All Chapters of Spoiled Wife No More: Paying Off His Ruin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I woke up unusually early the next morning.When I walked into the closet, I stopped short. Rows of haute couture dresses. Shelves overflowing with luxury bags.Every single one a gift from Theo—for holidays, for anniversaries, for no reason at all.Even the fake anniversaries I invented on a whim? He celebrated those too.I used to complain that he was stingy, but the truth was, he was only harsh on himself. When it came to me and our son, he had never once held back.And now, these gifts had become the only capital our family had left to turn things around.I made up my mind—I was going to sell every last one of them.I spent the whole day posting everything on resale sites.I needed cash fast, so I priced everything absurdly low.High-end limited editions that once commanded reverence from behind glass cases were now being grabbed up like cabbages at a market's closing hour.As the numbers in my bank account climbed with each sale, I felt the smallest knot in my chest begi

That night, I lay awake in bed again, unable to fall asleep.The more I thought about that heroine, Evelyn, the one those floating comments kept bringing up, the more my curiosity grew.The next morning, Theo headed out for work as usual. I followed behind him.Theo didn't take the car today. He rented a shared bike instead.When I saw him trying to fit those long legs of his onto that little bike, my heart just broke.Was he really trying to save money down to the gas bill now?I put on a pair of sunglasses and a mask, disguising myself like a spy from a bad movie. Then I rented a shared bike and trailed him from a careful distance.By the time I got off that bike, my thighs were absolutely killing me.I was someone who struggled to open a bottle cap, yet there I was, riding like I was competing in the Tour de Montclaire.Eventually, Theo stopped in front of a cheap-looking little diner.Not long after, a woman in business attire walked over.Her long hair fell neatly past

"What?" This time, the shock was mine."Mrs. Hudson, Mr. Hudson did restructure a large portion of his assets some time ago," Evelyn explained helplessly, though she did her best to stay professional."The seller of that private island required full cash payment upfront, and the transaction window was extremely short. Mr. Hudson had to liquidate some non-core assets to avoid disrupting the company's cash flow. He even went so far as to cut his own personal expenses," she added, glancing at the faded collar of Theo's T-shirt.A flicker of admiration appeared in her eyes."Mr. Hudson said this was meant to be your birthday surprise and had to be kept strictly confidential. Even when the company's liquidity got so tight that he was only eating ten-dollar boxed meals for lunch, he repeatedly instructed me not to reveal a single word."My mouth fell open so wide it nearly hit the floor."This script makes no sense. I signed up for a 'rich guy loses it all' plotline. Since when does

To thank Evelyn, I decided to invite her over for dinner.The moment Theo heard I was having a guest, his immediate reaction was, "We're eating at home. Restaurant food is overpriced, and who knows what kind of oil they use. Besides, Evelyn's picky. She only buys groceries on sale."I just stared at him.Since when did buying discounted food make someone picky?That evening, Evelyn showed up right on time, carrying a bag of strawberries still dotted with dirt."Mrs. Hudson, I picked these myself at a strawberry farm. I made sure to get the biggest, reddest ones. They might look a little messy, but I promise they're fresh and delicious."She handed me the bag with a completely straight face.Evelyn was such a down-to-earth woman.At the dinner table, the atmosphere was strangely harmonious.Theo and Evelyn looked like they'd finally found their long-lost fellow discount devotees."The current pork prices are ridiculously inflated," Theo said seriously. "I've realized going to

Two hours later, I waddled out of the restaurant holding my stomach."Eve, how did you even find this place? That was amazing!" I said, rubbing my belly contentedly. "I can't believe how much money I used to waste just for so-called status. I'm never going to be that reckless, clueless spender again..."As we talked, we passed by a pop-up exhibition.The space was decorated in dreamy shades of pink and lavender, attracting a crowd of young women.I noticed Evelyn's steps slow almost imperceptibly.Her gaze landed on a fluffy plush toy, and for a brief moment, something almost childlike flickered in her eyes.Then she looked away. Her usual logic snapped back into place."Let's go. It's just a polyester-filled mass-produced product. The cost is under five dollars, and they're selling it for 80 dollars. Zero appreciation potential. Total rip-off."She turned to leave.This time, I grabbed her wrist."Eve, you're right about the numbers, but you missed one variable."She looked