Chapter 28
Miss Camila, Miss Erica, hi, Brody greeted politely.
Lily was Camila’s college friend who unexpectedly became pregnant in her sophomore year and got married, leaving her studies unfinished: Once bright and clever, she now spent her days as a housewife, busy with three meals a day, taking care of her husband and child, becoming dull and listless.
“Brody is such a good boy!” Camila said, patting his head.
“I’m starving. Let’s order some food,” said Camila, exhausted from a busy day. “I’m so hungry I could eat a whole cow.”
“Wait a minute. I’ve got a coupon,” Lily said, pulling out her phone with a smile. This meal deal for four is a real bargain, just over a hundred.”
Erica glanced at the menu, which seemed scant. “Alright, if it’s not enough, we’ll order more
“Hi-I have a coupon,” Lily called to the waiter.
The waiter quickly verified the coupon,
“Didn’t your husband get a promotion?” Erica asked. “Why are you still pinching pennies?”
“He said the salary hasn’t increased,” Lily replied, stroking her son’s hair
“That doesn’t make sense. A branch manager at Capital Solutions should be earning a decent wage. Is he still only giving you five hundred for household expenses?” Camila asked, surprised.
Lily nodded bashfully.
Erica frowned. “At his level, his salary should be at least ten thousand, right?”
Lily, who had never worked, was clueless about these matters and simply went along with what her husband told her. “He showed me his paycheck, just over two thousand. He says he’s under a lot of pressure with the mortgage and car payments, barely has money left for himself,” she sighed.
“Daddy hit Mommy,” Brody blurted out. His little face crumpled almost to tears.
“He hit you?” both women exclaimed in shock.
“That b a s t a r d, how could he hit you! We need to confront him. That’s outrageous! Erica burst out angrily.
“He was just drunk, and he apologized,” Lily said, pulling her cardigan sleeve down.
“How can you forgive him so easily! Your family is far away, but here, we are your support,” Camila said, grasping her hand.
“Divorce him! Why tolerate such an a s sh o l e who doesn’t even provide for you?” Erica slammed the table.
Lily stroked her son’s hair, smiling helplessly. Divorce had crossed her mind. “I haven’t even graduated from college. I have no money. How would I win custody…”
The harsh reality silenced everyone at the table.
“Come work at my fashion company. I’ll arrange something for you,” Erica offered.
Brody looked up. “Mom, you can go to work and eam money”
Really? Lily’s eyes sparkled with hope. “But if I work, you’d have to go to after-school care…”
“A few kids in my class wait there for their moms too. I can do it” Brody said sensibly.
That settles it. I’ll talk to my dad about it tonight,” Erica declared.
Lily nodded, tears streaming down her face.
After dinner, Lily took her son home.
“I think your luck has been turning around lately” Erica remarked
“Really?” Camila responded skeptically.
“Look, your salary doubled, and you got a free luxury apartment. Maybe Conpor broke your streak of bad luck?” Erica teased.
Camila’s cheeks reddened, but upon reflection, her luck seemed to have improved since meeting Connor.
“Maybe try a scratch card?” Erica suggested, spotting a lottery shop across the street.