My brother-in-law My husband
Chapter 14

"That's. We can't do that, Amanda. Your father is still too busy" Catherine said. "Let's stay here for a second, okay?"

"I don't want to!" Amanda started rebelling and pushed her mother away. He looked angry and raged, "I want to go home!"

"S—Honey, we'll keep—"

"I want to go home! I want to go home! I want to go home!" Amanda started to step on the floor and shouted loudly.

"Shhh! Don't be too hard—"

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Catherine and Amanda were shocked when they heard a loud bang from the wall, followed by a loud shout, "SHIT QUIET!!"

Amanda trembled because she had never felt this much fear. She hugged her mother for protection, and Catherine immediately laid her on the bed. "Don't be too noisy, okay?"

"M—Mommy, who is it?"

"That's a stranger, of course. You shouldn't be too noisy because they need a break too."

"A—Will he hurt us?"

"No, as long as you don't scream and cry, of course," Catherine said.

He kissed Amanda's forehead.

"Sleep early tonight. You must be tired, right?"

"Um.." Amanda stopped crying because she was more frightened than before, afraid her voice would be heard.

He whispered, "Mom, I want to leave this picnic and go back home. I'm scared…."

Catherine smiled bitterly and stroked Amanda's hair. He had no answer to that because there was no way he would go back to Marcell.

But if he says no to Amanda, he'll probably run amok again. So he asked, "How about we move to a better house? We can't go home because Dad's still busy. But we can always move to a better house…."

"ah! It's okay what. I'll probably like it!" Amanda nodded happily. He was too used to his old house, where he did not need to be quiet. "When do we move, Mom? Tomorrow?"

"J—Don't worry. It won't be long" Catherine said.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay, Mommy, good night," Amanda felt much better after getting the appointment she wanted. He closed his eyes and fell asleep after a long day.

The smile on Catherine's lips faded after Amanda fell asleep. He sighed deeply as the worry in his heart grew. She worries about her savings, her job search, Amanda's request to move elsewhere, and also her school fees.

Amanda's tuition is paid per semester, and the semester is coming to an end. Catherine needed to earn a large sum of money to pay for that tuition by any means.

"Shall I.. call that bastard?" Catherine asked herself. He hates to call that bastard, but this is for Amanda's workspace. So it's a shared responsibility.

Catherine braced herself and grabbed her phone. He dialed the number, and after a few beeps, the man finally picked it up.

—

"Call me now?" Marcell asked as he picked up the phone. She chuckled as she had already guessed that Catherine was desperate.

…

Catherine took another deep breath to calm herself down. There's no reason to fight Marcell, at least not for Amanda's future. He really wanted to curse this bastard for ruining all his chances of getting a job.

"School money? Well, of course, that's my legal responsibility," Marcell replied lightly. "I think you're the one who's gonna take care of him. 'That 'brave woman' is nothing but a loser, huh?"

"Shut up, Marcell. You're the one who ruined my chance of getting a job!" Catherine went to the bathroom and closed the door so she wouldn't wake Amanda as she raised her voice towards this bastard.

"Destroyed your chances?"

"I know you're the one who forbade them all from accepting me!" Accuse Catherine, venting her frustration.

"You know how dirty a bastard you are? Is it nice to see me not being able to feed Amanda?!"

Marcell did not really understand what Catherine was talking about. She had done nothing so far because she had already thought Catherine would fail. After all, she was just a stupid woman.

But, he liked that he thought his downfall was the cause. Thinking of teaching a woman******this few things about humility and obedience makes her happy!

"Well, I don't care if you get a job. I know an incompetent woman like you doesn't have a chance to work" Marcell sneered.

"By the way, if you want money to pay for Amanda's tuition, you'll have to meet me at home. As long as you beg, I will give it to you."

"No!" Catherine answered harshly. "I'll never step on that fucking house, not after you've done all this to me, Marcell!"

"In addition, do you think I can't take this to court? Amanda's future is also your responsibility!" Catherine continued to raise her voice while sitting on the toilet seat. This was the only place where he could confide in without waking Amanda up.

"They'll force you to pay!"

"Haha! Catherine Sebastian, you're such an idiot!" Marcell scoffed. "I can always give you money as long as you want to see me. Do you think the court won't take my side? I'm the husband who wants you back, remember?"

"I'm sure they'll force you to 'fix' our relationship through marriage counseling and consider it done" Marcell said. He grinned as he could feel fear for Catherine across the phone.

"You won't get anything from me without divorce,*****dumb. And I'll never sign the divorce papers. I would even ask for marriage counseling in court," Marcell told Catherine his solid plan, and the latter was too stunned to talk about.

"To be honest, my track record is very clean, and with the help of some parties I can pull off, you will be the one to end up with regret, Catherine Sebastian."

…

"So, I'll just say this one more time before hanging up. Come back to me, and I'll forgive you and your stupid decisions. It's that easy."

Disconnected...

Marcell hung up the phone without waiting for Catherine's response, leaving her speechless and desperate.

Catherine could hear the sound of cracks in her heart. For some ridiculous reason, he thought Marcell still cared about Amanda.

Of course, he doesn't want to. She was having an affair while Amanda was still in her stomach. She never really loved her own daughter.

Catherine lowered her head, staring at the tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes onto her thighs, "There was no point in calling that bastard in the first place. I'm alone…."

Catherine sat limply on the toilet seat for a while. He felt desperate, too desperate, so he began to think if he could escape from that bastard Marcell Sebastian.

He blocked his exit. She has no job, can't pay her daughter's tuition, and has no money, even if she files a lawsuit for child neglect. Technically, what Marcell said was true.

He'll give her all the money, as long as she wants to see him again. The court may suggest marriage counseling instead.

Since Marcell had never physically hurt him, the court would have considered this an ordinary couple quarrel.

But Catherine also felt that meeting Marcell would only lead to her death, she did not know what she was going to do, but she refused to meet the bastard again.

So, he's run out of options except for that one...