My fiancée’ s childhood best friend had tested me three times.
The first time, when my fiancée Valerie was sick with a cold, he hid razor blades in my shoe. The blades cut deep into my soles, yet he made me deliver her medicine through the pain.
He called it a test of whether my love could overcome any hardship.
The second time, on our fifth anniversary, as I left work two hours early to cook, he sprinkled itching powder into my kitchen apron. By the time I finished dinner, I was covered in itchy welts.
He laughed, claiming it was to prove my true intentions.
Third time, when I returned exhausted from a two-week business trip, Valerie prepared a heartwarming bowl of noodles for me. Only he’d stirred two live earthworms into the broth.
He smugly left a message, saying this was to test if I can swallow the bitterness of love without turning violent.
Valerie always gently reminded me.
“Derek used his college fund to cover my mom’ s surgery back then, which is why he couldn’t t study abroad.”
“Even while we were living overseas these past few years, he was the one taking care of my mom in the nursing home.”
“He made such a huge sacrifice for me, but in the end, I’ m marrying you. His heart is just broken. Please try to understand.”
But what Valerie never knew was that the third test would turn her wedding into a funeral.
…
“Caleb, what are these worms doing in the noodles Valerie cooked for you?”
The earthworms floated on the surface of the soup. My mother-in-law, kneeling on the floor, gagged and asked, her voice laced with fury.
Mom had quietly returned from the nursing home today, intending to surprise Valerie.
But Valerie wasn’t home. On the table sat only a bowl of noodles, specially left for me.
Mom was starving after her long journey and decided to eat something first.
But with her first bite, she pulled out two slimy, half-cooked earthworms!
Suddenly, Derek’s voice boomed from the living room’ s Bluetooth speaker.
“Caleb, how do the worms taste?”
“This is your third test.”
“A little reminder that love has its bitter moments; it’s not always sweet!”
Mom’ s body trembled with anger.
“Derek put the worms in? What in the world is going on!”
I forced a bitter smile.
“Valerie said he paid for your surgery with his college fund and then took care of you.”
“He loves Valerie, but she’s marrying me.”
“So she allows him to vent his emotions like this.”
Mom’ s voice hitched.
“Nonsense!”
“Derek gambled that money all away himself! What does that have to do with me!”
“Caleb, call Valerie. Tell her to come home right now!”
I called Valerie, but she never picked up.
The atmosphere in the living room abruptly turned heavy.
It was already late at night. Her being out so late was one thing.
But now her phone was unreachable, as if she’d completely vanished.
Mom’ s face was grim.
Finally, after I’ d dialed her number ten times or so.
A highly impatient voice answered from the other end.
“Caleb, I let Derek put the worms in your noodles!”
“Last time, he just came home to help me grab some clothes, and you beat him black and blue.”
“This is a test, and it’s also a punishment!”
I froze, disbelief washing over me.
Last time, her childhood friend was clearly up to no good, installing a pinhole camera in my and Valerie’ s bedroom. I caught him.
I couldn’t hold back anymore and taught him a lesson.
But I certainly didn’t beat him black and blue.
Before I could explain, Valerie rudely cut me off.
“Enough! Are you going to say he was secretly filming again?”
“Are you just slandering Derek because you’re jealous?!”
“I’ve told you countless times, he’s been taking care of my mom, he’s done so much for us. So what if he tests you a few times?”
“Do you really have to be so petty and hit him!”
I’m an orphan. Mom had funded my education and taken great care of me in my past, she was like a second mother to me.
So, whenever Valerie used Derek’ s ‘sacrifice’ as a reason to shut me down, I chose to endure it.
But just now, Mom had told me the truth.
Derek was a gambler!
He never paid for Mom’s surgery. He gambled all his money away!
I was about to tell Valerie the truth.
But she didn’t give me any chance to speak, immediately hanging up the phone.
Mom’s face beside me turned grim.
“This is ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous!”
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