"She throws up after just a little oatmeal. Do you think she's pregnant? I haven't heard anything about a boyfriend. Maybe she's seeing a married man?" Dora whispered.
"That'd be perfect," Alexander said. "We could squeeze some cash out of the guy. Might even pay off the mortgage."
"Ugh-- " Hearing that made me even sicker. I barely made it to the toilet.
Alexander had the nerve to claim Mom paid for my college. In reality, they took all my scholarship money. I worked part-time, lived on steamed buns, and was so malnourished I fainted more than once. It was only thanks to my teachers and classmates that I managed to graduate.
Outside, their conversation continued. "Mom, you scared me with that cancer talk. I didn't relax until I saw you give me the signal."
Mom laughed. "You're my good son. Not like that ungrateful girl. She didn't even flinch when I said I was sick. If I hadn't made it sound serious, she wouldn't have handed over a penny."
I clenched my fists so hard my palms bled, but it was the only thing that kept me from collapsing.