Her Cruel Bet

When I got Vivian's call, I was in the hospital hallway, peeling an apple for my mom. The moment the blade touched the apple skin, my phone vibrated violently, the word "Wife" on the screen stabbing at my eyes. "Michael Carter, get to the civil service center right away! Bring your ID card and household register!" Vivian Lincoln's voice was urgent, almost panicked, but I couldn't shake the feeling there was something more behind that panic. I paused, still holding the apple, and asked her what was going on. "I lost a bet. I've got to handle something, don't ask, just come!" She hung up before I could say anything else. I glanced at the hospital room door. My mom, Lily, was still asleep inside. Last night, she'd been restless again, searching for Andy—my son, her only grandson. I had no choice. I left the apple at the nurse's station, gave the nurse a quick heads-up, and dashed downstairs. While hailing the taxi, my heart was racing. I know Vivian Lincoln loves to bet with her male coworkers. Last time, they bet on who could land a client first. She lost and ended up buying coffee for everyone for a whole week. The time before that, they bet on who could drop to 100 pounds first. She lost again and treated everyone to a big meal. But this time, she needs both the ID card and the household register, and has to go to the civil service center? That bet's way too risky. When I got to the civil service center, I spotted Vivian right away. She wasn't standing by the door waiting for me; instead, she was leaning on a man's shoulder, smiling with crescent-shaped eyes. That man was Kevin Clark, Vivian Lincoln's colleague. I'd seen him a few times, and every time, his gaze was dripping with disdain when he looked at me. I walked over, about to speak, but Vivian beat me to it. "Michael Carter, you finally showed up." She straightened up from Kevin's shoulder, her tone casual, "I made a bet with Kevin—if I lost, Andy would take his surname. I lost, so you're going to sign it." The household register in my hand dropped to the floor with a sharp slap. I thought I misheard, so I asked again, "What did you say?" Kevin bent down to pick up the household register for me, and when he handed it over, his fingers deliberately brushed my hand. His tone was mocking: "Michael, how come you can't take a joke? Vivian lost, wasn't it all because of you?" "Because of me?" I frowned and didn't take the household register. Kevin stifled a laugh, lowering his voice just enough for me to hear: "We bet on how long you'd last on bed with Vivian last night, but who'd have thought you couldn't even make it half an hour." My blood boiled all the way up to my head. Last night, Vivian Lincoln insisted I leave the hospital and come home, saying it was urgent. My mom had just been hospitalized after a fall. I wasn't really in the mood, but she kept begging me. I couldn't hold out and went back. I thought it was just between the two of us, but surprisingly, it turned into her betting chip with someone else. I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles went white. Vivian nudged my arm. "Just sign. It's no big deal. We can always change it back later. Don't make me embarrassed in front of Kevin Clark." "No way." I said those two words and turned to walk away. My mom's still waiting for me at the hospital—I don't have the time to waste on this nonsense. But Vivian grabbed my arm and said, "You're not signing? Do you want to be taught a lesson?" She went straight to threatening me with divorce. It's not that I'm scared of divorce—I'm scared my mom will find out and worry. My mom always thought Vivian was a good girl. She kept telling me, "Don't treat Vivian badly." Actually, the last time my mom fell was connected to Vivian too. That day, Vivian Lincoln made a bet with Kevin Clark, saying she wanted to see if my mom with Alzheimer's still remembered Andy. She ran to the hospital and told my mom, "Andy got hit by a car and died." My mom panicked, jumped up from her bed, and dashed out without watching the stairs—she fell right down. Later, I asked Vivian why she did that. She just smiled and said, "I was just having a bet with Kevin." Since then, Vivian never went back to the hospital.