Chapter 2

I stood there wringing my fingers in shame as I explained why I had come.

Joseph's gaze grew stern as he asked, "And why do you think I should help you?"

It was clear that I had been right to think he would reject me. "Please, forget I even came."

After everything we put him through, my family should be happy he wasn't seeking revenge. To come here asking him for help was foolish.

I'd swallowed my pride for my parents' sake, but obviously, we'd get no help from him.

I was beginning to get angry at myself for even trying.

I started to leave but he called me back. "Tell me. What do you have to offer in return? If I feel like it's worth it, then I'm sure we can make a deal."

I froze in my tracks. My mind was whirring but I could think of nothing to offer him.

Nothing except my body.

But if he wanted that, we'd been married for three years. While we didn't share a bed, we at least shared a room.

In three years, he'd never once made a move.

I lowered my head, mumbling through my shame, "Just forget I came."

Unexpectedly, he walked over and stood in front of me. He was a good head taller than me.

He leaned over slightly and pressed his lips against my ear. "You came here dressed like that. Why play coy now?"

I felt my body stiffen and my shame burned even brighter. I wanted so desperately to turn and run.

He put his hands around my waist and flashed me a knowing smile. "Three years of marriage. Every night, sleeping alone on the floor. You don't think I've dreamed of that body of yours? Why not offer me that?"

My eyes grew wide. For a moment, I doubted my own ears. At last, I asked, "What are you saying?"

He stared at me, his eyes as deep and impenetrable as a bottomless ocean. A sense of panic rose up inside me.

Wordlessly, without looking away, he moved his fingers up and gently pulled down the straps of my dress.

My cheeks flushed red and I pushed him away.

I shouted, angrily, "If you won't help, just say so! I didn't expect you to anyway. There's no need to insult me like this!"

Joseph looked at me, a hard-to-read expression crossing his face, like a mixture of anger and amusement.

He said, "You think this is an insult?"

"Is it not?"

He clearly had feelings for someone else. To act this way towards me could be seen as nothing but insulting.

He suddenly turned away and sat back down in his chair. When he raised his head to look at me once more, his gaze was cold.

He sneered, "The way you're dressed, I thought you were serious, but it seems you haven't thought this through. If you're not here to make a deal, then I suggest you leave."

I never expected him to help. Having had my prediction confirmed, I turned and left the office.

As soon as I stepped outside the building, my parents were there to ask me how things went.

"Will he help us?" My father asked urgently.

All I could do was shake my head.

My father's rage erupted. "The ungrateful swine. Now he's made his fortune he's forgotten his own family? If I'd have seen him for what he is, I'd never have let him marry you!"

My mother joined in. "He always acted so civil, like a dutiful son-in-law. But now that he doesn't need us, he leaves us out in the cold!"

I let out a helpless sigh. "There's no use cursing him now. Besides, he never took a penny from us, never made use of your connections. He's entitled to his business.

"And it's not like we treated him much like a part of the family. Surely, you can see why he might not want to help us."

My parents didn't respond, but it was clear from their expressions that they weren't impressed.

Looking at them like this, my head, still heavy from whatever illness I'd caught the night before, began to hurt even worse.

That evening, my brother took his phone and called each of his old friends, asking them for help.

Back when we had money, they'd pick up the phone and come out drinking in a flash. Now that we were destitute, not a single one would answer.

In his fury, my brother smashed the phone.

I lay curled up in bed and tried to comfort him. "This is the world we live in. Friendship isn't what it used to be."

My mother was sitting nearby, crying.

The financial straits we were in meant it was unlikely we were ever going to recover. The best we could hope for was to somehow pay off our debts.

My family's creditors were making daily appearances, demanding money. The calls were so frequent that it was impossible to focus our attention on anything else.

My father was desperate. "Anna, why not try asking Joseph for a loan? He has money. At the very least, he should be able to lend us some."

Then my mother chimed in. "Even if you divorced, wouldn't he have to give you some of his money?"

I curled up tighter beneath the blankets. How was I supposed to tell them I hadn't got a single penny out of our divorce?

My brother had heard as much as he could take. "That's enough! Sending Anna off to beg for mercy is degrading. Don't you remember how we treated him when he was with us?"

Suddenly, a flash of realization crossed my mother's face. She quickly asked, "Did Joseph insult you when you went to see him?"

I shook my head. "No. Of course not."

My mother looked reassured. Almost to herself, she muttered, "Of course he wouldn't. He's always been such a well-mannered person, not to mention obedient. He clearly likes and admires you. How could he possibly insult you?"

I barely suppressed a scornful laugh and said nothing in response.

My father let out an anguished groan. He turned his gaze towards the unlocked balcony and declared his desire to die once more.

Hearing this, my mother again started crying.

By now, my head was ready to explode.

All we needed was money. Even just a little would help stave off our creditors for a time, while we could work on getting more.

A few days later, once my health had sufficiently recovered, I set out to find work.

Most jobs I could find paid too little to put a dent in our debts, but I'd heard you could make good money selling booze in the high-end clubs.

I'd seen this myself when I used to go clubbing with my friends. The customers in those places were crazy tippers.

I picked my favorite club from the old days and went in to see if I could land myself a job.

The manager recognized me immediately and was happy to bring me on board. He even let me start off by working the VIP tables. Serving those rich kids and big shots meant I was bringing in a decent living in tips.

I never thought that one day, one of the VIPs I was serving would turn out to be Joseph.

He would never have frequented an establishment such as this. At least, not while we were married.

In fact, back then, if I was ever going to the club on a night out with friends, he would try to persuade me not to. He always said places like this were bad news.

Of course, whenever to tried to stop me, I would insult and belittle him, until he gave in and left.

He always seemed so innocent and naive.

Yet here he was now, right in the thick of it, a cigarette held loosely between his fingers and a slightly unsettling grin on his face.

It was almost as if his meek and obedient nature had all been an elaborate ruse.

He was staring at me in silence. The condescension in his gaze made me want to run and hide.

If I'd have known he would be here tonight, I'd have swapped tables with one of the other staff.

Just as I was hoping for the earth to swallow me up, a cacophony of wolf whistles caught my attention.

As I looked around to see where they were coming from, I realized that everyone at the table with Joseph was one of my brother's erstwhile friends.

Fair-weather would be a nice way to describe them. Now that Joseph was rich, these fawning hangers-on had flocked to him instead.

They knew all about how I'd treated him, and now, as if to curry favor, they were making sure to humiliate me in turn.

I could see it would be best to leave.

Just as I was about to take my tray of drinks and go, a male voice piped up.