Chapter 12 My Husband Reminds Me to Act Properly
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+8 Pearls
I never considered myself the prettiest girl on campus. Sure, I was once nominated during university, but I lost to another girl who had the kind of wealthy, picture–perfect background I didn’t. I didn’t mind one bit. But behind my back, it became one of those stories people loved to gossip about.
“Fake campus bella,” I joked as I greeted a few familiar faces.
The man hosting tonight’s dinner was named Gilbert Lawrence–tall, well–dressed in a tailored suit, exuding that sleek, executive charm.
Everyone surrounded him, showering him with praise. He wore the kind of smug, polished smile successful men always seem to have. But every now and then, his eyes would flicker toward me. The thing is, besides Melanie, hardly anyone knew I was married to Shawn. They knew I had a husband, sure–but they didn’t know who. All they knew was that I was living comfortably.
“Tiffany!” Someone called my name loudly from across the room. All heads turned. It was one of the guys from our class, one of the most outgoing. Once upon a time, he was one of my suitors.
In my previous life, I always tried to avoid situations like this. Maybe I was insecure–everyone else had made something of themselves, while I stayed home. I wasn’t struggling financially, but I lacked something more important: self–worth.
Just then, a black Mercedes–Maybach pulled up outside the hall. The doors opened, and a group of people stepped out.
Leading the group was a man–tall, lean, and probably over 6 feet. He wore a dark–blue suit and gold- rimmed glasses. The moment he heard my name, he stopped and turned toward me.
The lights from the vintage lamp above the entry cast a soft glow over his face. We locked eyes–just for a second–but it was enough.
“Oh wow, isn’t that Mr. Hayes?” Gilbert nearly tripped over himself as he rushed forward. “Hello, Mr. Hayes! I’m Gilbert Lawrence from Modenex Tech. We met briefly not long ago.” He fumbled for a business card and handed it over with both hands.
Ethan Hayes accepted it politely. “Nice to see you.”
Then, without another word, he looked at me once more, stepped into the car, and was gone.
I had been watching him too, honestly. How could I not? In a crowd full of average–looking men, someone like him stood out like a spotlight on a stage.
Gilbert practically bent over backward to close the car door for him, waving enthusiastically as the car pulled away.
Melanie used to think Gilbert was alright–charming, even. But something about the way he quickly shifted into groveling mode seemed to change that. The admiration in her eyes vanished.
During dinner, the men were busy bragging about their careers and investments. We women, on the other hand, sat quietly, eating our meals.
Someone asked me what I did. I said I stayed home and looked after my child. That was the end of that
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Chapter 12 My Husband Reminds Me to Act Properly
I didn’t answer. I just let it ring until it stopped.
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+8 Pearls
After dinner, someone suggested karaoke. Melanie and I made our escape with a polite excuse.
I drove her back to her apartment. She had a bit of wine, but her words were clear when she said, “Tiffany, sometimes I think maybe getting married young isn’t such a terrible idea. Look at me now–I can’t stand most men anymore. If I’d known better, maybe I would’ve just picked someone and married them when I had the chance.”
“Don’t be silly. Not having a man doesn’t mean life’s over. Don’t turn them into gods–they’re a human being like us. Don’t lose hope. There are still good men out there.” After comforting her, I drove home.
The music in the car was soft, and for once, my heart was calm. I felt free. Peaceful.
Listening to those men discuss their businesses earlier sparked something inside me. I may be a woman, but I want a place among them. I want to walk into a room and speak with confidence, just like they do.
When I got home, Shawn called again. I sat on the couch and picked up.
“Why didn’t you answer earlier?” His tone was sharp and suspicious.
“My phone was on silent. I didn’t hear it. What’s going on?” Lying to him came so easily now; it came out naturally.
“Who were you having dinner with? Yuna said you went out tonight.” He sounded like he was keeping tabs
on me.
I chuckled and said, “Just a few old university friends. They all live around here. I thought I’d reconnect before going back to work–revive some of those old networks.”
He didn’t find anything wrong with my answer. After a short pause, he said, “You’ve changed lately. What’s going on?”
““In what way?” I twirled a strand of hair between my fingers. It hit me–there was a time I believed that I was born to be a minx, not a housewife.
“Your outfits. You don’t dress like you used to.” As expected, he had taken notice of my new look.
“You don’t think I look good?” I smiled.
“You look beautiful, just not very proper.” He pointed out.
“Proper?” I raised an eyebrow, amused. “Remember your wedding vows? You said no matter how I changed, you’d love me, support me, and be by my side.”
That shut him up.
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing,” he mumbled after a pause.
“Anything else? I’m tired. I want to get some sleep.” I refused to waste my time and listened to his nonsense.
He must’ve been irritated, because there was another pause before he said, “Alright. Goodnight.”
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Chapter 12 My Husband Reminds Me to Act Properly
+8 Pears
And I realized something: women change based on how they’re treated. A woman in the cold turns to ice, in warmth, she melts. It all depends on the man she meets.
Back in university, I was warm and bright–like the morning sun. I smiled at everyone.
But after I married Shawn, those smiles grew rare. I spent years trying to please him, constantly reminding myself of my role, and treading carefully with every word and gesture.
“Ma’am, I made some soup. Would you like some?” Mona asked softly,
“Yes, thank you. Please bring me one.” I took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to stay in this box anymore. I was going to be myself again.
That night, I slept soundly–until morning came, and a nightmare jolted me awake.
I dreamed of my past life, of the moments before I died. That same helpless, crushing feeling took hold of me again. I shot upright in bed, chilled to the bone.
I hurried to the bathroom, barefoot, and gazed into the mirror. I saw my young, beautiful face staring back. Only then did I start to calm down.
After breakfast, I got a call from a local charity.
“Ms. Mayfield,” the woman on the line said. “A student you once sponsored asked if you’d be willing to have lunch with him. Would you be free sometime soon?”
I sipped my oatmeal, trying to remember. “When was this? I don’t quite recall.”
She laughed kindly. “It was about five years ago. You volunteered with us. There was a university student whose family had gone bankrupt and couldn’t afford tuition. You donated 800,000 dollars to help him finish his degree. Does that ring a bell?”
The memory hit me like a wave. “Oh, I remember now. Didn’t I sign a confidentiality agreement? How did he find out my name?”
“I’m terribly sorry,” she said. “He requested some information, and our staff made an exception. If he bothers you in any way, we’ll take care of it.”
“No need for lunch. Just tell him I prefer to be like a secret Santa–do good without needing credit.” I ended the call with a small smile. And yet, it warmed my heart a little. In a world that often feels cold and broken, it’s comforting to know that some people still remember kindness. Maybe the world isn’t so awful after all.
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