He was taken aback by my deriding remark as I was always soft-spoken and composed in front of him.
“Are you calling me a disgrace in your life? I dare you to repeat yourself!”
His grip got even tighter than before, and my wrists hurt so badly that I almost shrieked. Regardless, I wasn’t going to back down anymore. No matter how weak he thought I might be, I had my dignity to defend.
He assumed that I was this gold-digger who wanted all the fortune and fame. If I gave in, it simply meant that I agreed to all his assumptions.
“It’s gonna be the same, Michael Shaw. You’re the utmost disgrace in my life!”
Tonight, he’d put me on the warpath. Even a weakling had its limits, and this time he’d gone too far!
As soon as I spoke, his chest pumped up and down in fury.
“Anna, bear in mind that you started it. Have you forgotten that you seduced me for two hundred thousand?”
I froze instantly; he was right. It was me who had seduced him and climbed onto his bed for Dad’s operation money. I needed it by hook or by crook, but little did I know that my cynical plan would lead to this.
Only now did I realize that my decision then was a terrible mistake. I should’ve looked for other means, sold my organs, anything but seeking help from the devil.
Since we started this “relationship,” I couldn’t even live my life the way it was. Was all this misery worth that two hundred thousand?
“Michael, can you show me some mercy? I’m beat. Do you know how much pressure I have to bear?” I sighed, and my tough shell cracked. “At the end of the day, I’m just a woman, and I need someone to lean on. My Dad is sick. He needs a sum of money every month for his treatment. Carrying the weight of the whole family on my shoulders is killing me already. Let me go, please, I beg you. I’ll find ways to pay you back.”
At that moment, settling the bill was the only idea I could come up with to cut ties with him. If I didn’t owe him anything, I wouldn’t have to continue this shameful affair.
I wasn’t fishing for pity, but just lamenting.
However, all he did was look at me blankly, somewhat confused.
He stopped lashing his wrath at me soon after that. Since I told him that I was going to pay him back, he should be more than willing to let me go… Right?
The man remained silent and let go of my hand. Those dark eyes of his were affixed to mine. The things I’d said all came from my heart, and I was just hoping that he could see the pain and hardship that I was going through.
Weirdly, instead of feeling relieved, I felt a void in me after pouring my heart out.
He gave me another glance, turned around, and left.
I only got back to my senses when the door gave out a loud thump after he walked out of the house.
That was it. He left. I supposed we were done.
If that was the case, I’d be able to face Yuval with an open heart and not feel sorry for my dishonesty. I could finally work on our relationship without guilt.
The thought of it put a smile on my face, yet I felt a tinge of sadness. Was it because of Michael?
No freakin’ way! I couldn’t believe that I thought that I probably had feelings for him.
Something must have gone haywire in my head!
The only feeling I was supposed to have towards this man should be enmity. How was it possible that I was falling for him? I’d never fall for him!
As I lay on my bed, my mixed emotions got me tossing and turning. The way he looked at me right before he left kept appearing in my head, and I barely slept a wink that night.
The next day at the company, I bumped into Michael at the entrance. After what happened last night, I felt awkward, and thus, hurried past him.
He responded similarly, giving me a brief sidelong glance, and walked straight into his office.
For the next few days, we were like strangers. It was still awkward every time we ran into each other, but at least our affair had come to an end, and that was relieving.
One day when I was buzzing at work, my phone rang. The word “Mom” on the screen made me scowl.
Every time she called, it was either about my relationship or Dad needed more money for his medical treatment. Tensing up became a reflex to calls from home.
Nevertheless, I still had to pick it up.
“Hi, Anna. Are you working?”
“Yeah, I’m still at the office. What’s up? You usually don’t call at this hour.”
I dived straight into business.
“Um… nothing much actually. I just wanna know what your boyfriend does. He seems pretty loaded.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I’d never told her anything about Yuval, so how did she find out?
He was living quite comfortably, but I wouldn’t call that loaded.
“Mom, how did you know about it? We aren’t stable yet, and that’s why I haven’t told you.”
I was still contemplating whether to tell her about Yuval. And there she was, asking about him.
“Tell me, Anna. How far did you get with him?”
She totally ignored my explanations and went on with another question.
“Mom! Can you just chill? It’s been only two months. What do you expect?”
I was speechless. I myself wasn’t even sure if things would work out between Yuval and me, so I didn’t know why my mom was that anxious.
“How can I possibly chill? Look at you. You’ve passed your prime, and you’re still single. Any mom would be on tenterhooks!”
