My marriage with Nadine was arranged by Mr. Bradley.
He needed someone to look after Nadine for him. I needed someone to pay for my mom's high medical bills.
So, we hit it off right away.
I even quit my job and married Nadine.
After marriage, I learned about Nadine’s tragic experience of losing both her parents in her early years.
I also saw with my own eyes that she cried and called ‘Mom’ in her dreams at midnight.
That was why the two broken souls resonated with each other at that moment.
I wanted to heal Nadine’s heart and to build a happy family with her.
In order to fulfill the responsibilities of a husband, I worked hard to improve my cooking skills and try to make the food that she describes as her mother's.
I visited various places and bit by bit recreated the cabin in her memory.
In order to satisfy her needs, I also learned various tricks in bed.
I thought we would have a happy future.
But on our wedding anniversary, she went to the hotel with my best friend in a dignified manner.
I ran to question her like crazy.
Nadine sneered and threw the contract between me and Mr. Bradley in my face.
“Alvaro, who do you think you are? Do you really think you’re something special just because I played with you for two days?
“You’re nothing but a dog my grandfather bought. What right do you have to question my business?
“If you dare to make me unhappy, I’ll have your mother’s treatment cut off immediately!”
I was struck by lightning and could not utter a word.
After that, Nadine became even more outrageous.
After having enough fun with internet celebrities, she started to target my friends, constantly breaking my bottom line.
On one side, my mother desperately needed medical treatment; on the other, my marriage had long since decayed.
The forces tugging me from both ends nearly drove me to collapse. One time, I even slipped and fell down the stairs because I was distracted.
After waking up, I learned that Nadine was pregnant.
Mr. Bradley almost pleaded with me, “Keep this child. He may be a turning point in your marriage.
“If Nadine still does not know how to restrain herself after the child is born, I will definitely not force you anymore.”
Carrying all kinds of complicated emotions, I chose to agree.
I never imagined I would fight so hard for so long—for my mother, my children, my marriage and love.
In the end, I could not hold on to any of them.
I slowly wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes and looked out the gray window.
Perhaps that was the only consolation. Nadine and I both gained freedom.
As I was deep in thought, Nadine called, “Alvaro, you went to complain to Grandpa again, didn't you? You have completely disrupted the rare time that Julius and I have together.
“I'm warning you, if you do this again, I'll stop the card!”
If it was in the past, I would have humbled myself, endlessly explaining and apologizing to Nadine, trying every possible way to earn her forgiveness.
But that time, I just said it with an indifferent look on my face, “Whatever you want.”
Nadine was a little surprised by my cold attitude.
