Rumors on New Year's Eve
There weren't many cars on the highway; a thin layer of frost coated the road, and a light mist fogged the windows.
Frankie Carr gripped the steering wheel, his fingers tapping occasionally on the leather seat, humming an off-key tune.
I leaned against the front passenger seat, watching the trees blur rapidly outside the window, my heart full of anticipation for the family reunion dinner.
Suddenly, a black sedan suddenly flicked on its turn signal from the right lane, trying to cut into the line ahead of us.
Frankie's singing stopped abruptly. He slammed on the brakes and honked the horn loudly until it reverberated through everything.
"Do you even know how to drive?" Frankie Carr leaned out and shouted at the unlicensed driver, his face full of impatience.
The unlicensed driver quickly stopped, pushed open the door, and ran over, his eyes red and his forehead dripping with sweat.
"Please, just let me go ahead first." The unlicensed driver pressed his hands together, his voice trembling with tears.
"My wife is about to give birth; I have to get to the hospital ahead quickly."
My heart tightened. Instinctively, I tugged on Frankie's arm, trying to make him show some mercy.
But Frankie Carr shrugged off my hand and sneered, "Your wife's about to give birth? Sounds like you're just desperate to cut in line."
The unlicensed driver anxiously stomped his feet, tears nearly streaming down:
"It's true, look—I still have the maternity bag in my car. If this delay continues, my wife and child will be in danger."
"Don't try that with me." Frankie Carr leaned against the car door, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Everyone's eager to get home for the New Year. Why should it be you? If you want to cut in line, wait your turn. Don't act so pitiful here."
I looked at Frankie Carr's cold expression and suddenly felt like he was a stranger to me.
He wasn't like this before. Just last time, when he saw an elderly person crossing the street, he even stopped the car to let them pass. How has he become so heartless now?
The unlicensed driver was still begging desperately, but Frankie just sat back in his car, started the engine, and inched forward, blocking the unlicensed taxi even more.
"You'd better leave quickly. Don't block the way here." Frankie rolled down the window, his tone dripping with provocation. "If you don't move, I'll call the police and report you for maliciously cutting in line."
The unlicensed driver looked at Frankie Carr's resolute expression, shook his head helplessly, and slowly walked back to his car, gently backing up to give us room.
The car started moving again, but my good mood was completely gone.
I glanced at Frankie Carr, who still looked indifferent, even saying to me, "People like that are just spoiled; the more you give in, the more they take advantage."
I opened my mouth to say something, but the words caught in my throat and I swallowed them back.
In that moment, it felt as if something was blocking my heart—heavy and unsettling.
The car kept moving forward, but Frankie's mood grew increasingly agitated.
He turned the music up loud and gripped the steering wheel tightly, swerving rapidly from side to side within the lane.
I clutched the armrest tightly, my heart pounding; several times we nearly crashed into the guardrail beside us.
"Frankie, slow down, this is too dangerous." My voice trembled slightly, "There aren't many cars on the road, but you still can't drive like this."
Frankie glanced at me dismissively and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Don't you trust my skills? I could drive this road with my eyes closed."
With that, he suddenly accelerated, overtaking the truck ahead, and the car jolted slightly.
I was so scared I shut my eyes, my palms drenched in sweat.
Just then, a white car caught up from behind, repeatedly honking and flashing its hazard lights.
Frankie Carr cursed impatiently and eased off the accelerator.
The driver of the white car leaned out; he was a middle-aged man, his face etched with worry:
"Could you please let me through? My child has a high fever—almost 40 degrees—and we need to get to the hospital urgently."
I thought Frankie would agree this time—after all, the child was sick and the situation was urgent.
But unexpectedly, Frankie Carr sneered, "Your child with a fever, and you're making such a fuss?"
"Don't you have any fever medicine at home? Why insist on going to the hospital right in the middle of the New Year, just to cause trouble?"
The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, clearly not expecting Frankie Carr's words, and his eyes welled up with tears:
"The fever medicine isn't working. My child is starting to have convulsions. If we don't get to the hospital soon, it will be too late."
"That's your problem. What does it have to do with me?" Frankie Carr said this as he sped up, deliberately edging closer to the white sedan and nearly scraping it.
The driver of the white sedan quickly hit the brakes, avoiding a collision. He looked at Frankie's retreating figure and sighed helplessly.
I sat in the front passenger seat, fear and disappointment flooding over me like a tide.
