Though I tried to distance myself from Derek's train wreck of a life, the scandal was too loud to ignore. He was an alumnus involved in a massive public fallout; gossip followed him everywhere. As I shadowed my professor on cases, updates drifted my way.
Derek, unable to care for himself, relied entirely on Chelsea. And in that intimacy, he started noticing quirks.
Chelsea guarded the bathroom like a fortress, locking the door for every shower. Her strength was unnatural—she hauled a heavy gas cylinder up five flights one-handed.
Yet Derek bragged on social media: "My Chelsea is such a tough girl. So straightforward and cute!"
Then came the rumor that someone saw Chelsea urinating standing up.
Derek's defense was immediate and delusional: "It's a European lifestyle trend. You peasants wouldn't understand. Chelsea is forward-thinking!"
Reading the classmates' mocking reposts, I laughed until my ribs ached.
Desperate to prove he didn't need the Finch fortune, Derek dragged his crippled body to deliver takeout. But with weak hands and a lame leg, he was fired within two days after a barrage of complaints.
Finally, Chelsea "couldn't bear to watch" and produced a stack of cash.