Chapter 40

When I answered the phone, I could hear Mom crying on the other end. Her sobs made my chest tighten and my head throb. I forced my voice to remain steady. "What's wrong now?" "Your father is hopeless. He gambled again and lost another five million dollars." "What?" I could no longer hold back my fury and shouted, "Our family is already in this state, and yet he still goes gambling? Does he want to drive us to the brink of ruin before he's satisfied?" "Ari…" "How can you speak like that?" Dad grabbed the phone. "I'm gambling to try to win more money and get our family back on track. What did I do wrong?" "But did you win? Have you ever won?" I cried out in anger. "Stop using 'getting us a better life' as an excuse. You're just addicted to gambling, you just can't help yourself." "Alright, alright. The money's lost now. I don't want this either. Just go and ask Zane for money. Try to get at least 20 million dollars from him." "I'm not going!" I shouted in frustration. Dad grew