Chapter 5

I didn't answer directly, but frowned and asked:

"How did you know I was here?"

Leon's voice was hoarse.

"I checked your bank card transaction records."

Only then did I remember that shortly after we got married, Leon took sole control of the household finances, strictly controlling mine and Lucy's expenses. The bank cards were all under his name too.

It seemed I couldn't keep that bank card either.

But what confused me was why he wasn't at home taking care of Vivian. What was he doing looking for me?

Leon uncharacteristically grabbed my hand gently.

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

"So this morning, as soon as Vivian recovered a bit, I immediately sent her home. Don't worry, I made her sleep on the sofa."

I looked at him in surprise.

He never used to explain these things to me. Whenever I fought with him about them, he would say I was petty and that dirty-minded people see everything as dirty.

But now that I wasn't asking, he was going on and on in my ear.

I felt annoyed and pushed him away expressionlessly. "Are you done? If so, I need to go to a job interview."

During this time, I had sent out many resumes, and several major companies had already extended offers to me.

But just as I was about to leave, Leon grabbed me, his voice trembling:

"Circe, do you have to be so ruthless?"

"Vivian and I grew up together. She's my first love. I just want her to have a good life. Is that wrong?"

"Besides, haven't I been good to you and Lucy?"

"All these years, everything you and Lucy eat, wear, and use—who paid for it all?"

"How can you do this to me after everything I've done for you?"

Seeing his self-righteous expression, I felt utterly ironic.

Because he only gave Lucy and me two hundred dollars a month, which wasn't even enough for food, let alone school, transportation...

To make sure Lucy had enough to eat, I worked three part-time jobs after my regular work. That's also why, in the end, I couldn't even scrape together the hundred thousand dollars for surgery, and could only watch helplessly as Lucy died miserably on that operating table.

Leon said softly at this moment:

"Circe, stop this nonsense. Bring Lucy home with me and let's live as a proper family of three, okay?"

He looked at me pitifully, but I only felt it was laughable.

Why should I be like a dog, doing whatever he wanted me to do?

Seeing me standing there with a stern face, not speaking, he reluctantly relented:

"Then... from now on I'll raise your and Lucy's living expenses to five hundred dollars a month!"

"Lucy said she wanted to go to the beach, right? We'll leave today. That should be good enough, right?"

"Look, I even bought her the swimsuit she's been wanting."

He finished speaking and looked at me expectantly.

Because he felt the conditions he offered were attractive enough that I had no reason to refuse.

I laughed coldly. "You want to take Lucy to the beach, do you?"

"Then come with me."

Leon had no idea what was about to happen. He thought I had forgiven him. Even after following me into the car, he was still grinning foolishly:

"We're an old married couple and you're still preparing surprises for me?"

"Alright, I'll give you face and reluctantly go see what it is."

But when I drove the car to Lucy's gravesite, Leon looked confused.

"Circe, weren't we going to your mother's house to see Lucy?"

"Why did you bring me to this kind of place?"

But the next second, when Leon saw our Lucy's photo on the tombstone in front of him, the swimsuit he had bought for Lucy immediately fell to the ground.