After completing the paperwork, Michael’s secretary drove my parents and Steven to the new place I rented. The secretary left after dropping us off.
My mom circled around the house after Michael’s secretary was gone. She approached me with a horrible expression and complained, “What kind of a place did you get us? It’s so small. How are we going to live here?”
I rented a two-bedroom accommodation. It wasn’t spacious, but it was more than enough for staying temporarily. Despite that, my mom was still dissatisfied.
“Mom, I understand that it is a little cramped, but it is sufficient for all three of you to stay here. Please, just make-do, okay?”
I deliberately ignored my mom’s dissatisfaction and stared at her with a troubled look.
“Make-do? That is not a problem for me, but what about Steven? He needs a good place to recuperate. This place is so small, and the furniture is right next to each other. What do we do if he bumps into them?” complained my mom as she pointed at the sofa and the coffee table. She stared at me in dissatisfaction, and her tone carried a hint of anger.
“If you’re that unhappy with it, then you can go look for a place on your own. That is if you can afford it.”
The place was more than enough for their daily needs, but my mom was still complaining endlessly. She never even considered how I felt, and like her, I was angry as well.
I already did my best to give them a good life, but they remained ungrateful and even complained about it. I am so done with them.
They might have raised me, but the way they treated me is too much. I have emotions, too. There is no way I can hold it in forever!
I didn’t want to argue with my mom, so I turned around to leave as soon as I finished saying my piece. Truth was, I had already done my best to keep the family together. If they insisted on behaving that way, then I had no choice. I’d be selfish from then on and take care of myself.
“Wait!”
My mom’s expression changed. She probably didn’t expect my temper to be that terrible that day. So, she called out to me in the end.
“What?”
I turned around and stared at my mom without wearing any expression. My tone was calm when I spoke to her.
“Give me two thousand. Your brother needs more nutrients and good food to recuperate,” said my mom while stretching her hand out towards me. It was obvious what she was requesting.
Money, again!
I frowned as anger filled my soul. At that moment, it felt like my mom had nothing else to say to me, except to ask for money.
However, I am not a cash withdrawal machine—I didn’t have the money for her.
I fished five hundred out of my wallet and handed it to my mom. My tone was chilly when I said, “I don’t have that much money on me. Here’s five hundred for now. Call me after you’ve used it up.”
I only had the two thousand Natalie loaned me earlier, and I would have to starve if I gave it all to my mom.
My mom held the money in her hand and frowned in dissatisfaction. “Your brother’s injury is serious. What can I do with just five hundred?”
My mom was probably feeling annoyed about the five hundred I gave her. There was a time when I would give her however much she asked. Yet, I was putting her on a budget at that moment, so naturally, she was upset.
“That is all I have with me now. If you don’t want it, I will take it back.”
I had a grouchy expression on and worked hard to suppress my anger. After saying my piece, I reached out to grab the money I just gave my mom.
Naturally, I knew that my mom wouldn’t let me have it. She might find the money lacking, but she was still quick to shove it into her pocket.
My mom was familiar with my temperament. She knew I was still angry and that I would take the money back.
“You and dad should rest up. There wasn’t a place to rest in the hospital, and the two of you must be tired from staying there for so long.”
I shot one look at the room that Steven was in before I turned around to say those words to my mom. After that, I walked out of the place.
I knew that I couldn’t do what my mom asked when those matters involved Steven. I had to fight back, or she would never learn to be thankful for what she had.
I felt relieved after leaving the rented place. It was unlikely my mom would ask me for anything for the time being. Five hundred should feed them for over a week.
It was still early, and I didn’t want to head home yet. Recalling that I hadn’t met up with Natalie for a while, I drove toward her place.
When I reached her place, I saw a familiar car parked at the side. Yuval was standing right next to it.
I panicked. I didn’t expect to see him there that day, so I didn’t know what to say to him.
We didn’t sleep together, but we were a couple back in the days, and I was the one who broke up with him. Bumping into him truly made things awkward.
I stood on the spot and wondered if I should just leave. If I went forward, he would definitely see me, and it didn’t seem right to act like we didn’t know each other.
“Anna?”
I was still struggling with my decision when Yuval saw me. His expression turned stiff when he saw me there.
“Hey, what a coincidence. I didn’t think I’d bump into you here.”
Yuval had already seen me, so the only thing I could do was bite down and greet him back. Unfortunately, our past relationship made it so that I had no idea what to talk to him about.
“Yeah. It’s a small world. I’m here waiting for Natalie.”
Yuval approached me. A warm smile donned his serene face, as usual.
“You’re here for Natalie? Why are you looking for her?”
At first, I assumed that Yuval was there to ask about me, but it seemed that I was overthinking the situation. Huh, I didn’t expect him to be here for Natalie.
I secretly sighed a breath of relief, but suspicion arose in my heart. He’s actually here to look for Natalie? When did the two of them get so close?
“I-I…”
Yuval’s expression turned stiffer when he heard my question. He stammered endlessly without answering my question, and I could tell that he felt awkward.
I wasn’t an idiot. Realization hit me upon seeing Yuval’s expression. My eyes bulged in astonishment as I blurted, “You’re courting Natalie?”
I was pretty certain that was the case. Otherwise, Yuval wouldn’t have behaved so nervously.
He knew that I had already guessed the truth, so he took one look at me and grinned awkwardly, without saying anything.
“I can’t believe it’s real. When did you fall for Natalie?”
