My son was spoiled and only liked the ice cream I made by hand.
I didn’t say a word. I went back to my room, grabbed my two suitcases, and left.
No one tried to stop me.
I heard my mother–in–law’s faint voice.
“She’ll be back crying within a day. Don’t forgive her so easily this time.”
My son chimed in, “Dad, get a durian ready for her to kneel on! And make her slap her own face with a washboard!”
The family burst into laughter.
I gave a bitter smile.
I told myself: It’s okay, Eliza. The suffering will be over soon.
5
I had no family left to turn to, so I was homeless.
Coincidentally, my next–door neighbor was renting out her apartment, so I took it for the time being. The landlady, seeing my situat- ion, offered to cut two–thirds of the rent if I tutored her daughter, Nina, for her final exams. Nina wasn’t a genius, but she was hard- working. A few extra explanations were all she needed.
After just one week, the landlady told me Nina’s grades were improving. She insisted on treating me to dinner to thank me.
As we were leaving, we ran into Patrick and Daniel.
He froze, then started complaining. “Where have you been? Are you addicted to this little drama of yours? My mom is seventy–five, and she has to do your chores for you. Aren’t you ashamed?”
The landlady quickly intervened, explaining that I was tutoring her daughter.
Patrick scoffed. “Oh, that explains it. I was wondering how she could afford to rent in this complex. But you’ve wasted your money. This wife of mine is a small–town girl. She has nothing between her ears.”
Daniel shot a cold look at Nina. “An idiot is an idiot. Even the tutor she finds is a moron.”
Nina shot back angrily, “She’s your mother! How can you talk about her like that? And you wouldn’t be where you are today without her help. You really think you’re some kind of genius?”
Daniel struck a superior pose. “Is a D–student like you qualified to question my A–student grades? You’ve heard of the Saen Leader- ship Camp, right? I’m going there soon. And you?”
He then fixed his icy gaze on my face.
Dad, divorce this idiot already. Our family doesn’t need her.”
tion and her father were about to sneak ne far
Nina and her father were about to speak up for me, but I stopped them with a shake of my head. There was no point in arguing with fools.
Besides, they wouldn’t be laughing for long.
Half a month later, final exams were over.
With my tutoring, Nina had jumped from twenty–first in her class to eighth. Her father was overjoyed and treated me to another big
meal. Afterward, the three of us went to see a movie to relax.
We were laughing and talking all the way home.
When we reached our floor, we saw Patrick’s family of four, their faces as dark as thunderclouds, staring at me.
Daniel was holding a suitcase, his face a mixture of dejection and rage.
“Eliza, I’m asking you, why did the camp say my ticket was invalid?”
shrugged. “Oh, that’s because I sold the real one. The one you have is just a souvenir copy.”
The ticket was valuable. I’d sold it for a good ten thousand dollars.
For a moment, they were all speechless.
Patrick finally managed a choked laugh. “Are you kidding me? He’s your only son! And you deliberately humiliate him in front of
everyone?”
Daniel’s eyes were red as he glared at me, his hands clenched into fists. He didn’t say a word, but his gaze was sharp enough to
tear me apart.
I remained calm. “What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like that was the only group. There’s a second one leaving in a week. With
your and your parents‘ exceptional abilities, getting one ticket should be a piece of cake, right?”
The three adults exchanged guilty glances.
But Daniel just spat at me, roaring, “That’s right! We don’t need you! You just watch! I’ll get to America without you! We’ll be better
off!”
His grandmother, however, said, “Danny, don’t be angry. Your mom is just being petty. We’ll take her home and teach her a lesson.
Make her get you another ticket.”
Daniel shook her hand off. “I don’t need it! A country bumpkin like her isn’t fit to be my mother!”
He turned and ordered his father.
“Dad, you have three days. Get me that ticket. Show her who’s the most capable!”
