"Bill Best, I promise you, I'll divorce you."
5.
I hurried to stop the bleeding again, ready to take her to the hospital, but my mother stubbornly insisted on staying to negotiate with them.
Judy's face lit up with joy.
My father let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument, "Let's end things amicably. Since you're at fault, you leave with nothing. I won't spread the sordid details of your affairs, and Arthur will stay with me."
My mother's face was pale, but suddenly she seemed invigorated, her tone resolute.
"I can leave with nothing, but Arthur must stay with me."
Judy quickly interjected, "Glad you see reason. When do we finalize the divorce?"
I sneered, "Can't wait, can you? Leaving with nothing? That's not happening."
My father glared at me, "Adults are talking. Stay out of it."
I stared back at him, "Dad, divorce is fine, but the company goes to my mom. If you don't agree, there will be no divorce."
My mother looked at me in surprise, and I subtly signaled her not to give in.
She immediately understood and, with a hoarse voice, refused to back down.
"Bill, just like Arthur said, or I won't divorce even if it kills me. I've been with you most of my life. I've done nothing to betray you. You can spread whatever you like. I don't care."
For as long as I can remember, this was the most resolute I'd ever seen my mother.
A look of surprise flashed across my father's face.
Judy tightened her grip on his arm, first glancing at her stomach, then cautiously asking him.
"What should we do?"
By this point, I was already helping my mother upstairs.
Behind us, I heard my father's low voice, "Don't worry. I have ways to get rid of them. That large sum will be ours."
Judy's voice dripped with sickly sweetness, "You're the best, Bill."
My father chuckled, "In which way do you mean?"
Judy playfully punched his chest, "You're awful."
6.
The two of them had become so brazen.
Before my father could make things harder for my mother, I made my move.
Because I had already obtained a replica of that precious artifact and secretly switched it with the real one in my father's study.
The password to my father's safe was actually Judy's birthday.
I called the police.
When the police arrived at our house, my father and Judy were sitting down to dinner, chatting and laughing.