The Scumbag's AA Bill1
Petty Scumbag
The day after giving birth, my husband demanded that we split all the expenses incurred during my pregnancy.
I argued back, but he said, "Stop avoiding responsibility. Men and women are equal. Besides, the child isn't just mine, so don't always expect a free ride, okay?"
Disgusted by his words, I threw the money in his face.
But even though he had the money, he might never have a chance to spend it.
——
As I Emerged from the delivery room, the anesthesia wore off, and I awoke from my slumber.
The first thing I saw was my husband, Nigel Judson, sitting by my bedside, staring intently at me.
When Nigel noticed I was awake, he hurriedly dragged his chair closer to me.
I looked at him in confusion as he grabbed a notebook from the table and quickly flipped it open, thrusting it in front of me.
Smiling, Nigel said, "Honey, now that you've given birth, shouldn't we settle the expenses from your pregnancy and delivery?"
I opened my mouth, trying to argue, but could only produce hoarse 'ah' sounds.
The incision on my abdomen throbbed with pain, and the baby's cries reminded me that I had just given birth.
Yet, this shameless man in front of me only cared about the money.
Seeing that I remained silent, Nigel assumed I agreed and began reciting the bills.
"The first blood test, two hundred dollars. The second hospital stay to prevent miscarriages was one thousand and five hundred dollars. Ultrasound, eight hundred dollars. The third prenatal visit, seven hundred... Then there are the baby's clothes, diapers, formula, your cesarean section fee, surgical dressings, postpartum pads, and the hospital stay. Altogether, it's about fifty thousand dollars.
"Of course, I can't expect you to cover it all since I'm the father too. So, to be fair, we should split it fifty-fifty. What do you think?"
Fairness? He was talking to me about fairness?
Who was going to be fair to me for the ten months of pregnancy suffering?
Now that the child was born, he was here to discuss fairness for money.
It was disgusting. Not wanting to look at Nigel's greedy face, I turned my head toward the crib.
My turning away angered Nigel.
He questioned me sharply. "Julia Hornby, what do you mean? You don't intend to freeload, do you?"
The word 'freeload' from his mouth brought tears to my eyes.
I endured ten months of pregnancy and gave birth, only for him to accuse me of freeloading?