Mason broke up with me again. This time, I packed my bags and moved out in a flash. Day one: I canceled the wedding planner. Day two: I turned off the automatic payments for his mother’s treatment program. Day three: I accepted my boss’s transfer offer, ready to settle down in a new city down south. The moment the plane took off, a sudden curiosity hit me. Without me, his free, live-in housekeeper of ten years. Without me, his ever-available ATM. How would Mason Blackwood manage to care for his paralyzed mother, handle his materialistic sister, and deal with the female secretary he kept on a pedestal? Last month, I turned thirty-three. I hinted, full of hope, that I wanted a lipstick. Mason looked at me, utterly surprised, and scoffed. “At your age, no lipstick will look good on you.” But then he turned around and bought his secretary twelve different shades. Now, it was time for me to leave. As soon as I canceled the wedding planner, Mason’s message popped up. [Pick up my sister from the station tonight at 8:30 PM.] This was the first time Mason had contacted me since our cold war started. I sneered and deleted the message. That night, I arrived back at the Blackwood house. Shoes and suitcases were strewn across the floor, catching my eye immediately. Chloe Blackwood poked her head out of the bathroom and rolled her eyes at me. “Audrey, where the hell were you? Do you know how long I waited at the station? I had to take a cab back! If anything had happened to me on the way, my brother would kill you!” “I’m hungry! I want takeout! Hurry up!” I calmly looked at Chloe, my gaze falling on her feet. She was wearing a pair of two-thousand-dollar shoes—a gift I’d bought her for college. She dressed better than I usually did. I had spent so much money on her, yet I never received a shred of kindness in return. And yet, I’d endured this exact routine for ten years. I pulled out my phone in front of her and messaged Mason. “I’ve already told your brother you don’t have money for food. If you don’t mind waiting, then wait. He’s got jet lag, after all, being overseas.” Chloe stared, stunned by my words. I said nothing more and walked into the master bedroom. The next morning. I was woken by a chaotic racket outside the door. Chloe had trashed the kitchen and living room. Water had overflowed from the bathroom, making the tiled floor a slippery mess. When I emerged, Chloe not only showed no remorse but defiantly flicked soapy water onto the floor. I watched her actions in silence, neither stopping her nor, as I usually would, obediently grabbing a mop to clean up. Instead, I calmly returned to my room to finish packing my remaining items. It was pretty funny, really. This wasn’t my house anymore. Why should I rush? With my last few things packed, I wheeled my suitcase out. “Where are you going?!” Chloe blocked my path. I brushed her off casually, “Business trip for half a month. I’m taking my things to the office.” Chloe pursed her lips, crossing her arms with an arrogant expression. “Some people go abroad for academic exchanges, brilliant minds, while others are just corporate drones, slaving away on late-night business trips. You know what that means? Some people just have it rough.” “I’m meeting friends for dinner this afternoon. Transfer me some cash, or I’ll tell my brother you’re abusing me!” Her defiant, clawing gesture made her seem absolutely certain I couldn’t do anything to her. It was laughable, really. I had played the dutiful, fawning partner for Mason for ten years. For him, I had even sucked up to his family for a decade. Now that I stopped, they were furious. I suddenly burst out laughing, pointing at her and looking her up and down. “Your mom’s medical bills? I paid them. Your brother’s tuition? I covered it. Your college education? I funded it. Your entire family of three lived off me, and even the clothes you’re wearing right now? I bought them…” “Next time you want to be disrespectful, consider if you can afford to pay me back.” Chloe’s face turned scarlet. Speechless, she spun around, ran back to her room, and slammed the door shut. Back in my new apartment, a notification popped up on my phone. I opened it. It was the payment reminder for Mason’s mother’s treatment. The hospital informed me the payment was due in five days and urged me to ensure sufficient funds were in the account. After Mason and I started dating, I couldn’t bear to see him juggling work and studies while also caring for his paralyzed mother and young sister. So, I offered to help. I thought if I treated people sincerely, I’d get the same in return. Too bad I encountered an ungrateful leech. With that thought, I didn’t hesitate. I canceled the automatic payments and unlinked my card. Let someone else be the sucker. I’m out.
