5
Five days after Sarah left, Emily confessed her
love to John again.
This time, she threatened him. If he couldn’t
commit, she would leave and clear the way for Sarah to come back.
She said this in front of Lily.
The little girl burst into tears, begging Emily not to leave.
“I don’t want Mommy! I want Ms. Evans to be
my mommy! Mommy’s bad, she doesn’t love
me, she doesn’t love Daddy, she doesn’t love
79
<
this family!”
John couldn’t handle Lily’s meltdown.
He knew Emily was kind and good with Lily,
never neglectful.
So he left.
Fled to his parents‘ house for some peace. Three months.
Emily called at first, but then quieted down.
She just sent John’s parents photos of Lily every now and then, letting him know she was okay.
“When are you going home? You’re always here
looking so gloomy. It’s bringing us down,”
John’s mother finally said.
John frowned. “If I can’t stay here, I’ll sleep at
the office.”
He started packing.
His mother stopped him. “What are you
thinking? What’s going on with Sarah? With
Emily? You’re not home. Those two women
might be fighting all day.”
John shook his head. “No. Sarah hasn’t been
back.”
く
8:41
The security system alerted John on his phone
whenever there was movement at the front
door.
He had planned to go home whenever Sarah
did, to clear the air.
But she hadn’t returned.
Women could be ruthless.
His mother’s expression turned wary. “She
hasn’t been back in three months?”
John nodded. “No.”
“So you’re getting a divorce?”
“No.”
“No? Why isn’t Sarah coming home? I know
Emily pretty well. She has feelings for you, and
for Lily. If you want a divorce, do it already!
Don’t lead her on.”
“I’m not leading her on. I’m just paying her to
take care of Lily. It’s a professional relationship.
It’s not what you think.”
John’s mother glared at him.
“A woman with a Masters, someone every
research institute in the country wants, working
as a nanny for your kid? She’s only doing it for
<
John didn’t want to say anything, but Emily’s
father had died, and Emily’s tuition and living
expenses abroad had been cut off.
Plus, Emily couldn’t get a Master’s degree. She
needed John’s help to get a job to support her
mom.
Also, the salary was fifty thousand a month,
which should be worth it.
John just didn’t want to tell his mother.
She and Emily’s mother were best friends.
It would break her heart.
John’s mother had a heart bypass and the doctor repeatedly told her to keep her calm. Seeing her son so miserable, John’s mother
sighed, turned around and took out a bank card
with one million dollars in it.
“I don’t know what happened between you and
Sarah. Or how far you’ve gone with Emily. But I think Sarah’s given up on you.”
John looked at his mother. “Don’t talk
nonsense.”
His mother pointed to the bank card. “There’s a million dollars here. Sarah deposited it for Lily.
<
She said she’s divorcing you, clearing the way
for you and Emily. She even said you’d probably
have another kid after you and Emily got
married, and you wouldn’t have time for Lily.
She wants me and your father to raise Lily. I
agreed.”
John’s face went white.
He yelled, disregarding his mother’s heart
condition.
“Why did you agree?! She wants a divorce? Too
bad! I don’t want one!”
John’s mother was shocked.
“When did she put the money in?” John took a
few deep breaths, trying to calm down.
His mother mumbled, “Three months ago,
before you came home…”
“What else did she say?”
“She said she’d give up everything, and she
wished you happiness.”
