Chapter 17
Auntie Sidney would always make up stories to make me feel better.
I remembered back when Liam scolded me after the incident at the hotel,
Auntie Sidney said, “Mr. Mendez nearly lost his mind when he couldn’t find
you. He went all over the city looking for you every day. He’s so angry at you
because he’s worried.”
I thanked Auntie Sidney and went to sleep.
Even though I knew I needed to rest, I could not sleep soundly.
Once I closed my eyes, the incidents from last night began to replay in my
mind.
Eventually, I sat up, changed my clothes, covered the marks on my neck with
powder, and left the house in my car.
There was a blizzard last night, and the roads were not cleared up.
15
1/5
Chapter 17 Died a Little Inside
2/5
I drove carefully on the road that was slippery with ice and water. Suddenly, I
felt incredibly dizzy. By the time I slammed on my brakes, I heard a loud
crunching sound. When I regained my vision, I realized I had rear-ended the
red sports car in front of me.
The driver was a young woman with a brilliant smile and dressed in a white
mink coat.
She inspected the damage on her car and smiled at me. “No worries. It’s only
a small bump.”
She showed two rows of white teeth whenever she smiled. She seemed
innocent and harmless.
Fortunately, the incident was resolved without any drama.
That was also when I found out the girl’s name was Rina Olsen.
I said she was a “girl,” but she was three years older than I was.
Chapter 17 Died a Little Inside
She was 26 years old, an age I could never hope to achieve.
After saying goodbye to Rina, I went to the subway station.
The incident made me aware I could no longer drive.
Another part of me “died.”
As much as I told myself I should be strong and accept the fact, I could not
help but feel forlorn.
At the hospital, as soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Anna exiting
the doctor’s office, seemingly in a sour mood. When she saw me, she walked
briskly toward me and said, “Come here!”
I followed her to a corner and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Father’s medical fees,” she said. “We’ll split it between the two of us.”
“Didn’t we agree you’ll be paying?”
3/5
Chapter 17 Died a Little Inside
Anna blew up like a barrel of dynamite. “How could you do this to me? I’m
your sister! You and your husband set me up!
“What happened, Anna? Tell me.”
4/5
“Your husband looked for me and demanded that I return my shares to you!”
Anna was pale with anger, and she clenched her fists tightly. “He said if I
don’t, he won’t sign the acquisition contract and let the Nyra go bankrupt! Our
share prices fell again today, and my shares will be wastepaper soon. You’ll
have to split the medical fees with me!”
“He didn’t tell me anything,” I said.
“So you think I’m lying to you?” Anna said angrily. “You told me yesterday that
you’ll give me your shares, and I’ll take care of Father. I’m already getting the
short end of the stick! Now you’re going back on your word and getting your
husband to threaten me, what is it you actually want?”
I said, “I’m sure Liam has his reasons for doing so, Anna. I’ll ask…”
Chapter 17 Died a Little Inside
Before I could finish, Anna suddenly covered her mouth and rushed into the
bathroom.
5/5
Ten minutes later, I returned from the drugstore downstairs with a pregnancy
test kit and handed it to Anna.
She came out of the bathroom a short while later. Her face was pale.
“Is it positive?”
Anna was in a daze. She lit a cigarette and took a few drags before looking at
me and saying, “Give me your medical card.”
“Why?” I asked.
Chapter 18
“I’m going for a checkup and an abortion,” Anna said. “You’ll have to come
with me.”
“You want to use my name? Why?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t be able to explain it to Harvey,” Anna said impatiently. “I haven’t
slept with him for half a year.”
“I can help you, but you’ll have to pay for your own,” I said.
Anna glared at me. “You’re so calculative!”
“I’ll talk to Liam about the shares.”
Anna glared at me and said, “If it falls through, I’ll return your shares. You can
take care of Father yourself!”
I accompanied Anna to the gynecology department downstairs.
