Money
“Honestly, I’m not sure about this marriage either. You and I both have reasons for getting married,” said Drew. He felt unsure about the relationship he had started. What he was going to do with Lily was something he had been considering since last night.
He was certain that he and Lily would not get along. Her personality is very dissimilar to his everyday life. He’s crazy! He lived for parties, sex, and women. Does being married mean he will also lose that?
“We won’t be happy if I change myself just because I’m married, Lily. If we’re not happy, this relationship will end in an annulment. I may have missed the life I used to have, and I’m not sure if you can live with it.” He didn’t want to tell his wife that the tolerance he was showing her even now was excessive.
He saw concern in her eyes. She lowered her head.
“Talk, Lily.” Drew frowned. He was about to run out of saliva with all the phrases he had spoken, but his wife was saying nothing. She is too quiet. He enjoys silence on typical days, but not this time. He unexpectedly questioned whether the woman made noise while having sex.
He shook his head having those thoughts. Fvcker, you fvcking know she doesn’t like sex!
“How about we make a deal?” asked Lily. Her eyes are slightly teary.
Drew inquired inquisitively, “What kind of deal?”
“I see your point. We don’t know each other. I would recommend that we get to know one another for a year. If, after that time, I remain the same, and if we’re not happy, we can part ways amicably as friends.”
Lily’s suggestion astounded Drew. He also understood that she was right. Indeed, he had considered it before learning Lily had a monstrous family. But now he was wondering if his wife could be independent after a year.
The concept irritated him. What would his friends say? Or his family? That he could only be married for a year and had already had his marriage annulled? Based on his reputation, they would without a doubt believe he is to blame for the separation! They might have implied that he had an affair with some woman or something similar.
Drew retorted, “But in a year, we have to be sure that we make an effort before making a decision. “We’ll be friends for a year. Every Sunday, we should go on a date. We should talk in the morning and at dinner. You will also accompany me to the gym.”
“To the gym?” It surprised Lily.
Drew looked at her little hand, arm, and body. She was too pale, too slender, and physically fragile. A strong wind could have swept away the woman.
“I will be your trainer. I will also watch over your food, and I will not take no for an answer, Lily. You’ll need that if we part ways.”
Lily bit her lip. But she lowered her head and nodded.
He stood up from his seat. “Now, let’s go!”
“W-where are we going?”
“We’re going on our first date because it’s Sunday.”
***
Why did Lily tell Drew that if nothing changed between them after a year, they could separate?
She has several goals in mind. She will first be able to complete her schooling next year. Perhaps she might already have a job. Furthermore, what he told her was acceptable. Given that they have different lifestyles, her husband won’t be satisfied with the relationship if he quits his prior life because he married her. She wanted to set a time for herself above all else.
She will exert every effort to avoid considering ending her relationship with Drew after a year. If they break up, she fears she’ll return to the Martin Family, so she doesn’t want that to happen. In order to attain that in a year, she will try everything possible to make him happy and content.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
***
Lily’s cheeks flushed as she walked over and anchored her arms around Drew. It was their first date; he claimed. While assisting them inside the home appliances store, the female staff members are conscious of his presence. They were definitely drawn to her husband. She couldn’t deny how attractive he was! And his scent… a warm breeze is how it feels. His jaw and broad shoulders extended all the way to his sculpted trunk-
“I want this. What do you think?” Drew asked her while examining an elegant couch.
“I-it’s too dark,” she commented absentmindedly because glancing up at his face distracted her.
“Hmm?” Drew lowered his gaze on her.
She murmured in panic. “N-no! I mean, you can buy anything you want!” Her cheeks began to flush.
“But if you’re the one buying the couch, what do you want to put in our home?” he questioned.
In our home…
She desires the dream. Not far away, she spotted a light gray L-shaped couch. “That one goes well in the corner of our living room perfectly.”
Drew guided her to approach the said item. He examined it and then turned to the woman who was following them. “You heard my wife. Please include this couch.”
Lily perplexed. It replaced the dark brown couch he had preferred. They browse the entire store to choose things for her bedroom. He took her to a restaurant afterward.
“I hope you enjoyed our small date,” Drew muttered.
Lily smiled naturally. Her fear of Drew decreased a little because the man was simple for her to get along with. But to say that she ought to be joyful is excessive. Kenneth said that everything she receives is luxury. He won’t let her be happy and that’s what she’s afraid of.
