Chapter 2
Wringing my hands, I shamefully explained why I had come.
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Charles’s expression darkened instantly, though the smile never left his face. “And why,” he asked, “would you think I’d help you?”
It was the reaction I’d anticipated. Pleading was useless. All I could do was offer a hollow laugh. “Fine, forget it.”
It made sense. After the way my family had treated him, it was a miracle he hadn’t sought revenge. Who was I to ask him for a favor? The sheer audacity made my cheeks burn with shame, and all I wanted was to flee.
He stopped me. “So, what are you offering to make it worth my while? If the price is right, helping you isn’t out of the question.”
I stood frozen, scrambling for an answer. What did I have that he could possibly want? My body? The thought was almost laughable.
If he had wanted me, he’d had every opportunity during our three–year marriage. Countless nights sharing a room, yet he never once laid a hand on me.
I hung my head, utterly defeated. “Please, just forget I came.”
Suddenly, Charles closed the distance between us. He was so tall that he towered over me. He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear, and chuckled softly, “Dressed like that, and now you’re going to act innocent?”
His words sent a wave of humiliation crashing through me. I was mortified, my every instinct screaming at me to run.
Then his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer. His smirk was downright wicked. “For three years of marriage, I slept on the floor. It’s been ages since I’ve been with you. How about you offer yourself to change my mind?”
My eyes went wide. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “W–what did you say?”
His stare deepened, those tense eyes holding mine until a nervous heat crept up my neck. Without a word, he finally glanced down, catching the strap of my dress with a single finger and drawing it slowly downward.
My face flushed hot. I pushed him away, anger rising. “It’s okay for you to turn me down. I never really expected you to lift a finger for my family anyway. But you don’t have to insult me.”
Charles watched me, an unreadable mix of irritation and amusement on his face. “You think this is me insulting you?”
“Isn’t it?” I asked. He was into someone else. What else could this be but an insult?
He turned abruptly and sank back into his chair. When he looked up again, his eyes had turned cold. A frosty smile played on his lips. “You put effort into your appearance, but none into your attitude. Since that’s how it is, you can leave.”
I’d already known he wouldn’t help. Without another word, I turned and walked out.
The moment I stepped out of his office building, my parents rushed over. “Well?” my father asked anxiously. “Is he going to help?”
I shook my head.
He cursed under his breath. “That ungrateful bastard! Now that he’s made it, he’s turned on us. I never should’ve let you marry him in the first place. He’s gone too far.”
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Chapter 2
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My mother nodded bitterly. “Yeah. He always acted so meek and obedient. Who knew he had a knife behind his smile?”
I let out a helpless sigh. “Let’s not go that far. He never used our connections or took our money. How is he ungrateful? Honestly… it’s no surprise he won’t help. Not after how we treated him.”
My parents pressed their lips together and fell silent, worry etched deeply on their faces. Seeing them like that gave me an even bigger headache.
That night, lan took out his phone and called every one of his old buddies, one by one, hoping someone would lend a hand.
There was a time when lan only had to call for drinks, and they’d all show up in a heartbeat. But now, not a single one dared
to answer.
lan was so furious that he smashed his phone against the wall, raging about how fake and disloyal they all were.
1 curled up under the blanket, trying to calm him down. “Just let it go, lan. People can be so cold when you’re down.”
My mother sat crying softly beside us.
With our family in this state, a comeback seemed like a distant dream. The real nightmare was the debt. Collectors show up almost every day, making life unbearable.
My father turned to me again, voice strained. “Annie, are you sure you won’t go talk to Charles again? He’s got money now. Surely he could spare some.”
My mom chimed in, sniffling, “That’s right. Even after a divorce, there should be something you could claim, shouldn’t there?”
I pulled the covers tighter, too afraid to tell them Charles left me with nothing. They’d only curse him even more.
lan snapped, “Enough! Don’t push Anna like this. We treated him poorly before. And now you want her to go beg? That’s just humiliating.”
My mom looked up suddenly, concerned. “Charles didn’t… disrespect you today, did he?”
I shook my head quickly. “No, he didn’t.”
She murmured, almost to herself, “Well, Charles was always honest. And he listened to you. Even though we’ve fallen on hard times, he always admired you. Why would he hurt you now?”
1 forced an awkward smile and stayed silent.
Dad sighed heavily, his eyes drifting toward the open balcony. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth going on,” he said quietly. Mom broke down crying again at his words.
Watching them like this, my head throbbed. Truth was, what we really needed right now was to scrape together whatever money we could to pay off at least some of the debt.
After a few days, as soon as I was feeling a bit better, I headed out to find a job.
To be honest, regular jobs didn’t pay much, and the money came slow. But working as a promoter at a high–end club made. good money.
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Chapter 2
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I used to come here with friends all the time, handing out generous tips like it was nothing. So, I went back to the same club I knew well.
The manager recognized me right away. He remembered the old days and hired me on the spot, putting me in the VIP section. Important clients, bigger tabs and better tips seemed like a sure thing.
But I never expected to run into Charles in one of those private rooms. When we were married, he wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this.
He hated it when I went out drinking, always called it shady and tried to stop me. I’d just laugh, insult him, and shoo him
away.
Looking back, Charles always played the perfect gentleman. But tonight, there he was–front and center, legs crossed, cigarette in hand, with this sly, almost arrogant smirk on his face. Honestly, he looked kind of hot. Turned out all that politeness was just an act.
He was staring right at me, calm and cold, like he was looking down on me. I wanted to sink through the floor. If I’d known he was here, I never would’ve walked in.
Just as I was scrambling to hide or escape, I heard a round of mocking whistles.
I glanced over and realized Charles‘ friends were actually the same guys Ian and I used to party with. Now, of course, they were all trying to get in good with Charles.
They knew how I treated Charles back then. And now, to score points with him, they were definitely going to make my life miserable. Time to go, before this got any worse.
Just as I was easing the drink cart toward the door, hoping to slip out unnoticed, a voice cut through the noise. It was Sam.
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