To help his first love build up her
courage, my husband asked her to
slap me.
Chapter 1
Grandpa passed away, and I went to tell my
husband, David.
As soon as I stepped inside, his precious
Amelia slapped me hard across the face.
Shocked, I retaliated, only to be mocked for
being petty.
“Amelia’s playing a mean girl in her new
movie, and she’s too sweet to actually hit
someone, so she’s just practicing on you.”
David was sure I wouldn’t leave him, but he
く
forgot one thing: this marriage was arranged
by Grandpa.
Now Grandpa’s gone, and so am I.
“Amelia’s just a girl, how much could it have
hurt?”
“She’s an actress, her face is important. You
wouldn’t understand, being a housewife.”
David’s sarcastic words echoed as everyone
in the room snickered, openly staring at the
red mark on my cheek.
Amelia leaned against David, feigning fragility,
and carefully opened her hand.
“Your skin is so thick, my hand hurts now.”
David immediately grabbed her hand, his face
full of concern.
“Honey, let me kiss it better.”
Their intimate display drew another round of
awed whispers.
“Dude, your wife is so obedient. You told her
not to fight back, and she didn’t!”
“Tell us your secret, how do you get your wife
to be so docile?”
David looked me up and down, then scoffed.
“With her? I don’t need any tricks.”
“If she doesn’t obey me, I won’t go to her
family’s Thanksgiving dinner this month. Then
her grandpa will get mad, and she’ll come
crawling back, begging me to go.”
The laughter in the room grew louder. I stood
at the door, trapped, my body cold.
Before we got married, David pursued me.
Why did everything change after I agreed to
marry him, just like everyone wanted?
A tear fell onto my hand as I spoke.
“David, Grandpa passed away.”
Surrounded by his friends, David was busy
feeding Amelia cake. He didn’t even glance at
- me.
I stared at the scene, raising my voice.
“David, Grandpa is dead.”
My voice was drowned out by the laughter
again.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped forward,
and Amelia immediately hid behind David.
“David, this crazy woman is going to hit me
again! She wants to ruin my face so I can’t
film!”
David instantly became protective, shielding
the delicate Amelia.
“Linda, it was just a joke! Let it go!”
“The day you manipulated me into marrying
you, you should have known what you were
getting yourself into!”
His words stung, and I almost lost my
balance.
“David, your grandpa saved my grandpa’s life
in the war. Grandpa arranged our marriage
out of gratitude and gave you everything he
had to help you succeed. Am I really that
worthless to you?”
David’s breath hitched, his eyes turning icy.
“Who gave you permission to talk about this
in front of my friends? Are you trying to use
your family’s influence against me?”
“Of course, someone like you, with nothing
but a wealthy family, has nothing else to brag
about.”
く
He looked down at me, the laughter in the
room dying down.
My chest felt heavy, but Amelia smiled and
offered me a glass of whiskey.
“Gold diggers shouldn’t talk to their sugar
daddies like that. Drink this, and I’ll smooth
things over with David.”
I swatted the glass away, and Amelia’s eyes
immediately welled up.
David’s voice was filled with anger.
“Linda, I told you not to touch Amelia! Don’t
you understand?!”
“As punishment for hurting Amelia, you won’t
see me at Thanksgiving dinner this month!”
I stared at him, suddenly feeling utterly
exhausted by this marriage.
With everyone watching, I turned and left.
