I leaned back, watching their retreating
figures. They reached the door; I didn’t call
them. Tiffany glanced back.
I waved goodbye. She turned green, and they
left.
I collected receipts for everything I’d bought
for them over the years. But the best was yet
to come.
Going to get replacement receipts, I saw two
familiar figures at the hospital: Samantha’s
husband, Lee, and Rory!
I parked discreetly and followed them. I heard
Tiffany’s voice.
“Lee, thank you so much. Without you, I
wouldn’t know what to do with Rory!”
Tiffany’s tone was full of gratitude. Lee was
pleased.
“No problem. You’re staying at my place,
helping you is natural.”
“Thank you, Lee. I envy Samantha for having
a husband like you. Unlike me, I was
completely scammed.”
Tiffany’s eyes reddened; she pouted. She was
pretty, the delicate type, easily evoking
sympathy. Lee was charmed, wiping her tears.
“That man’s terrible! But Tiffany, don’t worry,
if you need anything, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Lee. It’s good to have you.”
Tiffany leaned against Lee’s shoulder, her
body brushing his arm.
I checked my phone. Samantha posted on her
social media yesterday that her son was sick,
and she took him to the doctor alone.
Lee was at the hospital with another woman’s
child.
Interesting. I wondered how Samantha would
react.
I left, got my receipts, and went home.
A few days later, Samantha sashayed past my
desk, sporting a diamond necklace.
A sharp–eyed coworker asked, “Samantha,
your husband bought you diamonds?”
Samantha scoffed. “No, it’s Tiffany’s. Tiffany
is popular and has many friends! A friend
from her hometown gave it to her.”
“Tiffany said, her things are my things, I can
wear whatever I want. We’re such good
friends, we don’t care about these things!”
Samantha looked at me smugly. Her
arrogance made a coworker roll their eyes.
I ignored her. I hoped Tiffany’s “hometown
friend” was real. I was looking forward to the
fallout.
That night, a phone call woke me: Samantha.
She was crying, begging me to come over.
I almost refused, but a thought struck me. I
got out of bed.
Upon arriving, I saw Samantha sobbing on the
floor, her face red with slap marks. Neighbors
gossiped at the door. Tiffany was sitting on
the couch, disheveled, while Lee looked
irritated.
Samantha clung to me like a lifeline.
“Claire, you’re finally here! You have to help
me! Tiffany is sleeping with my husband!”
Tiffany said tearfully, “Samantha, what are
you saying? I just bumped into him, and he
checked if I was hurt.”
The words “Lee” sent Samantha over the
edge; she tried to slap Tiffany, but Lee kicked
her away.
“Enough! Do you know how embarrassing this
is? I helped her because she’s your friend!”
Samantha cried, “You know it was late at
night! Why would she need help at that time?”
“Claire, help me! You don’t like Tiffany either,
right? Speak up for me!”
く
I pulled away from Samantha’s grip, smiled,
and said calmly. “Samantha, you’re
overreacting. He was just being helpful. Don’t
be so petty. Besides, you and Tiffany are
such good friends, you shouldn’t care about
these things!”
Samantha froze. Tiffany’s eyes lit up. “Claire’s
right!”
Lee waved impatiently. “Enough! It’s late, let’s
go to bed!”
He stood to go to the bedroom. Samantha
stopped him, pulling his shirt; a receipt fell
out of his pocket.
Lee’s face changed. Samantha grabbed the
receipt; seeing it, she shrieked.
“Bitch! I’ll tear your face off! That necklace,
your husband bought it for you! You lied to
me!”
I looked at the receipt. I’d guessed right.
“Lee, help me!” Tiffany cried, but it only
Г
enraged Samantha.
Lee wasn’t going to stand for it. He grabbed
Samantha’s hair, slapping her. “Enough! Are
you done yet?! Do you know how
embarrassing this is?!”
Samantha looked at me for help, but I
watched silently.
“Claire, what are you doing here?! Why aren’t
you helping me?!”
Samantha’s voice was full of resentment.
“Oh right, I almost forgot.” I took out the
receipts from my bag and threw them at
Samantha. Tiffany got the same treatment.
“These are the receipts for everything you’ve
taken from me over the years. Pay me back
within three days, or we’ll see each other in
court.”
I smiled and left.
But I didn’t get the money from Tiffany and
Samantha, instead, Tiffany fell to her death
<
from a high building. Samantha pushed her.
After leaving Lee’s house, Samantha wanted
to kick Tiffany out. Tiffany refused, and Lee
said he wanted a divorce.
Samantha blamed Tiffany, saying she
seduced her husband. They struggled on the
balcony, the window was open, and Samantha
pushed Tiffany out.
Tiffany’s parents learned of her death after
being released from jail, they went after
Samantha, demanding one million in
compensation, otherwise, they’d send her to
prison!
Lee’s family distanced themselves from
Samantha.
Samantha found me.
“Claire, please! I know you have money, help
me pay the million! I don’t want to go to jail!”
I looked at her coldly. “I’m heartless and don’t
like to help others.”
Samantha’s face froze. She cried and
apologized. “Claire, it was all Tiffany! I was
tricked, manipulated! I’ve realized my mistake,
please help me!”
I smiled slightly. “Okay…”
Hope flickered in Samantha’s eyes.
“Okay, my ass!”
She thought I’d still be her patsy? She killed
someone, even with a pardon, she’d still go to
jail.
Samantha would spend the rest of her life in
prison.
After Samantha’s imprisonment, Tiffany’s
parents, having received no money, went to
Lee’s house to cause trouble. They blamed
Lee for Rory, saying Samantha had made
Rory her goddaughter, so Lee was the
godfather and should take care of her.
Would they stop there? No way.
The next morning, I found Rory at my
<
The next morning, I found Rory at my
doorstep. I’m not prejudiced, but I have to
admit that faces reflect character.
Abandoning a child is illegal. My house had
cameras. The video clearly showed Tiffany’s father sneaking Rory onto my doorstep in the
middle of the night.
I called the police. He was arrested and
sentenced. Rory went back to her mother,
then her death was reported; she apparently
fell off the bed in her sleep.
A two–month–old baby can roll over?
Interesting.
But it’s none of my business anymore. My
future is ahead of me.
