Chapter 586
Without batting an eye, Werner said, “That 100 thousand to a friend.”
Cathy demanded, “Which friend? What’s his name?”
Werner said impatiently, “Stop asking already. It’s not like they won’t pay back that 100 thousand.”
Cathy exploded, “That’s 100 thousand! That was the money we agreed on for Cheryl’s car. How dare you give it to your friend without even consulting me? Now I’m asking who you gave it to, and you still refuse to tell me. You claim you’re not hiding anything, but I can see you’re keeping plenty from me!”
Werner waved her off impatiently. “Enough already!”
After two exhausting days trying to placate Cathy, Werner was completely drained. Yet, to his dismay, she was still at it the moment he got home.
Werner snapped, “Will you ever stop? Just give it a rest. You always make a mountain out of a molehill, airing our dirty laundry in public, and turning our family into a laughingstock. And you’re always saying you can’t stand Irene, but at least she knows how to keep things private, way more than you ever do.”
Cathy suddenly laughed bitterly. “You know what? I truly envy Irene right now. How carefree she must be as a widow, no need to worry about her husband sneaking around cheating on her, or catching some nasty disease from him.”
Werner’s face froze for a split second. “I’ve talked to a lot of doctors,” he said. “They all assured me there’s nothing to worry about. Just keep up with your regular check–ups, and your tests will come back negative.”
“I’m more informed about this than you are,” Cathy shot back. “Dr. Yaffe from the Maternal and Child Health Hospital told me long ago to avoid sexual contact for faster recovery. Starting today, we’re sleeping in separate rooms. Honestly, just looking at your face makes me sick.”
“You…” Werner watched helplessly as Cathy grabbed her pillow and marched off to Cheryl’s room next door to sleep.
Werner let out a heavy sigh. He took out his phone and stared at it blankly, knowing that Cathy was just throwing a tantrum for a few days and would soon make up with him. Meanwhile, he grew even more concerned about Sanford and Liora’s situation. Still uneasy about Sanford, he picked up the phone and called him.
Sanford slurred drunkenly into the phone, “Hello? Who’s this?”
Werner asked, “Hey, kid, where are you? Have you been drinking again?”
Sanford slurred drunkenly, “Who the hell are you? You’re not my damn dad. What’s it to you if I drink?”
Werner snapped, “Stop drinking, do you hear me?” But before he could finish, the line went dead.
Before hanging up, Werner heard rock music blaring nearby. He quickly checked his phone and, sure enough, there was a bar called “Rock” in the vicinity. Without wasting any time, he went to knock on Cathy’s bedroom door.
Werner said hastily, “I’m stepping out. I’ll be right back.”
Cathy didn’t respond at all. Werner rushed out. From the balcony, Cathy watched as his car sped off, his urgency and anxiety plain to see.
Werner arrived at the bar and, sure enough, found Sanford completely wasted.
Sanford was completely wasted, his vision swimming. Werner’s voice sounded utterly unfamiliar to him. He slammed his palm on the table and slurred,
“Who… Who the hell are you? Do I know you?”
Werner was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of heart–wrenching emotions. In the quiet of the deserted bar, he finally poured out his deepest truth “Son… I’m your father,” Werner confessed, his voice trembling.
Those words jolted Sanford awake. He shook his groggy head, straining to bring the face before him into focus.
But to his dismay, the face before him was nothing like the one from the photograph etched in his memory.
Sanford shoved Werner away, slurring impatiently, “My dad’s been dead for ages. Hell, he didn’t even know I was born.”