Chapter 2The $40,000 Lie

Early the next morning, before the sky was fully bright, Jason got up.

His movements were brisk, even humming an off-key tune, a sign of his excellent mood.

He thought I was still asleep, tiptoeing to change clothes.

"I'm going out, to see Mom at the hospital and handle the follow-up fees." Before leaving, he planted a light kiss on my forehead.

The touch felt like a slimy worm, making me almost vomit.

I kept my eyes closed, motionless, until I heard the door gently close.

I opened my eyes; the texture of the ceiling was incredibly clear in the morning light.

I picked up my phone and checked the time.

7:15 AM.

The show should start soon.

I got up slowly, washed up, and even fried myself an egg.

Food was hard to swallow, but I forced myself to eat it all.

I needed strength to enjoy today's big show.

At 7:45, the phone rang sharply.

Caller ID: "Hubby."

I let it ring for half a minute before picking up slowly.

"Hello?" My voice carried the huskiness and laziness of just waking up.

"Chloe!" Jason's roar suppressing anger came from the other end, "What happened to the bank card? Why is it frozen?"

I sneered inside, but my face instantly switched to a panic expression.

"What? Frozen?" My pitch rose instantly, "How could this be? Is there a mistake?"

"How should I know!" He was almost yelling, "I tried three times at the ATM, all transaction failed! The counter said the card is frozen!"

"How could it be... I don't know either." I cried, voice full of innocence and grievance, "That's Mom's life-saving money!"

I deliberately emphasized the words "life-saving money."

"Where are you? I'll come find you right now! Let's go to the bank together to ask!" I proposed actively, tone extremely urgent.

Silence for a few seconds on the other end. Jason's anger seemed choked by my initiative.

"...I'm at the branch on Main Street, come quickly!" He finally gave the address impatiently.

"Okay, I'll be right there!"

Hanging up, I calmly changed clothes, put on light makeup to look both haggard and decent.

When I rushed to the bank, Jason was standing next to the lobby manager with a dark face, looking anxious.

Seeing me, he immediately strode over, eyes cutting me like knives.

"What exactly is going on?" He lowered his voice, squeezing words through his teeth.

I didn't answer him but walked straight to the counter.

"Hello, I want to ask why this card is frozen?" I took the card from Jason's hand and handed it to the teller.

The teller took the card, checked on the computer, and answered in a standard business tone: "Ma'am, this card was reported lost by you via phone customer service last night, currently in a frozen state."

Hearing this, Jason's face turned iron green instantly.

He stared at me deadly, wishing to swallow me alive.

Meeting his gaze, my eyes reddened, big tears rolling down without warning.

"Reported lost?" I repeated in disbelief, voice trembling, "I... when did I report it lost?"

I turned to Jason sharply, grabbing his arm, crying: "I was home all night after giving you the card! How could I report it lost? Was the card stolen by someone? Oh god, the money inside! That's Mom's life-saving money!"

My crying was loud and clear, full of despair and panic.

Everyone's eyes in the lobby were attracted.

People pointed at us, whispering.

"What's wrong? Couple fighting?"

"Sounds like the card was stolen, life-saving money inside?"

"That guy's face looks so bad, why stare at his wife so fiercely?"

Pressure of public opinion was like an invisible net, trapping Jason firmly.

His face turned red then white, wanted to explode but suppressed by the crowd's gaze.

Looking at my tear-streaked face, he could only grit his teeth and extend his arm to pull me into his embrace.

"Alright, alright, stop crying, maybe just a misunderstanding." His voice was stiff, "Let's ask clearly again, money won't be lost."

He comforted me while signaling to the people around with his eyes, trying to calm the storm.

I lay in his arms, the corner of my mouth curling into an unnoticed, cold arc.

Jason, this is just the beginning.