The Secret in My Husband’s Glove Compartment Destroyed Our Two Years Chapter 04
That afternoon, while Leona was in the bathroom, her canvas bag slid off the chair in the guest room.
Inside was a prenatal records binder. I only meant to put it back, but the hospital name and date printed on the top report caught my eye.
Three months ago, William had transferred eight thousand dollars from our joint account. He said Leona’s prenatal screening results were alarming and she required inpatient observation.
I picked up the ultrasound report and the outpatient clinic note from the same day.
“How long were you two going to hide these from me?”
The ultrasound and lab results were clear that all fetal indicators were normal.
The clinic note said the patient had mild anxiety and insufficient sleep. Doctors recommended regular routine and follow-up appointments. Hospitalization was unnecessary.
William glanced at the papers. He didn’t deny it.
“You knew she didn’t need to be hospitalized. And you still took money from our joint account?”
“Leona has chronic insomnia. She always gets stuck on small things.”
“So?”
“I just humor her to make her feel better.”
“Oh, so making her feel better means taking the money we set aside for the mortgage and making me cosign half your auto loan?”
“I’ll pay it back.”
“Where’s my ID?”
“Camilla. Don’t mix everything together.”
“When you stop talking about divorce, I’ll give it back.”
He spoke like he was reasoning with a stubborn child.
“I’m not trying to control you. I just don’t want you doing something impulsive.”
“Holding onto my documents is supposed to be for my own good?”
“If you move out now, how will you afford rent? What about the loans?”
Six months ago, he’d brought me a stack of papers to sign. Said it was just a loan renewal confirmation.
“You put me on the auto loan?”
“The rate was good then. I figured it didn’t make a difference since we’re married.”
“I have to pay half for that car you stock supplies for Leona?”
“The car is ours. Don’t say that.”
Leona came out of the guest room, holding the doorframe as she crouched down.
“Please stop fighting. This is all my fault.”
William rushed to her side.
“What’s wrong?”
“My stomach hurts a little.”
He slid a cushion from the couch behind her back, then went to pour hot water. Like he’d done it a hundred times.
“Don’t take anything yet. I’ll call the doctor.”
I stood where I was and let out a laugh.
“William. Where did you put my pain relief patches last month?”
He stopped mid-motion.
“In the bedroom, probably.”
“We don’t have any in the house.”
Leona pressed a hand to her stomach and said softly:
“Camilla, don’t blame William. He’s just afraid something might happen to me.”
“I already took photos of these reports.”
“What are you planning to do?”
William finally frowned.
“Sort out our joint account statements. Get my money back.”
“My parents are coming for dinner tonight. Don’t bring this up in front of them.”
“Why?”
“Leona’s already embarrassed enough.”
William’s mother had never forgotten that Leona stayed with William’s father in the hospital back then.
When she heard Leona had been abandoned by her boyfriend while pregnant, she’d suggested more than once that Leona move in with us.
I’d always said no. William hadn’t pushed it either.
But now he’d put her in the guest room without asking.
At dinner, William’s mother spoke first.
“She’s just a poor girl. You two ought to give her a hand. What’s the big deal?”
“Once you’re married, there’s no ‘yours’ and ‘mine’ anymore. What kind of talk is that?”
William set a bowl of soup in front of me.
“Camilla. Not tonight.”
“Then when?”
“When Leona’s feeling better.”
Leona stood up, eyes red.
“I can move out. I can stop contacting William.”
“Just please, don’t make him apologize in front of everyone.”
William’s mother grabbed her arm.
“Nobody’s throwing you out.”
She turned to me.
“Camilla. You’ve pushed this girl to the edge. Are you happy now?”
I looked at William.
“Do you want to tell them? That you took the money without asking? That you already saw those reports?”
William’s mother looked at him, then at the account statements on the table. Her expression shifted.
“That’s a large sum of money. You really didn’t discuss it with Camilla?”
William didn’t answer.
“What William did with the money was wrong. But Leona is pregnant. Do you have to push her this hard right now?”
In the end, William didn’t defend me. He just pulled the chair out for Leona.
“Camilla. You took photos of her medical records without permission and you questioned her in front of my parents. Apologize for that first.”
“She’s been through enough these past few days.”
I nodded.
“Fine.”
William seemed to relax.
I put down my chopsticks, got up, and walked to the bedroom.
He followed me in and locked my ID and bank cards in the study safe, right in front of me.
“When you’re calm enough to decide whether to stay or go.”
“Your documents and cards are with me.”
William leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
“Stop making this hard on yourself. I don’t want to see you struggle.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see me struggle.
It was that he was certain that as long as he held my documents and my money, I’d never be able to walk out that door.
At 4:00 a.m., I left my suitcase where it was. I only took the bag I’d packed ahead of time.
I caught the first bus out.