The Mystery of Revenge (10 page)

A few months after becoming friends, Yi-yun revealed a painful secret; she was on the verge of being deported because she didn’t have the money to stay in college. She had been working day and night, but what she made as a part-time bartender could hardly cover her living expenses, not to mention the full-blown private school tuition, which mounted to tens of thousands of dollars a year. To legally remain in the US, she had to maintain her F-1 student visa. But to keep her visa, she had to pay off her tuition, which was so obviously beyond her financial capability. When she explored the possibility of transferring to a cheaper school, such as the state-run UMass, she found out that being a foreigner, she had to pay triple of what an in-state resident would have to pay. So it made absolutely no difference which school she attended. She had to pay or
leave.

Fang Chen was devastated when he heard this news because he hated to lose the girl who in a very short period of time had become the center of his life. Without thinking twice, he decided to help her out financially. Being from a rich family, he could easily ask his parents for help, but Fang Chen was reluctant to do so because he had been independent for years. Ever since enrolling in graduate school, he had been living on a humble teaching assistant’s salary, never asking his parents for any help. Fortunately, he had saved a reasonable sum from the money his parents had been sending over for birthdays and
holidays.

Yi-yun burst into tears when he showed her a paid receipt for her tuition of the semester. Crying and laughing at the same time, she offered to pay him back with cooking and housekeeping. Unsurprisingly, they became romantically involved within a week, proving to Fang Chen that he had made the smartest move after
all.

“You can always share my place if you want to. No need to pay rent,” he offered when she complained about her job at China Dragon. She said she hated it so much that she would quit immediately if only she could find a way to pay her
rent.

“You’re so sweet,” she said gratefully. “You don’t know how much this means to me.” She sighed longingly. “Now the only thing I have to do is go to school. Oh, it’d be amazing if I could quit school as well.” Who could blame her? College was hard. The heavy workload plus a part-time job would be unbearable for someone as delicate as Yi-yun. It was a miracle that she hadn’t suffered a nervous
breakdown.

Getting married made it possible for Yi-yun to quit everything. As Fang Chen’s wife, she became a legal alien, able to stay in the US as long as she wanted. Both of them accepted their union as a blessing. For him, it was a dream came true; for her, it was a timely
relief.

However, the marriage wasn’t problem-free. Less than a year into happy and peaceful family life, Yi-yun started to complain about being bored after spent half of his savings on clothing and other stuff. Even though he went through hell when she was in one of her sour moods, he never regretted marrying her. She was the love of his life. The real relief came when Yi-yun met June, who was able to provide her with the entertainment and companionship that Fang Chen couldn’t afford in his final year at
school.

After befriending with June, Yi-yun was happy, at least for the first few months. Then she met Tom. Fang Chen had to admit the guy was talented, but he was never blind to the fact that Tom was a penniless and hopeless loser. After all, why would Yi-yun, who loved money and comfortable life, fall in love with a man who had no
money?

Never being a jealous guy, Fang Chen smelled a rat when he first saw them together at the Ritz. Yi-yun was so fascinated by his music that she didn’t even know what the planet she was on. Looking at those captivating eyes of hers, Fang Chen wished he didn’t quit his piano when he was a teenager. The admiration she had for the pianist reminded him the time they first met. She used to be so enthralled by his goals and dreams. The poor soul, she’s just too naive to see the real value. Who cared about classic music anymore? Even the big-name orchestras were losing money every
year.

At the dinner table that night, Fang Chen had tried to draw her attention by talking about his recent work, the multiple projects he had been handling in vain. While looking at her husband out of politeness, her mind was a thousand miles
away.

How upset he was when he finally realized that her heart had been a thousand miles away as well. She was no longer in love with him, and she totally forgot what he had done for her. She forgot the day when she was sobbing in his arms because she was broke; she forgot the fact that he had prevented her from being disgracefully deported. Since they were together, he had always put her needs above his own, and he had been working very hard to provide her a comfortable home. Yet for a mere penniless musician, she was ready to throw them all away. His heart wrenched with pain when he looked at her; even in her sleep, she was stunningly beautiful. Poor Yi-yun; she was so
lost!

Driven by a sudden tender impulse, Fang Chen turned to his wife and kissed her. Her eyelids trembled when he touched her lips. “Dear,” she said, half-opening her eyes. “What time is it now?” she asked, yawning
lazily.

“Three o’clock,” he said, throwing his arms around
her.

“No, please don’t.” She frowned and moved away while grabbing the blanket to cover her. “I need some sleep,” she said it in such a disgusted tone that sounded like a knife thrust right into his heart. The bitch! Fang Chen was furious. Who did she think she was? She was his wife, the legally married wife. How dare her to refuse him while flirting with another man! Swearing loudly, Fang Chen pulled the blanket away from her and flipped her body over with both
hands.

“Don’t ever talk to me like that, Yi-yun!” he shouted while tearing her nightgown off violently. “As long as you’re my wife, I can fuck you whenever I want
to.”

Yi-yun was horrified. “No,” she screamed. She was totally thrown off-balance as he had never been so violent before. Struggling madly, she tried in vain to push him away with her hands and legs as the fury and anger had turned Fang Chen into a beast that had no brain but incredulous
strength.

