Karma Starts Somewhere

"Joseph has always been generous with me. Whatever I wanted, he'd give it to me. Sometimes, he'd transfer the money before I even asked," Yarra said.

She paused, then smirked. "You've been married so long, and he won't even give you 500 thousand dollars? Annabelle, you're truly more of a failure than a dog."

Yarra's wide eyes sparkled with amusement. She let out a light chuckle. "But don't worry, it's just a little money. I'll help you ask for it."

The phone connected almost immediately. It was unlike when I called and only heard a cold beep. As soon as Joseph heard it was me, his voice turned cold. "What is it?"

I lowered my voice, trying to preserve the last bit of dignity. "Joseph, I'm sick. Could you send me 500 thousand dollars?"

He sneered. "Annabelle, have you really lost all shame? Now you're pretending to be sick as an excuse? Are you planning to take my money and run off with another man? Back then, you were so proud, wanting to break up because I was poor. Did you ever think you'd be begging me for money one day?"

If I had known he would act back then, I would have just told him the truth—that my mother was dying and that, in a few years, I would be dying too.

I should have let him spend the rest of his life living in constant fear of loss.

"Fine! If you're not giving me the money, then forget it! I don't need your filthy cash!"

If Joseph ever found out that this money could have kept me alive a little longer, I wonder if he would regret it.

"I'd actually love to see you beg," he sneered. "I'll deal with you when I get back."

With that, Yarra took the phone and said coquettishly, "When will you be home? Oh, I just saw a necklace I love! It looks just like the one I missed out on last time, but it's so expensive. It's a million dollars."

Before she even finished speaking, the sound of a transaction notification chimed.

"Sweetie, just a million dollars? As long as it makes you happy, it's worth every cent," Joseph said affectionately.

Yarra sweetly blew a kiss into the phone, then turned to me with exaggerated sympathy.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry. I really didn't expect Joseph to love me this much, but you do look terribly sick. If you're willing to entertain me like a dog, maybe I'd consider lending you the money. After all, a human's life is slightly more valuable than a dog's."

She paused before continuing, "But once you take it, you should leave. You were just here first—he never really loved you. What's the point of holding on?"

Joseph had brought back many women, and almost every single one of them had said the same thing to me.

I never cared, but this time, the pain hit me like a knife twisting in my chest.

I laughed. "You want me to leave? Did you ask Joseph first? I am the woman he went through hell to marry. Do you think you get to decide whether I stay or go? If he really loved you that much, shouldn't he have divorced me and married you already?"

Yarra's face suddenly changed, and she snorted before throwing a glass from the bedside onto the floor, pressing her hand down on it intentionally.

Bright red blood trickled down her fingers, seeping into the glass cracks. She lifted her gaze to meet mine provocatively.

"Let's see whose side Joseph is really on."

I turned around. Joseph was standing at the door, looking anxious.