I didn’t refuse or agree. Early the next morning, Michael took me to check out of the hospital.
I instinctively opened the passenger door and saw Olivia sitting inside, entirely made up.
She gave me a teasing smile. “Sorry, Nichole. I’m used to sitting in the front.”
Michael opened the back door and said gently, “Nichole, please sit in the back. Olivia gets carsick, so give her some space.”
I stayed silent and went to the back seat. After arriving at the mall and browsing for a while, I finally spotted a handbag that caught my eye.
Seeing how much I loved it, Michael immediately took out his card. “Buy it.”
“Nichole, I like that bag too. Why don’t you let me have it?” Olivia said, reaching out to grab the bag.
I stayed calm and answered, “I saw it first.”
Olivia’s eyes turned red, then she said tearfully, “Nichole, you’ve had every bag you wanted since you were a kid. Why fight me over this one?”
Michael, who had just returned from paying, frowned upon hearing this. “If Olivia likes it, let her have the bag, Nicole.”
Then he took my hand and said kindly, “You can take another one. I’ll buy you ten of them, okay?”
I pushed his hand away, my face cold. “No way.”