Gentle in nature, Fang Chen had always been polite and caring even when he was dying from his craving for his wife and lovemaking. Never before had he forced Yi-yun into anything. He was so doted on her that he was willing to sacrifice as long as she was happy. What was the return he got from his kindness, he wondered, nothing but betrayal! She had never appreciated his efforts, and his love, not even once! She took everything for granted, the spiteful
woman!

He grabbed her breasts, pressing them ruthlessly. “Listen,” he cried, “as long as you’re living under my roof, you’ll do what I
want.”

Yi-yun screamed, and the screams turned into pitiful moaning when he forcefully entered her. “Stop! Oh please, stop!” she sobbed when he worked his way in and out as fiercely as a mad
man.

Her tears wouldn’t soften his heart anymore as he laughed loudly with the thrill of revenge. What a feeling! He was totally in charge, the first time ever in their marriage. He moved his body, quickly and roughly, as much as he pleased. He was free after all those days and months of expecting and waiting. Now, he didn’t need to think about her anymore when he’s doing his business. He moved so freely that he almost melted into the utmost joy that he had never tasted
before.

Yi-yun was quiet when he finally finished, biting her lips. Tears had wetted her pillow while her body trembled helplessly. Exhausted and satisfied, Fang Chen turned away from her and closed his
eyes.

“A week later, she asked for a divorce and left,” he said dully. “I haven’t seen her
since.”

Paul Winderman shifted in his chair. Here was the man who loved the victim; yes, Paul was sure Fang Chen still loved his ex-wife even though she had hurt him deeply and mercilessly. Was he hurt enough that the love had turned into hate? Could he kill the woman, if he wanted revenge? He looked at Fang Chen searchingly. “Where were you the day when she was
killed?”

“Either in my office or in the
classroom.”

“Any eyewitness?” he
asked.

“Everyone in my class can vouch for me. I am not sure if anyone could vouch for me when I was in my office, you’ll just have to take my word for
it.”

“You’re sure you never saw her again, not even in your divorce
proceeding?”

Fang Chen shook his head. “My lawyer did everything for me. You can ask him. He sent her the forms, and she signed them. That was it. She knew she wouldn’t get anything from me, and she didn’t.”

Paul Winderman thought for a while. “While at it, we have to consider all the possibilities. The death of your ex-wife looks very much like a homicide, but you never know, it could be a suicide if she had an accomplice,” he said, looking at him. Paul Winderman liked to throw out random baits during interviews, he liked to see what would hit and what would stick. There were so many strange cases out there that nothing out of ordinary would surprise him, especially in this case. He still had his doubts on quite a few things, such as why the victim had to be killed if it wasn’t an incidental death as the pillow demonstrated? Who would benefit from such a death in addition to victim’s
boyfriend?

He thought he saw a strange light behind Fang Chen’s thick glasses. His lips twisted, but no sound came out of
it.

So he went on. “The forensic team is checking the gun residues. Even slightest trace on her hands will probably change the course of our
investigation.”

Fang Chen swallowed hard, and Paul Winderman could see his Adam’s apple moving rapidly. When he met Paul Winderman’s eyes, however, he said calmly: “As a scientist myself, I wouldn’t be so sure about the forensics. Her body was recovered several days after she was killed. Being at room temperature for so long, the best result would be
inconclusive.”

“It’s possible,” Paul Winderman had to admit. He had totally forgotten Fang Chen was now an assistant professor at Northeastern University, teaching chemistry. Damn
it.

“There is no way she would kill herself,” glaring at the detective, Fang Chen added vehemently. “She’s not the suicide type. She was definitely killed by her boyfriend. She was pregnant, and he didn’t want the child to interfere with his new life, so he killed them both! Don’t forget, there are two victims in this case, not
one!”

Not many times Paul Winderman had found himself speechless; this was definitely one of them. “Just don’t leave the city,” he said after a few minutes. “We’ll probably want to speak to you
again.”

Chapter 11

Yi-yun decided to keep her job at China Dragon for a while longer because she was desperately in need of replenishing her wardrobe, not only replacing the casual wears she had left behind at Fang Chen’s apartment but acquiring a few fancy evening dresses as well. As soon as the season started at the Symphony Hall, she became one of the regulars, proudly watching Tom Meyers playing on stage. When the audience gave him a standing ovation, she was the proudest of
all!

Life had been sweet since she moved in with Tom. During the day while she was working(she had changed her shift so she could attend his concerts at night), Tom practiced at home or rehearsed at Symphony Hall. When she was home in late afternoon, Tom would have done practicing if there was no concert that
night.

A few months ago, Yi-yun had broken the news to her parents that she had divorced her husband. Sensed the grievous worries in their returning letter, she told them reassuringly that she was getting remarried soon. She wouldn’t dare to tell them the truth because they would never understand. In China, only call girls lived with men without being
married.

Along with her latest letter, she had also attached one of Tom’s tapes, which impressed them enormously. Her mother told her that her father had been listening to it every day. Yi-yun’s father was a music buff who listened to music even in the bathroom. During the Culture Revolution, he was forced to live without music for ten years. As soon as the ban was lifted, he brought home a tape recorder and ran it nonstop ever
since.