Sunshine In The Rain

"Did you realize you couldn't latch onto some other rich woman, so you came crawling back?"

On the drive home, Faith Richmond sat in the passenger seat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "August! You abandoned me for money back then, and then came back after I made my fortune. You were bound to end up like this!"

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah. I deserve it."

During the seven years I'd been married to Faith, she had constantly brought different men home, flirting and getting intimate with them right in front of me, taking endless pleasure in tormenting me.

But I couldn't understand it.

I'd devoted myself to taking care of her, working as her servant, assistant, and driver. She had never paid me a single cent. That once-proud young man had still stayed by her side until he was worn down to nothing.

Why couldn't she believe that I'd never been with her for her money?

When she saw me fall silent, Faith's languid voice sounded again. "Tell me. Where did you go for those seven days when no one could reach you?"

"The hospital."

"The hospital? Hah. Planning to latch onto some doctor now? You think all those highly educated people are as easy to manipulate as I was back then?"

She gripped my chin, amusement and mockery filling her eyes. "Stop wasting your time. No one wants you anymore. You're stuck rotting in my hands!"

I clenched my fists.

My heart, which was already covered in wounds, was torn open all over again. The pain was unbearable.

Only then did Faith smile in satisfaction and casually toss me a necklace. "Here. An anniversary gift."

I had endured every humiliation in silence, gritting my teeth and bearing it all. But when I looked at the first gift she'd given me in seven years, I suddenly began trembling uncontrollably.

"What does this mean? Are you afraid I'll give up on you and leave, so you'll never have the chance to torment me again? Is that why you're deliberately giving me a little hope?

"Faith, it's been seven years. Haven't you gotten enough revenge?"

I didn't know if it was because I was too emotional, or if I was hallucinating, but for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain in her eyes. It disappeared almost immediately, replaced by another cold smile.

"You're imagining things. Why would I need to offer you any perks? You're the type of man who'll do anything for money and won't leave no matter how badly he's treated, so why would I need to give you any hope?"

I couldn't say another word.

Ever since the first time Faith brought a man home and went into the bathroom with him right in front of me, none of my explanations had mattered anymore.

All I wanted was to endure it, pay back what I owed, and finally be free.

When we got home, Faith did what she always did: dumped all the housework on me while she lay on the couch, absorbed in her phone.

"Bridger, you're filming tomorrow. Want me to come keep you company?"

"You're so sweet. I've missed you too..."

Bridger Lewis was the most popular young actor under Faith's company.

Over the past seven years, countless men had come and gone from her side. Bridger was the only one who had stayed with her for three months.

She had bought him an apartment and poured her best resources into him. Perhaps she'd developed feelings for him without realizing it while taking revenge on me. Everyone believed Bridger was her real boyfriend.

No one knew that I was actually Faith's husband.