Seven Years Time Difference
Chapter 1
When I bought our new house, I discovered that the money I’d painstakingly saved for seven years had been replaced with newspaper clippings.
I almost called the cops, my heart pounding in my chest. Then I found out my husband, Jack, had used my money to buy his ex-girlfriend, Heather, a brand-new motorcycle.
He just shrugged when I confronted him.
“Heather’s a single mom, it’s tough for her. The motorcycle will make her commute easier,” he mumbled.
In my past life, I’d screamed and cried, refusing to back down. He’d made Heather sign an IOU.
While I was out of town buying supplies for the factory, I got a flood warning for our town.
But Jack was busy shopping for a car with Heather and her son at the state-run store, leaving their son to perish in the flood.
Back in time, the day Jack bought the motorcycle, I watched the trio, their closeness a painful stab to my heart, and I simply turned and walked away.
I returned with my son, Tommy, to our dilapidated home. Jack wasn’t there yet. The old door creaked miserably as I pushed it open.
Freshly laundered floral dresses and trendy kids’ clothes hung on the clothesline—clearly new.
The worn-out clothes I’d washed yesterday lay on the floor, covered in dust and footprints.
Heather’s son, Billy, was sitting on the new motorcycle, playing.
Tommy, seeing the bike, let go of my hand and ran over. But as he reached out to touch it, Billy shoved him to the ground.
Just as I picked Tommy up, Heather rushed out of the house, her eyes alight with something that looked suspiciously like glee.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Rose,” she said, her voice dripping with false contrition. “Billy’s just a kid, he didn’t mean to. Jack told him to keep an eye on the motorcycle before he left, and he just panicked.”
“My fault really, I was busy with the laundry and didn’t keep an eye on him. But Jack said he bought new clothes for you and Tommy, too. Let me help you wash them.”
Her words were an apology, but her eyes shone with smugness.
It was always like this. Every time Jack got paid, the first thing he did was buy Heather and Billy the latest fashions. Tommy and I… well, we’d worn the same clothes for years.
When Tommy started school earlier this year, I’d asked Jack to buy him two new outfits. He’d called me vain and accused me of spoiling Tommy.
He said we should save that money for a new house.
But he spent most of his paycheck on new clothes for Heather and Billy.
I’d slaved away for seven years to save enough for a down payment, only to have him use it on a motorcycle for his ex and her kid.
He always said that Heather, widowed early, was our neighbor and needed extra help.
Extra help that stretched for a lifetime.
I carried Tommy inside and started preparing dinner.
Jack didn’t come home until dinner was ready. He carried a big piece of meat.
Tommy happily ran to meet him, but Jack quickly stepped aside.
He caught my eye and his gaze shifted nervously.
“Tommy, sweetie, how about I get you some meat next month? This one’s from your Aunt Heather,” he said quickly.
The light in Tommy’s eyes went out. He hung his head and stood beside me.
Jack hesitated, then sliced the meat in half with his knife.
“Rose, you give this half to Tommy, I’ll take the other to Heather.”
This wasn’t from Heather. The little money Heather earned went on clothes.
Tommy hugged my legs, staring timidly at Jack.
“I don’t want their meat, Daddy. You can have it all,” he whispered.
Jack’s face turned dark.
“What have you been telling him? You always have to stir things up, don’t you? Both of you are cold and selfish! And you, I paid for your education to teach you right from wrong! You don’t need to go to school anymore! Since you don’t want it, I won’t buy you any more meat!”
Tommy flinched, tears streaming down his face, but he held his ground.
“Daddy, Billy pushed me today.”
Jack scoffed, his eyes full of contempt.
“Your mother taught you that, didn’t she? You two are just alike, always playing these games.”
Chapter 2
After Jack left, Tommy looked up at me, tears still on his cheeks.
“Mommy, is Daddy Billy’s daddy, too?”
My heart ached.
In my past life, I’d never understood Jack’s devotion to Heather and her son.
Not until the day I died did I learn that Jack and Heather had been childhood sweethearts, pledged to each other since they were kids, even though Heather’s family had later broken the agreement. Jack had never gotten over her.
I stroked Tommy’s head.
“It’s okay, Tommy. Mommy loves you.”
After dinner, Heather asked Jack to teach her how to ride the motorcycle.
Their laughter echoed, as I cleared the table, getting ready to bathe Tommy and put him to bed. Then I realized Tommy was missing.
I found him in the corner of the yard, clumsily washing the dirt off his clothes from earlier. My eyes stung. I went to get him.
As I reached for him, I heard Heather’s voice.
“Jack, is this how you twist the throttle?”
The motorcycle roared toward Tommy.
“Tommy!” I screamed, lunging forward to protect him.
But the motorcycle was too fast.
Heather’s bike hit a water jar, veering slightly. It ran over Tommy’s foot, barely missing him as he scrambled out of the way.
