“The doctor said it’s good he got to the hospital early. Otherwise his stomach wouldn't be able to hold it in and Asher might break his rectum in the process. But, now he’s safe in the hospital.” Amelia lied smoothly.

Lucia rolled her eyes hard, then glared at me. “Mateo, I always treated you well. Why did you do this?”

“First, I didn’t do anything. Second, you did not treat me well," I protested. "My original yearly salary was over four hundred dollars before you made me move in as your stay at home husband. You controlled every cent I spent. I could only use 3000 dollars a month!”

“Third, I don’t care if you mess around with strangers outside the house, but you brought someone home. You don’t treat me like a human. If you don’t treat me like a human, why should I act like one?” I stared at her coldly.

All these years, I was suffocating. Many times, I wanted to escape everything even my parents and my sister just so I could be free. Yet, I never had the heart to do it.

“You dare to shout at me?” Lucia was furious.

“So what? Why can’t I shout? Are you some ancient Greek goddess that controls our vocal cords?” I yelled back.

“You... You!” Lucia was so angry she couldn’t speak.

“WAHAHAHAHA!” Amelia burst out laughing, holding her stomach and stomping the floor. “'A Greek goddess that controls vocal cords’, how did you even get to that?!”

“Mateo, this isn’t over!” Lucia looked at me with total disgust. “Get out! I don’t want to see you right now!”

“Don’t be angry, honey. I heard if you get too angry, it can mess with your period cycle.” I pretended to be very worried.

“Get out!” Lucia screamed.

I glared at her for three seconds, before shouting back, “Fine! I’ll leave!”

Then, I left the hospital with Amelia.

***

On our way back home, Amelia laughed the entire time. We were still laughing even when we entered our villa.

“What kind of behavior is this?!” James Northwind’s voice suddenly came from behind us.

“That old bastard was supposed to be abroad. Why is he back?” I whispered.

“Abroad my butt. He went to visit his secret illegitimate son,” Amelia whispered back.

Then she added, “This is a huge secret in the family. I forgot to tell you. When that old geezer falls asleep, I’ll come to your room and spill more of the details.”

A huge secret in the Northwind Family? Interesting.

“It’s so late. Where did you two go?" James asked with a frown.