Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

I took the property deed out of the safe.

This house was a gift from Dad before he passed away. It wasn't a fancy one, but it was decent and could probably fetch a considerable price if I sold it to pay Mom's bills.

Just as I was about to step out of the door with the deed, I ran into Hans, who was accompanied by Yvette.

"What's that in your hand?"

I decided to come clean with him, saying that I was going to sell the house to save Mom.

Looking at how disheveled I looked, Yvette pinched her nose in disgust and hooked her arm around Hans'.

"Your mom only has pneumonia, doesn't she? Why do you have to sell the house to pay for her treatment?" she asked. "I bet you probably have some tricks up your sleeve. You just want to sell Hans' house for your own benefit!"

I couldn't be bothered with her. All I wanted was to rush to the hospital with the money as soon as possible, but once I saw Hans' skeptical expression, I knew he wouldn't agree to my plan.

"Move, please. I'm in a hurry," I said with a stoic expression.

Before I could reach the door, however, he suddenly grabbed my wrist and bellowed, "Lauren, are you out of your mind? It's just pneumonia. How expensive can the treatment possibly be? You have no right to sell my house!"

Trembling, I pulled out Mom's medical report from a canvas bag that had faded from repeated washing. I was about to hand it to him when he snatched it and tore it to shreds.

"Don't you dare try to trick me!" he shouted. "Listen, I won't allow you to sell this house! I've given my all for you and your mom all these years, and yet you're selling my house. What are you plotting, huh?"

Hans shoved me to the ground. The moment the back of my head collided with the ground, I inhaled sharply.

"Quit the act. You're just a DoorDasher. Stop wincing like you're absolutely exhausted!"

I could no longer keep my emotions at bay. Spiraling in turmoil, I screamed, "My mom has cancer. She's dying! What's wrong with selling the house my dad left for me to save her?"

Hans froze.

Seeing this, Yvette immediately chimed in, "Hans, you've been with her all these years, and her mom has always been fine. Why does she suddenly have cancer?

"Judging by how much money they gleaned from you over the years, perhaps this is a trick they pulled to swindle you out of money."

Just like that, she made it look like Mom and I were nothing but gold-diggers.

Indeed, Mom's medical bills had weighed heavily on our finances over the years. Hans seemed to have realized this too, and his expression immediately hardened.

"Lauren, we've been married for ages. There's no need to lie to me. I hate liars like you the most!" he spat.

"Stay here and reflect on yourself. I'll go confirm whether your mom's situation is true."

Ignoring my cries and pleas, he locked the door and left.

I curled up in a corner, utterly devastated. Clasping my hands together, I silently prayed for Mom's health.