Tommy sobbed.
Jack and I rushed to his side. Jack was frantic, picking him up.
“Tommy, what hurts? Don’t worry, Daddy’s taking you to the hospital.”
He started to carry Tommy away, but he saw Heather lying on the ground, beside the motorcycle.
Heather’s lip was bleeding. She looked at Jack, silently pleading without a single word.
He hesitated. Heather began to cry.
“Jack, I’m fine, take Tommy to the hospital. It’s my fault; I deserve it if my leg is broken.”
My heart clenched. I grabbed Jack’s arm.
“Jack, I can take Tommy. Just give me the money!”
I wasn’t expecting Jack to abandon Heather. I just needed money for Tommy’s hospital bills. All our savings were gone.
Jack looked at Heather, then handed Tommy to me, avoiding eye contact.
“Tommy’s young, he’ll heal fast. But if Heather breaks her leg, she won’t be able to care for Billy. If I have any money left over, I’ll send Tommy to the hospital.”
Chapter 3
Watching Jack ride away with Heather and Billy, felt like my world had crumbled.
I borrowed money from my supervisor to cover Tommy’s medical bills.
We almost bumped into Jack at the hospital, but he didn’t even glance our way.
I sat in the hallway, watching him rush around.
I remembered when we first met.
Jack and I met at a family wedding; he was the best man, I was the maid of honor. After the wedding, he found out where I worked and would “accidentally” run into me on my way home every day.
He’d even followed me home at night, worried about my safety. When my job was threatened by factory layoffs, he gave my supervisor a year’s salary to keep me.
I only heard this after we got married. People said Jack, a researcher, was a catch, that many women wanted to marry him.
They said I was lucky. He was truly wonderful at first, spending nothing on himself but always buying me nice clothes and expensive formula for Tommy.
Everything changed after Heather moved next door.
He told me she was a friend, a single mother who needed help. I didn’t think twice about it.
But watching him constantly visit her, sometimes even forgetting to cook for Tommy, made me uneasy.
I asked him to spend less time with Heather. He exploded at me.
He called me selfish and disgusting.
After that, he stopped caring for our home, visiting Heather openly. He even borrowed half a year of my salary to get her a job at the state-run store.
If it weren’t for the factory manager’s faith in me, I would have lost my job.
When I confronted him, he dismissed it casually. “It’s nothing. No wonder Tommy’s such a brat, he takes after you.”
I wiped my tears. I wouldn’t let this man hurt me and Tommy anymore.
Jack appeared before me.
“I checked with the doctor. They said you already paid the bills.”
“Rose, I can’t believe you’d do this! You even stole Heather’s medical funds. Do you know she almost broke her leg?!”
I looked him straight in the eye. “Jack, isn’t Tommy your son? Shouldn’t you be the one paying for his treatment? And almost broken? Tommy’s leg is broken!”
“It’s her fault for trying to ride the motorcycle!”
His eyes were full of disgust.
“It’s because of the motorcycle, huh? Since you hate this house so much, move out. Heather’s lease is up anyway.”
Chapter 4
When I returned home from the hospital, Heather and Billy were already moved in. Our belongings were piled outside.
“Rose, you’re back. Jack said you weren’t coming back, so I moved in.”
Before I could reply, she turned and brought Billy out. “We should leave then. I’m not a beggar.”
Confused, I watched her leave until I heard Jack’s icy voice.
“Rose, you are the beggar! Heather is my choice, this house is mine, you don’t have a say!”
“Heather, take Billy home, I can let whoever I want live here.”
Heather feigned reluctance, looking at me.
“But where will Rose and Tommy live?”
“They can live wherever they want, it’s none of my business!”
Jack glared at me, then turned to Heather with a bag.
Heather took the bag, dropping it. Contraceptives spilled onto the floor.
Heather’s husband was dead. Who was she using those with? It was obvious.
I watched calmly, and the spectacle seemed to enrage Jack.
He roared at me. “Get out!”
I packed our things, threw out everything Jack had ever bought for Tommy and me, and left.
I could still hear Heather and Jack whispering.
“I often see Rose and her boss together at the state-run store, they must be close, she’ll find somewhere to live.”
“Why did you chase her away? If she’s angry and tells her boss, he might report us.”
“Oh, and there’s a promotion at the store. But they’re worried I can’t manage with a kid alone, so I might not get it…”
I didn’t listen anymore. I took Tommy to the factory.
“Sir, I’m willing to transfer to the new factory in the city.”
My supervisor beamed. “Wonderful! I need someone I trust overseeing the new plant; Old Xu and I go way back, you’re the perfect choice. Besides your salary, you’ll get a share of the profits!”
I moved Tommy into factory housing, completing the handover of my responsibilities.
A week later, Jack showed up.
His first words were:
“Let’s get a divorce. I’ll pretend to marry Heather to help her get the job, and then we’ll remarry.”