Is this still the Frankie Carr I know?
How can he be so cold, so cruel?
"Frankie, stop the car!" I finally shouted, my voice trembling with tears. "You're driving way too dangerously—I don't want to ride with you anymore."
Frankie Carr seemed not to hear at all and kept driving, muttering, "You're really making a mountain out of a molehill, crying over such small things."
I stared out the window, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
Regret washed over me—I regretted going back to my hometown with him, I regretted ever agreeing to be with him.
The car was still speeding down the highway, but my heart had already gone cold.
All the way, I didn't say a single word to Frankie Carr. My mind was consumed by only one thought: breaking up with him.
The car exited the highway, getting closer and closer to my home village, and the houses along the roadside gradually grew more frequent.
"Frankie Carr, stop the car." I spoke again, my voice calm but unwavering.
Frankie frowned. "We're almost at the village. Why stop now?"
"I said stop!" I raised my voice. "I don't want to ride in your car anymore. I'll drive myself."
Frankie glanced at me, saw the serious expression on my face — it was no joke — and reluctantly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the car door, walked over to the driver's seat, and motioned for him to get out.
Although Frankie Carr was reluctant, he slowly moved over to the front passenger seat.
I settled into the driver's seat, adjusted the seat and rearview mirror, and started the car.
The moment I gripped the steering wheel, I felt a lot more at ease.
The car drove steadily toward the village. Frankie sat beside me, his face sullen, but he didn't say a word.
When we reached the village entrance, I parked under an old locust tree and turned off the engine.
"Let's break up." I turned my head to look at Frankie Carr and spoke clearly, word by word.
Frankie was stunned; he clearly hadn't expected me to bring up breaking up at this moment.
"Bella, don't be making a fuss. Is it because of what just happened? I apologized?"
"I'm not making a fuss." I shook my head, my gaze steady. "Frankie, after today, I've realized I don't truly know you."
"I can't accept your coldness and selfishness. We won't be happy together."
"All this over such a trivial matter?" Frankie's tone grew a bit agitated. "I'm not being cold—I just don't want to get bullied by others."
"Why can't you understand me?"
"This isn't a small matter." I looked at him.
"When someone is in trouble, offering help is the most basic kindness. But you chose to turn a blind eye and even mocked them."
"Someone like you frightens me."
Frankie Carr tried to say more, but I cut him off: "I've made up my mind. You don't need to persuade me anymore. Drive the car back yourself; I'll walk home."
With that, I opened the car door, grabbed the backpack on the front passenger seat, and headed into the village.
"Bella, wait for me!" Frankie Carr hurried after me, grabbing my arm.
"I know I was wrong. I'll never do it again. Please, just give me one more chance, okay?"
I shrugged off his hand without slowing down. "Frankie, it's over between us. Let go."
Frankie stood rooted to the spot, watching my determined back, his face fluctuating between pale and flushed.
I didn't look back and kept walking steadily toward home.
Though I felt some sadness, it was outweighed by a sense of relief.
I knew that only by leaving him could I truly find happiness.
I thought that after I told Frankie Carr we were breaking up, he would completely give up.
But to my surprise, early the next morning, he showed up at my house.
My mom opened the door, and when she saw him, her expression immediately darkened and her tone turned very cold: "What are you here for?"
Frankie forced a smile and was carrying a large bag of fruit. "I'm here to see Bella. I want to have a serious talk with her."
"Talk about what?" I came out of my room and looked at him. "Didn't we already make things clear yesterday? We're broken up."
"Bella, I know you're still angry." Frankie Carr walked up to me, his eyes filled with pleading.
"I truly realize my mistake. Please give me another chance—I promise I will change."
My mom set the fruit aside, pulled me onto the sofa, and looked at Frankie.
"Frankie, no offense, but what you did yesterday was really over the line. Bella breaking up with you is completely justified."
Frankie rubbed his hands nervously, clearly embarrassed. "Auntie, I was out of line yesterday. I promise I'll never act like that again."
"I sincerely love Bella, and I want to marry her."
"Marry?" My mom raised an eyebrow. "You want to marry Bella? Then let me ask you—how much bride price have you prepared? Have you bought a house?"
Frankie's expression changed instantly. He stammered, "Bride price... my parents said we'll discuss it when we get married."
"As for the house, I'm a bit tight on money right now, so I haven't bought it yet."
