Chapter 9
“Sure, I should give you money—but only if it’s for my brother, not for you, the leech.”
I gave a bitter laugh and turned away.
“Remember this—it’s the last time I’ll ever give you money. From now on, I’ll block your number and every way to reach me. I’ll never help you again.”
***
For the next few days, I actually managed to live peacefully in my little rented room.
My marriage leave ended, so I decided to go back to work.
The company had good benefits, and my leave was fully paid.
At the start of the month, I went by the finance office to collect my salary—just a small amount, but still mine.
I had barely stepped out with the money when my phone rang.
It was Yu Jin.
The first thing he said was,
“You got paid today, right? I’ll come by your place to pick up the money.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, stunned.
“Why would you come get my money?”
“You’re living alone—you don’t need that much cash. Give it to me and I’ll keep it safe for you.”
He spoke in that fake, self-righteous tone as if he were doing me a favor.
I clenched my phone, holding back the urge to hang up on him.
After a pause to steady myself, I said,
“That’s my salary. How I manage it is none of your business.”
“I just don’t want you wasting it—or giving it to some random man.”
“Even if I do waste it, it’s my money.
And watch your mouth. I’m not giving you a cent.
Besides—if I gave you my salary, would you finally take me to the hospital, like you promised?”
My voice was cold and firm.
He fell silent for a moment—obviously realizing he couldn’t risk bringing me home.
After all, what if I “infected” him?
Finally, he snapped,
“Fine! Then go die out there for all I care. Don’t ever come back to me again!”
And he hung up.
***
Yu Jin didn’t even know where I lived now.
He probably didn’t dare come find me anyway—afraid I’d pass my “disease” to him.
So his plan to get my money died there.
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
These people had thrown me out the second they thought I was sick, and now they still had the nerve to ask me for money.
The Yu family never failed to show me just how shameless people could be.
***
That evening, I cleaned up my place, thinking.
If I stayed away from them too long, it might look suspicious.
So I took out my red pen again and dotted a few more “spots” on my arms and even a few on my face.
When I looked in the mirror, I almost laughed—it really did look like some kind of serious infection.
Perfect.
Once they saw me, they’d probably jump three meters back.
I grabbed a taxi and headed to the Yu house.
***
When I got there, I pulled out my key—but the door wouldn’t open.
It was locked from the inside.
That was strange.
They’d never locked it before.
Why now?
I jiggled the key a few times and heard footsteps inside—slow, hesitant—but no one came to open the door.
So I knocked firmly a few times.
“Mom! Open up—it’s me!”
The footsteps came closer.
After a long pause, the iron door finally creaked open—but only slightly.
My mother-in-law stood behind it, her face dark and stiff.
“Why did you come back?” she asked sharply.
“Oh, Mom, don’t say that,” I said with an awkward smile.
“It’s been a few days—I just wanted to come check on everyone.”
As I spoke, I leaned forward, pushing the door gently with my shoulder.
She couldn’t stop me without making a scene, so she reluctantly stepped aside.
But the moment I walked in, I froze.
At the entrance sat a pair of high heels I had never seen before—delicate, expensive-looking ones.
On the shoe cabinet rested a Chanel handbag.
I had never owned anything like that.
And my mother-in-law? She’d never touch such things either.
So whose were they?
Another woman’s things—
inside my home.
