Chapter 15 Will You Help Me?

• Thelma is still the same. That much is true.
• But it surprised me regardless.
• I mean, I'm Thelma's fourth husband. So, how could this be a first? Thelma's daughter contradicts that.
• Thelma's cheeks flushed red at my query, and she nodded in agreement. She dipped her head slightly and said incoherently, "Do you think less of me now?" She barked in defense, "Is it a problem? What's the matter with you?"
• "No, I don't think less of you. It's just that it's strange," I said. "Having three partners already, either your previous partners were incompetent or simply gay. I mean, how could they be so indifferent to someone like you?"
• It wasn't meant as flattery.
• Thelma is truly a very attractive and alluring woman; at this moment, even I was bewitched by her beauty.
• I don't think any mortal man could stay indifferent to a woman like Thelma.
• The compliment seemed to be received well by Thelma. Her face softened from the praise. She huffed, "Hmph, you men are all pigs. Your brains are hardwired to bother anything below the head. This is why I hate men."
• It turned out to be true.
• Thelma worked really hard to fool Lauren.
• "Then, how did you end up with Kelsey?" I'm still curious—shouldn't it be feasible to produce children if that's the case?
• "Artificial insemination. With the science today, you can extract an egg and find a compatible surrogate," explained Thelma. "don't tell Kelsey about this. She doesn't know."
• So, that was the truth.
• That's the sacrifice one makes while burdened with a family's legacy.
• I can't even decide whether marriage is for me… and here is Thelma. But, on second thought, we're both very different individuals. I'm not plagued with the upkeep of status and money.
• But I'm still puzzled by this whole ordeal. Even though her three marriages stemmed from an arranged marriage, how could her husbands hold back from such a beautiful woman like Thelma?
• Thelma chuckled coldly and said, "Those three were more rubbish than you."
• I rubbed my nose out of habit. Was that somewhat of a compliment?
• "Despite your dumb actions, you still managed to control yourself at the very least," said Thelma. "you didn't hurt me," she sighed. "however, those three were simply bastards towards me. That is putting it lightly."
• "My first husband was a doctor who graduated from a famous university. He looked gentle, but he was an absolute brute."
• "That bastard not only wanted to own me but the whole property of the Katz family. He got drunk one time, and…forced me to…"
• She sighed. "Fortunately, I hid a knife under the pillow..."
• That's scary. The fact she has a knife…
• That was unexpected when you consider someone as elegant as Thelma. I would be sporting an extra hole in my body if I had miscalculated.
• Well, did the woman in front of me murder her husband? The thought of it sent goosebumps down my spine.
• Thelma noticed my expression and understood my worries. "You don't have to run, jeez," she hissed. "I didn't kill anyone. I only stabbed that bastard in his arm."
• "He cursed me afterwards and walked away. Like it was no big deal," said Thelma. "that bastard was drunk and went out on the road. That's how he got hit."
• "He didn't die, but did get paralyzed from the waist down," explained Thelma. "that was when we carried out the artificial insemination and got Kelsey. For four years, he lived on that hospital bed before death finally took that bastard."
• I tightened my lip. What a terrible way to die. Even though he managed to reach his goal for the family money, he couldn't use a single cent of it.
• "My second husband was worst. That bastard not only harassed me but Tessa too," she growled. "I once tried to defend myself while I was alone at home, but I was stabbed instead."
• "That man stormed out in rage," she told. "somewhere in between, he provoked the wrong group of people and was hacked to death in the streets."
• Oh god…I nervously gulped.
• "Then, what happened… to your third husband?"
• "He was a repugnant sc*mbag. A repulsive foul man who tried to harm Kelsey," she asserted. "during that time, Kelsey was only nine years old. I found out about his plans to molest my child. A disgusting man…"
• "Then, I presume you stabbed him too?"
• Thelma nodded. "Well, I had the courtesy to call the cops after. The bastard chickened out and ran before they came," she remarked.
• "The next day, I received news that he was found dead in some ditch. Reports said he accidentally fell in the river and drowned."
• Now I had the full picture of her past.
• I confess that initially, I assumed Thelma indulged in her status and beauty due to her multiple partners. Turns out, the miserable bastards pursued her for personal means.
• They met their demise before they could gain such means.
• However, Thelma's repeated theme of stabbing people was cruel to me. Is it not?
• All three were stabbed. Similarly, all three had perished.
• Being stabbed by Thelma would set a new record for her. I could see it in the headlines: Thelma's fourth husband died within a month of marriage.
• My body shook from the probable fate.
• Yet, I understand why Thelma did the things she did. It was to protect herself and those around her. I finally understand her distrust toward the opposite sex.
• "Now you understand when I say men are nothing but pigs," Thelma grunted.
• She cried, "And you are no different!" With that, I decided to defend myself.
• "I assume that it affects more than just men. Any reasonable man will have wants in that sense, and a gorgeous woman like you would understand."
• "So, you carry some responsibility," I said, justifying my actions.
• Thelma's eyes widened, as she felt incredulous. "What does this have to do with me? How can I be responsible?"
• "Well, of course, it does, you're the cause of it," I said defensively. "you should be aware of your effect on men and the impulses of men."
• "If you set something on fire, naturally, you are responsible for putting it out. No?"
• Thelma turned red from the comment. She looked away.
• "Why don't you help me solve this dilemma you've caused?"