"No house? And no bride price prepared?" My mom sneered, "Frankie, are you trying to marry empty-handed?"
"Our Bella is beautiful and has a steady job, so why should she suffer with you?"
"Auntie, that's not what I meant." Frankie Carr quickly explained, "I'm saving money right now. In two years, I'm sure I can buy a house."
"As for the bride price, I will try to prepare more as well."
"In two years?" My mom was adamant, "Who knows what two years from now will be like? I don't want my daughter marrying you without a stable home."
Frankie looked at me, then at my mom, and suddenly said, "Bella, don't you still have some savings?"
"We can take out your savings, and along with the money I've saved, put down a down payment and buy a smaller house first."
"When we have more money later, we can upgrade to a bigger one."
I could hardly believe my ears—he actually wanted me to use my own savings to buy a house?
"Frankie Carr, are you crazy?" I stood up and looked at him. "My savings are money I worked hard to earn myself; they have nothing to do with you."
"If you want to buy a house, then go earn the money yourself. Don't set your sights on mine."
Frankie's face instantly flushed red. He looked at me, his tone growing agitated: "Bella, how can you say that?"
"We're going to live together from now on. Isn't your money basically my money?"
"I asked you to take the money out to buy the house because I'm thinking about our future! How can you not care about our future at all?"
"Thinking about our future?" I sneered, "Your so-called concern for our future just means you want me to sacrifice my own interests to satisfy your needs, doesn't it?"
"Frankie Carr, you're too selfish. There's really nothing left to discuss between us. You should leave at once and stop bothering our family."
Frankie Carr tried to say something, but my mom stood up immediately and pushed him toward the door: "You'd better leave now. We do not welcome you. Don't come looking for Bella again."
Frankie Carr was pushed out the door by my mom. He stood at the doorstep, shot me a fierce glare, and then stormed off angrily.
Watching his retreating figure, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.
I knew this time, I hadn't made the wrong choice.
I thought that after my mom drove Frankie Carr away, he wouldn't come back to bother me.
But unexpectedly, three days later in the afternoon, he showed up at my house with his parents.
When my mom opened the door and saw the three of them, her face instantly turned cold. She didn't even let them in. "What are you doing here? You're not welcome in this house."
Frankie Carr's mother was a short, stout woman. She stood with her hands on her hips, wearing a look of disdain. "How dare you speak that way?"
"We're here to discuss Frankie and Bella's marriage. How can you be so rude?"
"Marriage?" My mom sneered, "Our Bella has already broken up with Frankie. What marriage is there to talk about?"
"You'd better leave quickly and stop causing trouble at our door."
"Break up? My son doesn't agree!" Frankie's father stepped forward. He was tall, with a face full of thick flesh.
"My son has been with Bella for so long, and their relationship has always been strong. How could he just break up with her so easily? I believe your family is deliberately making things difficult to demand a higher bride price."
"Our family is not as petty as yours." My mom lost her temper too.
"It's Frankie Carr who didn't do well. If he breaks up with our Bella, he deserves it."
"What's wrong with my son?" Frankie Carr's mother started shouting loudly.
"My son is handsome, has a great job, and being able to be with your Bella is truly her blessing. Yet you're still not satisfied—such greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant."
I stepped out of the room and looked at their whole family, filled with disgust. "Stop spouting nonsense here."
"I'm the one breaking up with Frankie Carr. This has nothing to do with my parents. You should leave quickly and stop causing trouble in our home."
Frankie tugged on his mother's arm and said to me, "Bella, let's talk this out calmly."
"My parents came this time to discuss my marriage with you."
"Our family has agreed that all wedding expenses will be split equally, so no bride price. As for the house, we'll save up to buy it together later. What do you think?"
"Split the bill? No bride price?" I could hardly believe my ears. "Frankie Carr, do you think I'm stupid?"
"Marriage is such a big deal, and you actually want to split the costs and not pay a bride price? Do you really think that's possible?"
"Why not?" Frankie Carr's mother quickly interjected, "What era are we in now? Why still fuss over bride price?"
"When two people marry, the expenses should be shared. Our Frankie has it tough too—can't you be more understanding toward him?"
Download the SnackShort app, Search 【 526553 】reads the whole book.
My Fiction
SnackShort
Booklite« Previous Post
Breaking Free from the Love Trap
Next Post »
After I Died on the Operating Table