Chapter 3

3

After making all the arrangements, I bought some food and headed back to the hospital.

As I stood at the door, I heard her humming a cheerful tune from inside.

Anger surged through me.

Was she really that happy now that the baby was gone?

I kicked the door open. The smile on Lillian's face froze, replaced instantly by a pitiful pout.

"Silas, can't you be a little more gentle? You scared me."

There was a hint of resentment in her eyes, but not a shred of guilt.

I almost laughed at myself.

If she felt guilty, she wouldn't have been heartless enough to do what she did.

Earlier, while the Chief was away getting the tractor, I had talked to Chloe, who had been on the hill with Lillian.

Lillian had sought out Chloe right after waking up.

She wanted Chloe to go up the mountain with her to gather firewood for the winter.

Chloe had been confused. "Aren't you guys moving back to the city? Why do you need winter wood?"

"Who knows if we'll actually get to leave? It's better to be prepared," Lillian had replied vaguely.

A moment later, she had "accidentally" tumbled down the slope.

Chloe had kept apologizing to me, blaming herself. "She shouldn't have fallen, but I shouted and startled her."

I had my suspicions before, but after Chloe's explanation, everything was clear.

Lillian just wanted a witness to prove that losing the baby was an accident.

Now that I saw through her game, the last bit of love I had for her died.

I took a few deep breaths to shove down the bitterness.

"Eat your dinner. I'll go out and buy you some fruit."

I opened the lunchbox and held it out to her, but she swiped it out of my hand, sending it crashing to the floor.

"Silas, do you even love me anymore? I just had a miscarriage, and you buy me this cheap, nutritionless junk?"

She glared at me, looking like a total stranger.

She looked nothing like the girl who used to cling to my arm and act sweet.

Since we got married, she had been in charge of all our money.

Every month, I only kept a tiny bit for myself and gave her the rest.

Today, after paying her hospital bills, I only had enough left for this one meal.

The cafeteria lady had even given me a discount because I looked so stressed.

Watching the food scattered on the floor made my heart ache.

What a pathetic waste of food.

She didn't see the tears welling in my eyes. She climbed out of bed and pinched my waist hard.

"I want pork rib soup. Go buy it for me now."

"Did you hear me? Now! Right now!"

She kept pushing me, but I didn't look at her. I just stared at the food on the floor.

Infuriated, she moved to stomp on it.

I shoved her aside, my hands trembling as I scooped the rice and vegetables off the floor and ate them.

So many people are starving, and she treats food like this.

Tears finally fell. Not out of humiliation, but out of pure heartbreak.

"Silas, you're disgusting! You're eating off the floor? Are you a pig?"

"I'm telling you, if I don't get my soup, don't even dream about me going back to the city with you."

I ignored her and kept eating.

Lillian was livid. She knelt down, shoveled the rest of the dirty food into the box, and threw it at me.

"Get out and eat it somewhere else! I don't want to look at you!"

I took the lunchbox and walked out. The look of relief on her face as I left was the final blow.

This wasn't the first time she had kicked me out.