“One million?” Jason looked at me with disdain. “You wouldn’t be worth even a million if sold.”
Fearing Jason’s sympathy, Melissa quickly added, “Jace, Iris has so many friends, and you’re hardly ever home. Iris needs money to spend time with them. Just give it to her.”
Melissa’s words seemed to provoke Jason, whose expression turned icy once more. “You want money? Fine. But after what you just did to Melissa, you have to apologize to her on your knees first. I’ll give you the million immediately.”
I stared at Jason in disbelief, my mind flashing back to the year Jason’s family went bankrupt. That year, Jason’s father had been swindled by an investor, who fled abroad, and Jason’s father had ended up in the hospital due to the stress.
Jason had begged relatives for money, only to receive meager responses. During that time, Jason could only eat steamed buns for every meal. Each time I visited his father, I saw how exhausted he was.
Unable to watch him suffer, I sold my family’s gallery to pay off his debts. His father had surgery and now resided in a convalescent home abroad.
I felt that my help to his family was more than enough, yet now he was asking me to apologize to Melissa.
I didn’t respond to him but looked at him and laughed.
“Melissa is merely a homewrecker. Why should I apologize to her?”
Melissa, perhaps feeling guilty, clung to Jason and sobbed softly. Her show of weakness seemed to ignite Jason’s protective instincts, and he gently patted her in consolation.
Turning back to me, Jason said, “If you want money, you must apologize to Melissa on your knees. I guarantee the money will be in your account within an hour.”
Seeing Jason’s cold demeanor, I couldn’t help but laugh.
I laughed at myself for being the biggest fool in the world. I had given everything to support a man, and now, when I needed money due to illness, he was making things difficult for me just for another woman.
Wiping the tears from my face, I turned away. “No need, Jason. Even if I die, Iris Hancock will never apologize to Melissa. We need never meet again.”