Chapter 2

02

The last of the assets changed hands.

Patrick seemed to feel he'd completed the final redemption of his life, and the whole man practically glowed with his own nobility.

Then he turned around and invited Ferris over to the house again.

The grand purpose: to start planning his own funeral.

The two of them sat on the living room couch, the fruit I'd sliced still laid out on the coffee table.

Patrick informed me, righteous and solemn.

"Honey, the company found out about my illness. They've approved an eight-hundred-thousand death benefit for me."

"This money bought with my life, I plan to leave all of it to Stella."

He was moved by himself, tears even welling at the corners of his eyes.

"A woman needs security most when she's giving birth. She's still young, and it won't be easy raising the child later. She can't have any less than that."

Beside him, Ferris sighed with fake sympathy.

"Patrick, don't talk about dying, it's bad luck. Maybe there'll be a miracle."

Patrick raised a hand to cut Ferris off, his tone unbearably tragic.

"Brother, this is what a man's supposed to do."

"I called you here today because I want you, my best friend, to be a witness."

"If Lucretia ever runs into trouble down the road, you have to look out for her for me."

I sat off to the side, watching these two clowns run their little double act.

Then Patrick turned suddenly and reached out to touch my belly.

I twisted away.

He sighed, his face full of regret.

"Honey, the biggest regret of my life is that we never had a child."

"Your health was never good, you suffered so much, and I made my peace with it."

I forced down the disgust rising in me and pressed out a proper smile.

"All right, stop dwelling on it. Take it easy."

"Go move in and stay with Stella for her confinement. She needs you most right now."

Hearing me say that, Patrick was so moved he shed another two tears.

When Ferris left, he dragged it out to the very last on purpose.

At the door, he turned back and looked at me.

That look was slick and filthy, sweeping me up and down.

I didn't give an inch, staring coldly right back.

Stung by my eyes, Ferris rubbed his nose awkwardly and slunk off.