Chapter 140
“You… you utterly humiliated me!” Rebecca cried, tears finally breaking free and streaming down her face.
Mrs. Winters felt no guilt, only a surge of anger. “That’s because you’re a disappointment! Look at Penelope, buying whatever she wants like money is nothing. And then there’s you, completely useless, dragging me down with you p>
“Mom!” Rebecca shrieked, her composure shattering.
“Don’t you yell at me!” Mrs. Winters snapped, snatching the remaining shopping bags from Rebecca’s hands. “I like all of this. You’re not returning another thing!” “Zebulon told me to settle the account. Do you think I have that kind of money p>
“You let him sleep with you for years. Didn’t you manage to squeeze anything out of him p>
“I married him, I didn’t sell myself to him p>
“You would’ve been better off if you had p>
“How can I have a mother like you p>
“You’re disappointed in me? I’m disappointed in you! If my daughter was Penelope, do you think I’d be getting the cold shoulder everywhere I go p>
“Mom p>
“Enough. We’re mother and daughter, that’s a fact. No point in blaming each other p>
Rebecca took several deep breaths, forcing her anger down. “There’s still thirty thousand outstanding. What on earth did you buy p>
“Nothing much p>
“Nothing much cost thirty thousand dollars p>
“Just a car p>
“A car p>
“Your brother needed one, so I bought it for him p>
Rebecca’s vision swam, and she grabbed her head to steady herself. “He just started his freshman year of college, what does he need a car for? I’ve been working for years and I don’t even have a car p>
But what was done was done. At least they hadn’t picked it up from the dealership yet.
She dragged Mrs. Winters to the car dealership immediately, but when they explained they wanted to return the vehicle the manager’s response was swift and final. “Absolutely not p>
Yone
Defeated, they returned home with very little money refunded, the car still a massive, unmovable debt. Rebecca sent her mother back to their apartment before steeling herself and walking over to the Sullivan house.
The moment Mrs. Sullivan saw her, the warmth she used to show was gone, replaced by a look of pure disgust.
“I’m here to return your card,” Rebecca said, holding out the black card.
Mrs. Sullivan didn’t take it, instead crossing her arms. “Is all the money back on
it p>
“I returned what I could, but some of the stores wouldn’t take things back. I really
tried, but they said all sales were final p>
“Spare me the excuses. I just want my money back, every last cent p>
“I’ll… I’ll pay you back p>
“You?” Mrs. Sullivan scoffed. “Rebecca, I actually liked the idea of you as a daughter-in-law, but let’s be honest. You’re no Penelope. You don’t have what it
takes p>
The words struck Rebecca like a slap, flushing her face with shame as fresh tears welled in her eyes.
“I promise… I will pay you back p>
With that, Rebecca turned and fled back to her apartment, sobbing. But as she burst through the door, she saw her mother holding a cup of coffee out to Penelope with a fawning smile.
“Penelope, if only my Rebecca were as capable as you p>
Penelope took the cup, glanced at it, and set it back on the table. Even instant coffee required some skill to make; this was so watery it looked more like tea.
“Rebecca is a good person. You shouldn’t talk about her like that,” she replied coolly.
“Look, about yesterday,” Mrs. Winters continued, “I know I was a bit out of line, but it wasn’t that big of a deal, was it p>
Penelope let out a dry laugh. It was
only “not a big deal” because the Sullivans were too embarrassed to
press charges. Otherwise, usin
someone else’s credit card without permission was a very big deal indeed.
“They’re making such a fuss over a little money,” Mrs. Winters grumbled. “Honestly p>
“A ‘little money p>
“Well, it’s not a fortune, but Rebecca is a bit tight on cash right now. I was wondering if you could lend her… say… forty thousand p>