When the Scapegoat Walks Away

Embarrassed at being proven wrong, Rowena exploded in anger at Jenny. "He's your husband, Jenny, not your servant! His mother's gone. How can you ask him to organize someone else's mother's birthday party?"

Jenny sounded confused. "Wasn't Mrs. Hudson seriously ill? Where did she go?"

I didn't want to stir up trouble when I only had a few days left to stick around.

"She went back to her hometown for a while," I said vaguely, changing the subject as I accepted the task to handle the birthday party.

Jenny didn't bother asking more questions. She seemed satisfied that I didn't argue. "Good that you know your place. Once Mrs. Hudson is feeling better, I'll throw her a birthday party and make sure she has her moment too."

She still didn't know that Mom was dead.

In seven days, I would be gone. There would never be a future for us anymore.

…

Just as I was about to head home, Jenny sent me an address and told me to come over.

I thought she wanted to discuss the birthday party. But the moment I pushed open the door to the private room, the only thing waiting for me was a glass of wine thrown straight at my face.

Jenny spat, "So that's why you agreed to organize the party so quickly. Turns out you took money from Mom. It's been seven years, Caleb. I thought you'd learned your lesson by now. Guess a leopard really can't change its spots."

Jackson handed me a tissue, then started putting on a show by slapping himself. "I shouldn't have brought it up. Now you two are fighting because of me. It's my fault! Please don't blame Caleb, Jenny. If anyone should be punished, it should be me!"

Jenny grabbed his hand, looking worried as she rubbed his cheek that wasn't even red. "Don't hit yourself. It hurts me to see that. Besides, you didn't do anything wrong. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know that Caleb had the nerve to ask Mom for money.

"Tell me, what reward do you want, sweetheart?"

Jackson rested his chin on his hand and contemplated long and hard. "You've already bought me a Lamborghini, and you gave me that lakeside villa. With the way you're always showering me with gifts, you've spoiled me so much I barely want anything anymore.

"Right now, I just feel like having those apple pies we always get from that shop on the east side of town. Why don't we have Caleb pick some up for us? It's about 20 miles away, though. You don't have a car, right? I could lend you mine."

Jackson held out a set of car keys toward me, but Jenny snatched them away.

"You think you deserve to drive?" she spat. "Walk there and get them. It's only 20 miles. Don't tell me you can't even do that."

I nodded quietly, saying nothing.

The other young women in the private room stared wide-eyed before bursting into laughter. "You really know how to have fun, Jenny. Don't worry. We'll help you keep an eye on him!"

Jenny clearly hadn't expected me to agree so readily. She could only swallow back the words she was about to fire back and studied me closely.

Something about me these past two days felt different.

In the past, whenever Jenny punished me, I would argue back fiercely and accuse her of being unreasonable. But today, I was unnaturally quiet, like someone who had lost his soul.

She raised her eyebrows and snorted coldly. "Seven years and he still hasn't learned his lesson. You girls must've gone easy on him before this. I'm watching him myself this time."

Jenny's car followed behind me as I limped forward step by step. We passed through the busy streets and turned into an alley.

Suddenly, the car behind me stopped.

Seeing the sweat pouring down my face, Jenny scoffed. "Stay right there and wait. Jackson suddenly wanted some street tacos. We'll keep going after we're done eating."

The two of them walked side by side toward a street vendor, laughing and chatting happily.

I remembered how, back when Jenny and I hadn't fallen out yet, I once suggested grabbing some street food.

But she frowned in disgust. "It'll be humiliating if word gets out that the Shelton family's son-in-law eats street food, Caleb. Don't embarrass the Sheltons."