They gave me a sideways glance, their frowns carrying a hint of blame.
I gave the police the phone number and photo from the call and explained everything about my dad's gambling.
After ruling it a homicide, the police said they needed to continue the investigation and told me to go home and wait for updates.
"This daughter's heartless, got the message and neither raised the money nor called the police …" The whispers behind me were harsh, but I didn't seem to care anymore.
Since the case wasn't closed, the body couldn't be cremated.
I signed a few forms and by the time I left the station, it was already night. I took a cab to see my younger brother.
My brother had been beaten into paralysis because of dad's gambling debt. He was still conscious and his hands could move slightly, but the rest of his body was immobile.
The doctors said his organs were slowly failing and there wasn't much meaning left in keeping him alive.
He was lying in bed with his eyes half-closed, already asleep.
I tucked him in and quietly talked to him. About dad, about me, about him. There seemed to be no end to the things I needed to say and all the grievances I had. I didn't leave the room until the sky brightened.
I was so tired. A whole day and night passed and Bobby hadn't called me once.
When I got home, he was laughing and chatting with that group of students, discussing their business trip. They were all smiled, the atmosphere light.
I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and slapped them onto the table again.
The laughter stopped instantly. Bobby's eyes burned with rage, like he wanted to incinerate me on the spot, "You've been gone a whole day and night and you come home to give me this?"
"What … did you get that three million by selling yourself?" The things that came out of Bobby's mouth were vile.
Every word was a hooked knife, draining me of the strength to argue.
"I saw Mrs. Brooke get into a man's car yesterday morning. Look like that man is Professor Jackson who just came back from abroad." Anita rested her chin in her hand and smiled at me, her eyes flicking between me and Bobby.
The next second, Bobby stood up and slapped me across the face, "This is why you want a divorce? Just because Andrew came back, you couldn't hold yourself back anymore, huh? That night at the party, you saw him and couldn't wait to give me the divorce papers, right?"
I hadn't slept in a day and night and with that slap, my head was spinning. My heart was already dead and now completely numb.
"I even saw Mrs. Brooke kiss Professor Jackson." Anita's voice was soft and sweet, but her words were like arrows.
I clenched my teeth and held it in for a long time, but I didn't know which string finally snapped. I grabbed the chair beside me and smashed it toward Anita's head.
In that moment, the world went silent.
She cried out for help, "Mr. Brooke … help me …"
Through bloodshot eyes, I watched Bobby carried Anita out of the house. Everyone huddled together, looking at me like I was a monster, "Kirsten, you've really gone mad!"
I sat numbly in the living room until Bobby appeared again, "You hurt someone, what, you think you can just sit at home and do nothing? Anita says either you go serve her in the hospital, or she's pressing charges."
I stared at the blood on the floor in a daze and swallowed hard, "Let her sue me. I don't care if they give me the death penalty."
That careless response only made Bobby more irritated. He dragged me into the car and brought me straight to Anita.
For the next few days, I had to stay in the hospital to take care of her.
That young woman commanded me again and again, "This apple tastes bad, go buy a better one!"
"I want braised turkey and it has to be from San Diego, simmered on low heat for two hours!"
