– You’re mistaken, we’re renting this apartment, the girl smiled uneasily.
“He’s not the right one for you!” repeated Mrs. Alice Mathers for the hundredth time. “One day you’ll see that for yourself!”
“Mum, don’t worry, since you’re so sure that day will come,” laughed Sarah in response.
Naturally, Sarah was very irritated by her mother’s stance against her relationship with Tom, but she wasn’t about to give him up just because her mother wanted her to.
On the contrary, Sarah took pleasure in defying her mother and pointing out that everything was going well with Tom.
“Where are you off to?” asked Alice strictly, seeing her daughter packing.
“Tom and I have decided to rent a flat,” Sarah announced happily.
“And with what money? He’s not just lazy, he’s broke,” scoffed Alice.
“Mum, Tom and I will split the rent. Don’t forget, we both have jobs!”
“Remind me where it is Tom works, then?” Alice smirked with skepticism. “A factory, is it?”
“Why must it be a factory job to earn money?! You’ve got an outdated view of the world. Tom works from home.”
“He’s lying to you, Sarah!” shouted Alice indignantly. “You’re the only one working hard. You can tell by his face he’s a conman!”
“Mum, stop slandering him!” Sarah retorted angrily. “Alright, goodbye, I’ll call you.”
Sarah dragged her belongings out without wanting to talk any more with her overly suspicious mother.
That same evening, Sarah and Tom moved into a one-bedroom flat, which he’d found through friends.
During the day, Sarah studied at the local teachers’ college, and in the evenings she worked as a cleaner in two shops.
Tom worked strictly from home. Sarah didn’t dig too deeply into what he did exactly.
What mattered was that he brought in money, and they split the rent and grocery bills.
Everything seemed fine in their relationship. What puzzled Sarah was that he never introduced her to his friends.
She’d twice brought it up, but Tom always dodged the topic, though he suggested she invite her own friends over.
“How will we celebrate your birthday?” Sarah asked three months later.
“I don’t really want to celebrate,” Tom grimaced.
“Tom, you’re turning twenty-five! It’s a milestone! We should,” insisted Sarah.
“No money for a restaurant…”
“Let’s invite your friends here! I’ll cook, it’ll be cheaper. Come on, Tom,” pleaded Sarah, and eventually, he gave in.
On the designated day, Sarah spent her time in the kitchen until she could barely stand.
She was slicing salads, frying burgers, and roasting chicken. Tom didn’t lift a finger.
By 7 p.m., his friends arrived. There were more of them than expected.
They were very loud, and Sarah soon grew tired of them. Citing a need to be alone, she stepped out onto the balcony.
However, her peace didn’t last. Within minutes, Nicky, a friend of Tom’s, joined her.
“You’re lucky, Sarah, snagged a guy with a flat,” Nicky said enviously. “Did you know beforehand?”
“What flat? Does Tom have a flat?” asked Sarah, surprised.
“Of course, he does,” Nicky replied in astonishment. “You’re living in it, aren’t you?”
“How?” Sarah blinked nervously. “You’re wrong, we’re renting it.”
“You can’t be renting, this place belongs to Tom from his grandmother on his dad’s side. I’ve been here loads, and he’s lived here for five years,” Nicky countered.
Sarah stared at Nicky, trying to sort through the new information.
“You didn’t know?” asked Nicky. “He didn’t tell you? Guess he wanted to see if you were after money.”
Nicky burst into loud laughter, seemingly to mock Sarah.
“Tom,” Sarah approached him as he drank with friends, “we need to talk!”
“Later. The guys are sharing a hilarious joke,” Tom waved her off like a pesky fly.
“No, we’ll talk now!” Sarah insisted.
“Fine, talk in front of everyone,” Tom grumbled, sipping from his can.
“Why didn’t you tell me you own this flat?” Sarah demanded, arms akimbo.
“I don’t own anything,” Tom feigned a smile.
“And this flat? Whose is it?”
“Yeah, whose is it?” Nicky chimed in from behind Sarah. “Yours! All your friends will say so!”
“Sure, of course,” his friends chimed in eagerly.
“So you lied to me? Wait, then who are we paying rent to?” Sarah asked in shock. “You?”
Tom grinned foolishly and laughed nervously, caught in his lie.
Indeed, for the past three months, the rent money had been going straight to Tom’s pocket.
Tom had schemed the entire time. Sarah had never transferred money to a landlord or even met one.
Now the ugly truth was revealed that the money Sarah contributed went into Tom’s pocket.
“You’re such a scoundrel, Tom!” Sarah said with tears in her eyes, and she began packing her things.
She no longer wanted to live with a liar. His deception and greed had ruined everything good between them. That same evening, Sarah returned to her mother.
“Mum, you were right,” Sarah admitted tearfully and explained how Tom had deceived her for months.
After that, Sarah and her ex never crossed paths again. However, rumors reached her that Tom and Nicky had moved in together.