“I asked my assistant to look for the perfect school for you. She will give me an answer this week.”
“Thank you,” she responded.
“Oh, by the way,” Drew pulled out a gold card from his wallet and handed it to Lily. “You may go shopping or make any purchases you like with the money I provide you on this card each month.”
Her eyes blinked while holding that square gold thing. Shopping? Buy anything?
“Yes, why don’t we purchase a phone for you later? You’ll use that card to make the payment,” Drew explained.
“C-cell phone?”
“Yes, you must have a cell phone. How else will I be able to reach you if I need to speak with you?”
He has a point. When their orders came, she started focusing on the enticing meal. Drew smiled broadly. The waiter handed her the chicken alfredo pasta and some of the restaurant’s specialties. Her throat was almost dry from drooling.
“Let’s eat!” Drew stated.
She took a bite. It tasted great! On that table, she enjoyed every bite of food she consumed.
“I never thought you could eat well; why don’t you seem to gain weight?” Drew asked as he sipped his water.
It embarrassed Lily because she didn’t realize she had consumed two plates of food. She had never eaten those before, and they were so delectable. Nevertheless, she realized what she did was excessive and almost lost track of her situation. It reminded her of a scene from the past.
Eat shit, b*tch! Kenneth laughs.
Lily set the fork down and turned her gaze away from Drew. Why is her stepbrother unwilling to leave her system?
“I’m sorry,” she stated. She undoubtedly enjoyed her meals. She suddenly felt scared once more.
“Lily?”
“I’m sure you’ll pay dearly for the food,” she said nervously.
“Who said I would pay?”
Her eyes grew wider. Does he intend to ditch her and let her pay for the food? Kenneth did that to her once. The incident made her father so furious that he had to pick her up at the police station. Her eyes began to tear up for that reason. Why does her history still hurt her so much?
Drew moved closer. “What? Tell me what’s on your mind.”
Lily questioned, “Who will pay for the food?”
Suddenly, images of doing the dishes, running away from the restaurant, or going to jail entered her mind.
But when Drew started laughing, she was taken aback. They were practically stealing the customers’ attention with how loud they were. She should have been terrified, but her husband’s laugh was odd and not at all like Kenneth’s and his friends’ laughter. Drew seemed to be finding it amusing by the way he chuckled.
“Oh, Lily, why are you so damn cute?” He wiped the tears from laughing. When she had previously stated that she couldn’t afford her tuition, he thought it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. He never considered that paying a low price for this restaurant would be funnier.
Lily once more blinked her eyes, but Drew laughed once more. She desires to be enraged with him. It was an emotion she hadn’t felt in years since she was too weak to be angry. Why is he making fun of her? Maybe she was too naïve? Is there a joke she’s not aware of for people like him? Drew noticed her anxiousness.
“I’m sorry… Your money-related questions make you both funny and cute! It seems like you were unprepared when it came to money. Before we ate, didn’t I give you a credit card?”
“Oh!” She picked up that thing that was just resting beside her.
“I won’t pay because you will be the one to pay for our meal from now on.”
She didn’t, however, intend to spend her husband’s money. What if he believes she is pricey? “I-I? Will I pay for all of this?”
“Yes!” he replied as he tucked the card inside her hand. “Because you are strong, Lily!” he muttered while narrowing his eyes. “You’re a Walton, Lily. And we, Walton, don’t lack money. Swipe and pay like a queen! Do it like Mrs. Drew Walton!”
She couldn’t speak. No one! No one ever treated her this way!
Because she was a peasant, no one ever advised her to behave like a queen.
Nobody ever suggested she pay for someone else’s meal because she was short on cash. She had never, ever had money in her life because her family had complete control over everything.
Most importantly, she had only been married to Drew for over twenty-four hours.
Lily reached for a tissue and wiped away her tears. They pay more attention to other customers. They thought Drew had caused her to cry.
“Do we have a problem here, sir?” asked the man who approached them.
Lily raised her head. When she realized who the man was, her eyes grew wide. She appeared to recoil as a shiver spread through her body.
He was equally astonished to find her there, but he couldn’t help but smile a strange grin. His name is Victor, and this man is one of Kenneth’s friends.