Late that night. Mason’s international call came as expected. The moment I picked up, his angry shout erupted, like a gunshot to my eardrums. “Chloe says you didn’t pick her up! She had to take a cab home alone, and then you didn’t even make her dinner? And you complained about her spending too much on takeout?” “Audrey, I’m not home, and this is how you treat my sister? If you don’t change your attitude, I’ll have to rethink our relationship!” At that, I simply hummed. “Then when you get back, let’s meet up and talk things out.” My unexpected reaction made Mason fall silent for a moment. “What ‘things’? Is it that wedding planner again? Why don’t you use your free time to enrich yourself instead of always thinking about getting married? Aren’t you ashamed? I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. We’ll see how well you convince me.” He softened his tone, but his words were visibly perfunctory. He’d probably forgotten. The first year we were together, he’d sworn he’d give me the grandest wedding the day he became a Ph.D. I waited seven years for him to finally achieve it. So, I had excitedly compared wedding planners. The first year, I presented him with carefully chosen plans, and he, slightly apologetic, said he was too swamped with his studies to think about marriage. The second year, he finally finished his busiest period and even agreed to try on wedding dresses with me. But that day, I waited 24 hours in a wedding dress, only to get a message that he’d overslept. The third year, I canceled the wedding planner. I took a deep breath and slowly began, “Mason, it’s not about the wedding…” Before I could finish, I heard a girl’s gasp from his end. Mason hung up without another word. I stared at my phone, not calling back. Time quickly passed to the day Mason was due back. He messaged me in advance to pick him up, but I ignored it. He called again, saying he only had time on the day he arrived. The next day, he had to go back to the lab and wouldn’t be available for days. To avoid a difficult conversation, I still went to pick him up. Traffic was heavy, and I didn’t arrive until eleven PM. The airport exterior was brightly lit at night. Through the glass, I saw Serena Hayes resting her forehead against Mason’s broad back, swaying her head from side to side, acting playful. I leaned on the horn. The two lovebirds scattered like startled pigeons. Mason saw my face, walked over, and slapped the car window, making loud thuds. “Didn’t I tell you to be here at seven? Look at the time now!” I lowered the window slightly, seeing his face pale from the cold. “Traffic.” Mason was seething, about to say more, but I cut him off. “If you don’t get in the car, your secretary is going to freeze solid.” Mason paused, no longer looking to pick a fight with me. He quickly opened the back door for Serena to get in first. Then he looked at me, silently urging me to get out and help with his luggage. I was on my phone, replying to a colleague’s message, ignoring his gaze. Inside the car, Serena peered at me through the rearview mirror. I calmly met her gaze. My eyes landed on the very familiar scarf around her neck. It was Mason’s scarf. He wore it constantly every winter. Last Christmas, Mason finally agreed to watch a movie with me. After the movie, I was shivering in the cold wind. A guy next to us wrapped his scarf around his girlfriend, telling her not to take it off. I felt a pang of envy and nudged Mason, hinting. He immediately frowned, stating bluntly that I shouldn’t even think about it. “I don’t like sharing my scarf with others.” But now, his scarf was securely wrapped around Serena’s neck. It turned out he didn’t dislike sharing with others; he just disliked sharing with me. Serena noticed my gaze and offered an embarrassed smile, her voice soft. “It was so cold waiting for the car earlier. Mason gave it to me. Audrey, please don’t get the wrong idea.” I smiled back. “It’s just a scarf, no big deal. But Mason really doesn’t know how to treat people. It’s so cold; he should have just called you a cab instead of making you wait for me. What’s the point of saving a few bucks on fare if you end up catching a cold and needing to see a doctor?” “Wouldn’t you agree, Serena?” Serena’s smile faded.
