Chapter 3

I asked Bob and Annie to come partly to liven things up, but also because Annie could genuinely help solve many things.

Maya and I went from campus sweethearts to husband and wife.

I started my business when I was in college.

After graduation, Maya got a good job.

Apart from Bob and Annie, everyone envied our marriage. We were a loving couple: one was stable, and the other earned a lot.

However, Maya completely inherited her parents' arrogance. When we were dating and newly married, I thought it was a good thing for a woman to have a higher vision. Besides, nobody was perfect. Her having a high vision was also the motivation for me to improve.

However, as the years went by, she grew more and more disdainful of me for being a "businessman". She spent my money extravagantly, yet claimed to be a successful career woman. We had no children and lived in different rooms.

At home, I needed to serve her like a servant, meeting all her emotional and practical needs. Even though I did my best, it was still not enough for her.

After returning home, she used the same rhetoric from her department to scold me.

When I discussed it with her, she said with a disgusted expression that I knew nothing. All she talked about was how hard the men in her department worked and how respectable the people in the government department were. Even the lowest‑paid contractors at her department were better than me.

The hotel manager, Henry Bennett, arrived quickly. "Good afternoon, ma'am. How may I help you?"

Annie crossed her arms. She had always looked down on service staff. "My daughter booked a room here. It is a major holiday; why am I not allowed to go upstairs?"

Henry bowed slightly and maintained a polite demeanor. "Of course, ma'am. How about this: tell me which room she is in, and I will escort you there myself."

"If I already knew the room number, would I need you to show me the way?"

Annie's rage surged, and her voice rose. "Take me upstairs right now. Do you know where my daughter works? One complaint from me, and your hotel could be shut down for rectification."

Henry nodded with a smile, yet remained firm. "I apologize for the unpleasant experience, ma'am, but we have strict rules against disclosing guest privacy. How about I make an exception today? Give me your daughter's name, and I can call to verify. Would that be acceptable?"

Annie snorted coldly. "That is more like it."

Before she could tell him Maya's name, I interjected, "We already called earlier, but no one answered. If my wife were free, she would not ignore our calls."

There was no way we should use the internal room phone. She would definitely answer it. If she did, she would realize we were there, and all my efforts today would go to waste.

Henry immediately offered a second option. "How about this? I will take you all to the reception lounge to rest first. You can head up once your wife answers. How does that sound?"

That would not work either. The whole point of my plan was the element of surprise.

If I could not rush straight up there without Maya knowing, this plan would be pointless.

Before I could speak, Bob waved his hand dismissively. "Let us do that then. We cannot just hang around the lobby; it is inappropriate. And you are always so unreliable when handling things; no wonder you are just a businessman."

Just as I tried to think of an excuse to stop them, a few familiar figures appeared at the entrance. They were colleagues from Maya's department.