chapter 4

I did not answer directly, but frowned and asked:

"How did you know I was here?"

William's voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of self-righteousness.

"I checked your bank card transaction records."

I suddenly remembered that shortly after our marriage, William had taken control of our finances under the guise of "wealth management," strictly monitoring every penny my son and I spent. Even the supplementary card I held, with its meager balance of a few hundred dollars, was in his name.

It seemed I wouldn't be needing that card anymore.

But I was puzzled. Shouldn't he be at home keeping the delicate Sophia company? Why was he here?

William, acting out of character, softened his tone and tried to take my hand.

"I know you're still angry about last night."

"So, this morning, after Sophia felt a bit better, I sent her back. You can rest assured, I slept in the study last night."

I looked at him in disbelief.

He never used to explain these things. Whenever I argued with him, he would only curse me for being paranoid and petty.

Yet now, when I asked nothing, he prattled on, trying to prove his innocence.

I felt a wave of disgust and expressionlessly avoided his hand.

"Are you finished? I have an interview to go to."

I had sent out quite a few resumes recently, and thanks to the design drafts I had buried away in the past, I had already received offer notices from several top design firms.

Just as I was about to leave, William grabbed me with a hint of panic, his voice trembling:

"Elena, do you have to be so heartless?"

"Sophia and I grew up together; I just treat her as a sister. Is that wrong?"

"Besides, have I been bad to you and the boy?"

"All these years, haven't I paid for everything you and the son eat and wear? Without me, could you live in a big house?"

"Do you think this is fair to me?"

His self-righteous words sounded infinitely ironic.

He gave us two hundred dollars a month, barely enough to keep us from starving, let alone cover Leo's special diet and medication...

To keep my son from running out of medicine, I washed dishes at a restaurant behind his back. Yet even so, I couldn't scrape together the five thousand dollars for the specialized treatment, and I watched helplessly as my son died in the emergency room.

William took a deep breath, as if making a tremendous concession:

"Elena, stop making a scene. Go pick up Leo and let's go home. Let's live happily as a family, alright?"

His look of *"I've already forgiven you"* only made me want to laugh.

Why should I continue to be like an obedient dog, letting him bark orders at me?

Seeing my face remain cold and hard, he compromised reluctantly:

"Fine... I'll raise the allowance for you and the boy to five hundred a month!"

"Doesn't the boy want to go camping? We'll go today, okay?"

"Look, I even bought the fishing rod he's always wanted."

As he spoke, he looked at me with anticipation, waving a cheap children's fishing rod in his hand.

He thought this offer was irresistible, that I couldn't possibly refuse.

I laughed coldly: "You want to take our son camping?"

"Then come with me."

William had no idea what was about to happen. He thought I had forgiven him. As he followed me into the car, he even joked playfully:

"We've been together so long, yet you've learned to surprise me?"

"Alright, I'll indulge you this once. Let's see which campsite you've chosen."

However, when I drove the car into the city's public cemetery, William looked confused.

"Elena, aren't we going to pick up our son?"

"Why did you bring me here? It's gloomy."

When William saw the black-and-white photo of Leo on the tombstone, the fishing rod he had specifically bought slipped quietly from his grasp, hitting the ground with a crisp, shattering sound.