The streets were nearly empty in the dead of night, and I sped up. Following Mason’s instructions, I dropped Serena off first. In a blink, only two of us remained in the car. I glanced at the steering wheel. “Let’s talk.” Mason pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice impatient. “What’s so urgent that we have to talk now?” “I’ve been on a plane for over ten hours. Can’t you let me rest?” Unlike before, I didn’t show any sympathy. I simply refused. “No, some things are better cleared up now.” Mason scoffed. “What could you possibly want to talk about with me? It’s just that wedding stuff, isn’t it…?” Mason’s sarcastic remark was cut short by his phone ringing. He picked up, his expression changing. “Okay, wait for me!” Mason hung up and, without a word, moved to get out of the car. I called out to him. “We haven’t finished talking about us.” Mason looked at me incredulously, as if I were some cold-blooded monster. “Serena fell in the bathroom! This is a matter of life and death! I have to go see her!” I let out a breath. “If she fell, she should call a doctor. Wait for the doctor to arrive. If it’s serious, and she’s broken a bone, do you really think you’ll be more… professional than…” “Enough!” Mason roared impatiently, “You’re just jealous, aren’t you? You’re just afraid I’ll leave you! Fine, I’m saying it now: we’re breaking up! I, Mason, don’t want you anymore! Is that good enough?!” Mason finished speaking, then turned and ran towards the entrance of a nearby apartment complex. I silently watched his retreating back, forming words without a sound. “Yes, it is.” Perhaps it was losing out in love, but gaining in career. Two days later, I received news from my boss, Mr. Davies. I had been recommended to a new company to expand their market, with a significant increase in salary. It was a promotion. I didn’t think twice before accepting. I booked a flight for the next day. That evening, some close colleagues organized a farewell party for me. The venue was a well-known restaurant in the city. I walked in with the crowd. I saw Mason’s figure disappear into a private room nearby. I calmly looked away, treating him like a stranger. But later, passing by the room on my way to the restroom. I heard Mason’s arrogant voice from inside. “Marriage? When did I ever say I wanted to get married?” “I’m academically successful, with a promising future. Would I ever look twice at a woman who has no looks, no culture, and no family background?” Someone, egging him on, spoke up. “But Mason, weren’t you with Audrey for ten years? If you break up, won’t she make a scene?” Mason was silent for a moment, then laughed twice. “That’s easy, just string her along. She’s been with me so long, she’s practically used goods. She’s not getting any younger, so she’ll do whatever I say.” “Like for her birthday this year, she was practically begging me for a lipstick. I chewed her out for it, and she didn’t dare say a single peep. But later, on her birthday, I still got her a lipstick—a $7.99 knockoff of a high-end brand. She treasured it like it was something priceless, hahahaha.” Laughter and shouts of encouragement erupted from the room. The emotions I thought I’d smoothed over felt like freshly torn wounds. The pain spread, relentless. I clenched my fists tightly and turned back. After the dinner. I contacted Sarah, a colleague who had a lawyer in her family. I handed the ten years of expense records to the lawyer. She glanced at them, raised an eyebrow, and promised she’d help me get every penny back. The next morning. I boarded the plane to City B. When I landed and turned on my phone, I received a call from Mason. His accusatory voice was more urgent than ever before. “Audrey, what’s going on? You forgot to pay for my mom’s treatment! How could you forget something so important? You almost killed my mom!” “And you haven’t visited my mom this week, have you? Is that how a daughter-in-law acts? I’m giving you one more chance: renew the payment within three minutes, or we’re done!” Listening to the grating voice on the other end. At this moment, all I wanted to do was laugh out loud. It was his mother lying in that hospital bed. If he truly cared, why would he need anyone else to remind him? If he were a truly filial son, he would have paid the bill himself long ago. Why wait for me? I flagged down a taxi, taking one last look at the call screen. “Then, as you wish. We’re done.”
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