree.
So he went out and bought a new AC unit and
had it installed at my parents‘ house.
To avoid conflict, I didn’t bring Lily.
As we walked into the house, my mom had set
<
My mom smiled. “We have air conditioning now,
let’s skip the cold noodles and have pot roast
instead!”
The house was wonderfully cool.
My brother was pouring wine for the old man.
“Brother–in–law, I can see you really care for
my sister. And you’re also good to us. You’re
the best man in the world!”
I wanted to throw up.
I went to the kitchen to get some rice, and
Tiffany followed me.
She told me that Kevin’s burn was mostly
healed, but there was a possibility it would
leave a scar.
I pointed to the living room. “What kid doesn’t
have scars? If you can’t stand it, then the old
man can find a hospital to do some cosmetic
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<
2:57
man can find a hospital to do some cosmetic surgery.”
That put Tiffany at ease.
“Sis, I gotta say, the guy I found for you was pretty good.”
I shot her a shy look. “He might be old, but he’s really sweet. The other day he got me a Cartier watch. It cost over ten thousand dollars.”
I showed her the watch on my wrist.
Mike had bought it for me when he was working
private jobs, I’d never dared to wear it.
Tiffany’s eyes nearly popped out. “Really? Let
me see!”
Ha. If I showed it to her, I was never going to
get it back.
<
2:57
ร 86
I sighed. “He’s eating, you can’t see it now. Don’t worry, when we get married I’ll get him to
buy me an even better one. Then I’ll give you
this one.”
“You’re so good to me, sis.” Tiffany hugged
- me.
“That’s nothing. He’s shown me how much he
has in the bank,” I whispered in Tiffany’s ear.
“It’s almost eight figures!”
Tiffany counted on her fingers. “Close to ten
million? But I heard he only had like two or
three million.”
“You are so dumb! He’s not trying to show off.
I think he’s just not telling me everything! I
overheard him on the phone with his friend,
talking about stocks, and he also bought a
bunch of insurance. If he dies, I’ll get over eight
million!”
Tiffany was stunned.
She sighed after a moment. “Sis, the brother-
in–law has money, but he’s too old, I’m afraid
he can’t perform.”
I giggled. “Who says? He’s even better than
Mike. At least a few times a week!”
“You two, you’ve already done it?!”
“Of course, I’m not a virgin, you know? When
people are together, other than money, that’s
what you do!”
I’d lit a fire. I grabbed my rice bowl and left.
I watched as Tiffany stood in the kitchen for a
long time, dumbfounded.
Then she went back into the bedroom and put
on a low–cut dress. She then sent Mark away
and cat novt to the old man and noured him
く
and sat next to the old man and poured him
some wine.
I focused on my food, my stomach and mind
both equally happy.
Tiffany was toasting with the old man, the
family dinner was at its peak.
Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the
door.
Tiffany opened the door and six or seven
people squeezed inside!
My uncle led the way, giving my old man a
quick look.
He then laughed at my mom.
“I was wondering why you weren’t answering
my phone. Turns out you found yourself a new
man, you must have been too busy to talk to
<
2:58
My mom’s face turned as red as a beet.
86
“Don’t talk nonsense! He’s Lu Ann’s boyfriend!”
“What? Lu Ann’s boyfriend?”
Those people looked at me with pity.
My uncle, drunk and emboldened, asked, “Lu Ann, are they forcing you? My niece is young and pretty, how can she go out with some old geezer?”
I looked away, tears welling up, and quietly said, “Uncle, please, don’t…”
