Chapter âSarah, Iâm sorry. I didnât really want to leave you. I must have been out of mind yesterday,â Derrick started sweet-talking.
âYou think Iâm like the cheap woman you date, Derrick? That itâs so easy to fall for your lies?â
âI want us to get back together,â he continued, looking at me intently.
I stayed silent, pretending to think it over. There was no way I would ever get back with this cheating scum. After years of his betrayal, never again.
âIâll think about it, Derrick,â I answered nonchalantly, glancing at Kendall.
Kendall kept glaring at us, her face clearly annoyed. âServes you right, you homewrecker.â
Lorraine came over with drinks, still scowling. She brought two glasses of lemonade.
*Lorraine! You know I donât like lemonade. Get me some tea. Make sure itâs hot, âI demanded, raising my voice.
Lorraine glared but quickly looked down when I gave her a sharp look.
âFine, fine!â she replied angrily.
I chuckled inwardly. Lorraine who absolutely hated cooking and house chores, had to serve me tea.
*Remember, it has to be hot!â I reminded her as she headed back to the kitchen.
Gillian was still happily chatting with Grandma. She must be lonely in the apartment. Here, she had friends to play with.
I hoped Carrie was executing my plan well. I discreetly sent her a message.
âSarah, do you think I can get a promotion? You know, since weâre going to be together again?â Derrick asked out of nowhere.
What?! I was stunned speechless by his question.
âUh, Iâll think about it later, Derrick,â I replied dismissively.
Derrick smiled to himself, probably imaging his promotion. âDream on, Dentok!
I checked Carrieâs message. It turned out that the money from the house had been atolen by Lorraineâs husband and his mistress. No wonder she had been seowling âMaybe karma does exist. Theyâre finally feeling the pain of betrayal themselves.â
âHereâs your tea,â Lorraine suddenly appeared with a cup of hot tea âJust leave it there. Iâll drink it later since itâs still hot,â I said ourtly.
Lorraine looked irritated by my tone but surprisingly didnât argue as usual. Maybe she was afraid I would fire her from the office.
âWhereâs Jack, Lorraine? Heâs usually here with the kids ,â I tried to provoke her.
âJack is⦠at work,â she stammered.
âArenât you guys running a business? Howâs it going? Is it successful, or has it gone bust? People who donât know business shouldnât pretend they do,â I laughed.
Lorraine seemed offended by my comment.
âEnough! Just because youâre rich and a boss now, you think you can mock and order us around?â Lorraine started getting emotional.
âWell, Lorraine, even before I married Derrick, I was already rich. But you all always looked down on me because of my appearance,â I retorted.
âThatâs your fault for looking poor and shabby!â she shot back.
âI did that on purpose. And it shows that this family only respects people based on their appearance and wealth,â I said firmly.
âWatch your tonguelâ Ruth snapped.
âCome on, Mom. Youâre still defending Lorraine? She mortgaged your house and canât even pay it back. What if the thugs take this house?â I revealed.
I They were all shocked, unable to believe knew every âHow did you know, Sarah?â Derrick asked.
âDid you forget? Iâm rich. I can pay people to do anything I want,â I replied arrogantly.
âSarah, please donât fire Lorraine because of what she said.â Derrick pleaded.
âRelax, Derrick. Iâm professional. Though I can fire my employees anytime, including you and your mistress,â I said loudly.
Kendall had retreated to her room. Maybe she was jealous and angry at me.
Derrickâs face turned red. He glared at me, his fists clenched. He was obviously angry at my words.
âDerrick!â Suddenly Kendall appeared at the side unitâs door.
*Sofia, take Gillian to play next door. Let her play with her friends,â I instructed, sensing trouble.
Sofia nodded and took Gillian out.
âDerrick, Iâm pregnant!â Kendallâs announcement shocked everyone.
âOh my God, Kendall! What will I tell your mother? Oh, God!â Ruth exclaimed, holding her head.
Kendall seemed oddly calm.
Derrick looked panicked and conflicted, while Lorraine appeared indifferent.
Derrick roughly pulled Kendall into the side unit. They seemed to be arguing. their voices occasionally raised.
Ruth sat down, crying. I felt pity for her, burdened by her childrenâs problems.
But she always defended her children, even when they were wrong. Now, they had made such fatal mistakes.
Lorraine, make something for me. I need to eat and take my medicine,â Ruth asked.
âThatâs too much work! Letâs just buy something readyâmade,â Lorraine replied.
Poor Ruth. She probably hadnât been cared for ever since I left. She looked thinner and unwell.
âFine, go buy something. Iâm hungry,â Ruth said weakly.
âIâll do it. Mom, what do you want to eat? Iâll order it online,â I intervened, pulling out my phone.
âIâll have beef stew, Sarah,â Lorraine interjected confidently.
âI wasnât asking you, Lorraine. Take care of yourself. You canât even cook your own mother,â I snapped.
âWhatever you want, Sarah,â Ruth said as tears welled up in her eyes. She might be touched that I was still kind to her.
I started ordering food for myself, Ruth, Gillian, and Sofia. I deliberately ordered something delicious and expensive.