Chapter 16
“Why did you do that. Eva?” I askeil, regretting Eva’s stupidity and carelessness “You should know that that jacket is very expensive and limited edition. Lizzy really takes care of it
Eva looked away and snorted at me, while wiping away the tears that still hadn’t stopped flowing. As for my mother, she sat in shock on the dining chair. I saw that her hands were still shaking and her lips were pale
An hour ago…
Eva dropped all her luggage after Lizzy shouted at her. Not only that, she roughly grabbed Eva’s shoulders and forced her to take off the jacket Eva was wearing at that time.
Her rude and tough attitude really shocked me, as did Eva and my mother.
“T–I just i–want to borrow it for a moment,” said Eva haltingly. This jacket is very nice and the laundry guy just delivered it this morning. I didn’t took it from your closet.”
Eva clicked her tongue and held onto her jacket tightly. Her eyes bulged and she pushed Eva’s chest with her index finger until my sister took a step back.
“Wherever you get an item, if you take it and use it without asking the owner’s permission, that means you are a thief?” Lizzy’s voice was loud and painful to the ears.
“This jacket is very expensive and there are only four of them in the world. If there is even a scratch, even a line. I will ask you to replace it and I’m sure you won’t be able to!”
Eva started crying. So far, she has always gotten what she likes and wants without anyone stopping her. My mother and I spoil Eva because compared to me, she has had my father’s love for the shortest time
My mother came forward and put her arm around Eva’s shoulders gently. “Lizzy, please don’t scream. Eva is very sensitive and besides the jacket is fine, it’s not damaged at all. I’ll pay for the washing later.”
Lizzy looked at my mother with sharp eyes. “This isn’t a matter of laundry costs. This is a matter of Eva’s unethical attitude. Would you like it if I came into your room and used your clothes or belongings without saying anything to you first? Even though in fact none of your belongings are suitable for me to use!”
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“Lizzy, don’t go too far,” I said a little loudly.
I’ve been silent since the beginning of this argument, but seeing the way Lizzy talks and treats my mother and sister. I feel like she’s going a little overboard.
Lizzy turned to me and her gaze was like a razor. “You think I’m being outrageous when everything I say is the truth? Why don’t you scold your sister because she stole my things? Or if not, buy her something expensive so she won’t want other people’s things!”
After saying that, Lizzy grabbed her suitcase roughly and left. She nudged Eva’s shoulder so hard that my sister staggered. Eva burst into tears after the door closed with a loud slam that made the window
v panes shake violently.
“Why is she so stingy,” my mother complained, after hearing the question 1 asked Eva. “It’s just a jacket!”
“Mom, didn’t you hear what Lizzy said? That jacket is very expensive and limited edition. Even if I could afford to buy a new one that was similar to that, there aren’t any boutiques or malls to buy that jacket,” I snapped, feeling a bit annoyed. because my mother actually took this matter lightly.
My mother chuckled loudly. She wiped Eva’s tears and rubbed her back gently. “Okay, don’t cry. I’ll buy another, better jacket for you later.
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20:25 Tue, Dec 10
Chapter 16
“Mom!” I snapped.
“What?” My mother snapped back.
“It’s not about the jacket, please! Don’t you understand that what Eva did was a mistake? She used Lizzy’s things without permission and she–”
“What? You also want to call her a thief?” my mother interrupted curtly. She grabbed Eva’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “You’re too much, Peter! Lizzy is not your wife yet and you’ve made your sister look like a criminal because of her thing and
commotion.”
I raised both hands in the air in resignation. It’s useless to argue with any woman. Mother, sister, especially lover. I was in the middle of their stubbornness.
My mother took Eva up to the second floor, to their room and not long after, the window panes shook again because of the slam of the bedroom door.
I think if things like this keep happening in this house, there’s no need to wait a year or two, this house will need immediate renovation, replacing broken windows or porous frames.
I sat limply on the counter chair, staring at the empty dining table. My stomach growled and I felt so miserable.
This is a situation I have never experienced before. When Leora was still my wife, insults and harsh words were never heard from her lips.
Leora is said to be quiet and sparing of words. She would only lower her head or cry silently when my mother and sister scolded her or when I scolded her because she made my mother and sister upset.
Suddenly, as if lightning struck beside my ear, I realized something. All this time, I never realized that the anger and abuse in this house was always one way, namely from me to Leora, or from my mother or Eva to Leora
As for Leora, she never uttered a sound, even to defend herself, because everything she said was always ignored by us.
I ruffled my hair, regretting why I only now realized that. So far, I have always accepted everything Mother and Eva said about Leora, without further checking the truth.
Mother and Eva often complained about Leora that she did negative and unpleasant things to them, but now that I think about it, all this time it was Leora who did all the work at home, from cooking, washing, to taking care of the plants in the garden and even washing the car. My mother and Eva always complained about Leora’s attitude toward them, but, is it a trith or am I just too blind to realize the actual facts?
Leora never leaves the house, even if it’s just to shop at the supermarket or ask permission to drink coffee at a cafe with her friends.
Leora never asked me to buy this or that related to her personal needs and I’m sure she didn’t buy it herself either because our wardrobe looks empty of her clothes, so it’s the opposite of the condition of the wardrobe in my room at the moment.
In the past, the cupboard was full of my clothes, whereas now, Lizzy is telling me to buy a new cupboard because the cupboard is very full, even though Lizzy hasn’t completely moved into this house.
I looked around the dining room which was attached to the kitchen, with a strange feeling of emptiness.
As far as I remember, this room always smelled of vanilla, cinnamon, honey, and a little citrus freshness. Once upon a time, the appetizing aroma of spices and cooking spices greeted me when I entered.
This room always looks clean and shiny, even the pans hanging near the stove look clean and shiny.
This time. I put my index finger on the water dispenser next to the counter and saw that my fingertip was gray-
Tue, Dec
20:23
Chapter 16
I took the phone from my trouser pocket and looked for Leora’s name in the contact list. I couldn’t find it, even after going back and forth three times through the contact list.
Someone had deleted Leora’s name from the contact list on my phone.
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