Chapter 3

It was a thirty-minute drive, and already past ten at night.

I, a heavily pregnant woman in her third trimester, took a cab from downtown to the suburbs, and Liam hadn't sent a single text apologizing or asking if I was okay.

Clutching my phone, my stomach gave a sharp, painful lurch.

The taxi slowly pulled up to a muddy, narrow alley.

I was just about to pull out my phone to pay when I heard a "ding!"

"Your bank card has been debited $1000."

I stared at the message that popped up, my mind going blank with a sudden "boom."

"Come on, pay up! Stop dawdling, I've got another fare waiting!" the driver impatiently snapped.

"Right, right, sorry." My hands trembled as I entered my PIN, but the machine flashed "insufficient balance."

"How about this, sir? I'll run upstairs and get you cash."

The driver slammed a fist on the steering wheel, furious. "Hurry up! If you don't have money, why call a cab? What a freakin' pain in the butt at this hour!"

I bit back tears and hurried upstairs, got the money, and sent the driver off.

Even as he drove away, I could hear him muttering curses about me.

Choking on the exhaust fumes, I slumped onto the curb, utterly defeated, burying my head in my arms and sobbing.

I don't know how long passed before someone hugged me from behind. A wave of stale alcohol hit me.

"Get lost," I pushed him away.

Liam didn't pull back; instead, he rested his chin on my shoulder, nuzzling gently.

"Baby, driving a taxi has been so stressful lately. I've been neglecting you, I'm sorry."

My body stiffened. He used to do that back when we were dating, a little trick to charm me. It meant he was hoping for forgiveness, no matter how badly he'd screwed up.

I touched my belly and sighed deeply. Maybe he really was under too much pressure.

Back home, I immediately turned on the heater and started to shower. Halfway through, the light went out.

A cold draft swept through, and I couldn't stop sneezing. I yelled outside:

"Liam, why did the heater turn off! Did we run out of electricity credits?"

I called again and again, but silence.

What was going on? Our apartment was tiny, barely 500 square feet. Was he deaf?

No choice, I quickly finished my shower and went out – the water heater was off.

"Liam! Liam! Get out here, now!"

I stomped my foot, screaming, so angry I could barely breathe.

He hurried out, wearing an apron, a chef's knife still dripping water in his hand.

"Did you turn off the water heater?" I asked, softening my tone.

"Sorry… electricity is just too expensive. You're not that delicate, are you?"

"I'll make you a bowl of hot noodle soup to warm you up." He then ducked back into the kitchen.

While I waited at the table for five minutes, I checked our remaining electricity credits. Sure enough, we were in arrears again.

A wave of sadness washed over me. Watching Liam busy in the kitchen, my chest felt tight and uncomfortable.

The noodles were brought out – just clear broth and plain noodles, not even a single green vegetable.

I took a bite. It was bland and tasteless, like he'd forgotten the salt.

Liam, wiping his hands on his apron, looked at me expectantly. "How is it? Good?"

I ate two bites, then couldn't manage any more. I looked around our cramped apartment, feeling even more stifled.

"I'm going to go wait tables at the restaurant. I need to earn back the electricity money."

Liam nodded like a bobblehead.