Chapter 3

Christine shifted to the side, blocking Edison's probing gaze. "It's someone unimportant. I was just… saying hello."

As the two walked off together, Edison affectionately draped his arm around her shoulders, but not before turning around to flash me a meaningful smile. The contempt and provocation in his eyes were unmistakable.

I had my dinner at the factory cafeteria before slowly heading back.

Irina glared at me furiously and snapped, "Where the hell have you been? You didn't make dinner, you didn't do the laundry, and you didn't even mop the floor!"

"I'm sick," I lied, closing the door behind me.

Irina refused to let it drop and hollered from outside, "How sick can a young man like you get? A country man like you has no room for being weak and delicate! A little pain and discomfort is nothing! Just suck it up and go make dinner!"

I pretended not to hear her and stayed in the room, packing my things. For the sake of our marriage, I had endured all the hardship and humiliation as best I could in the past.

But now, it seemed there was no need for that anymore.

Christine came back after dark. She hurried through the door without even glancing at the suitcase on the bed and walked straight to me.

"Tim, one of our coworkers is here. Don't come out, okay?" she ordered.

Then, before I could react, she closed the door and left.

I looked down and continued packing.

After a while, I vaguely heard chatter from outside.

Irina spoke in a flattering, enthusiastic tone. She told Christine to brew some coffee, specifically insisting on using the premium beans her superior had brought from abroad.

"Only the best coffee beans are worthy of a distinguished guest like Mr. Whitman!"

So it was Edison. I laughed humorlessly and moved to go out, only to find the door had been locked from the outside.

A moment later, the lock turned, and the door swung open.

Edison stood outside and exclaimed loudly, "Good heavens! There's a thief!"

I froze for a second and instinctively stepped forward.

Suddenly, Irina and Christine rushed over, both looking flustered. Then, Irina slapped me hard across the face.

Caught completely off guard, I stumbled backward and slammed against the door. My cheek stung with pain.

Irina shouted furiously, "What were you trying to steal? Huh? How dare you!"

Christine's eyes darted anxiously over me, then she quickly stepped between Edison and me, flashing him an ingratiating smile. "Don't worry! He… He's not a thief."

Edison pulled her into his arms, feigning surprise. "Then who is he? What's he doing in your house?"

Christine's gaze wavered.

I stared at her coldly.

She quickly looked away and stammered, "He's… a distant relative of ours. He helps out at the factory during the day and does odd jobs around the house at night. But he's from the countryside, so he can be pretty rough around the edges. Don't mind him, Eddie."

Irina chimed in hastily, "That's right! He's just a low-bred country folk who does odd jobs around the house."

Edison patted Christine's shoulder comfortingly and shot me a knowing smile. The mockery and amusement in his eyes were blatant as he said, "I see… You nearly gave me a scare there."

I started to step forward, but Irina grabbed me and shoved me back into the room.

"Christine!" I called out deliberately.

Irina panicked and clamped her hand over my mouth. Christine, visibly anxious, hurried to coax Edison out.

Irina fumed and yelled, "Are you out to ruin Chris? Another word from you and I'll send you back to the countryside right now! Edison's family is rich and influential! He can lift Chris up and give her a bright future!

"What are you compared to him? In fact, what do you even have? You're just a broke country bumpkin! You have nothing to your name!"