Chapter 3

I didn’t say anything else.

So in their eyes, this was also my fault.

I was immature. I was petty. I was willful.

“Mom, I’m tired. I’m hanging up.”

Sylvia didn’t come home all night.

I didn’t sleep all night.

The next morning, I was woken by sounds from the kitchen.

When I walked out, I saw Sylvia frying eggs.

Morning light streamed in through the window. From behind, wearing an apron, she actually looked a bit like a good, homey wife.

She heard me and turned around.

“You’re awake? I made breakfast.”

She carried the fried eggs and milk to the table.

“Yesterday was my fault. My temper was too harsh. Don’t be angry anymore.”

My phone chimed.

It was a bank transfer notification.

She had transferred fifty thousand to me.

“Use it to buy ties, bags, whatever you want. Don’t be mad anymore, okay?”

She pulled out a chair for me to sit.

“Ryan is actually pretty pitiful.”

I looked at her and didn’t speak.

“His wife treats him badly and scolds him all the time. All the money he earns gets taken by his wife and wasted. He just wants to push harder at work, make more money, and get divorced sooner.”

She sighed.

“I just feel sorry for him, so I help him a little more. There really isn’t anything between us.”

I picked up the milk and took a sip.

Then I looked at her.

“Then you should marry him. Since you feel so bad for him, if you marry him, you can help him every day, fair and square.”

Her face stiffened.

“William, do you have to talk like that?”

“I’m just helping you analyze the situation.”

She suddenly stood up.

“I didn’t want to tell you this so soon. But since you insist on acting like this, I’ll just say it directly.”

She stared at me.

“Ryan is moving in.”

I thought I’d misheard.

“What did you say?”

“I said, Ryan is moving in. He already laid everything out with his wife. His wife kicked him out, and now he has nowhere to go.”

“Don’t we have a guest room that’s been empty this whole time? Perfect.”

She said it so righteously.

“Sylvia, are you insane too?”

“I’m not insane. I’m just informing you.”

Her tone turned cold.

“For this house, my family paid the down payment, and I’m the one paying the mortgage. I have the right to decide who gets to move in.”

“You have to agree.”

“And if I don’t?”

She smiled.

There was a trace of cruelty in that smile.

“If you can’t stand it, then move out yourself.”