Chapter 1
In the charming suburb of Ravenwood, Henry Sutherland’s day began as usual at six o'clock when her alarm jolted her awake. She stretched, brushed her teeth, and then slipped into the daily rhythm of preparing breakfast for her husband, Elias Blackwood, and their two children. First, she retrieved the marinated steaks from the fridge and set a kettle on the stove. While waiting for the water to boil, she heated a pan with oil, carefully placing the steaks in the skillet to sear them over low heat. Her daughter preferred her steak with curry seasoning, while her husband and son favored a black pepper rub. As the steaks reached a perfect medium, she deftly cracked three farm-fresh eggs into a separate pan nearby. At the same time, the noodles she had started boiling were nearly done. She fished them out with a colander, portioned them into three bowls, and tossed them with her special sauce before garnishing each with a perfectly cooked soft-boiled egg. Finally, the steaks were ready. Henry added a handful of mixed nuts to the blender, poured in some milk, and whipped up a nutritious smoothie. With breakfast plated, she called her children to the dining table. Their eldest, Samuel, was eight years old and in third grade at a prestigious city school. Clara, their six-year-old daughter, was in first grade. Thankfully, both children had developed good habits and didn’t need reminders; they dressed themselves, organized their backpacks, and completed their morning routines independently. She had already set out Elias’s tie and suit, as well as his watch, cufflinks, and glasses. Henry’s in-laws, Alaric and Maud Blackwood, lived with them and weren’t fond of Western breakfasts. After rousing the children, she had to prepare another meal for the older couple. She whipped up some bean porridge, fried up a few oil sticks, and steamed two sweet potatoes. Once the breakfasts were served, Henry bundled her husband and children into the car, watered the flowers in their garden, tidied the kitchen, and prepared to head out for groceries. Though Ravenwood was a suburban area, it was conveniently close to the city. A short ten-minute ride on her electric scooter would take her right to the market. This year, she was thirty-three. She and Elias had been college sweethearts, marrying right after graduation, and she had never returned to the workforce. This marked her tenth year as a full-time homemaker. With a paid-off home, two healthy children, and supportive in-laws, she could be considered a success in the eyes of most. “Fresh pumpkins for sale! Only ten bucks each!” “Sweet taro! Just harvested!” As Henry arrived at the market, various vendors shouted their wares, creating a lively atmosphere. Instinctively, she reached for her phone, only to find her pocket empty. She smacked her forehead, realizing she must have left it on the kitchen counter while cleaning. If there was one thing she missed about her previous life, it was her sharp memory. Since giving birth, her forgetfulness had turned into a daily challenge. She had grown accustomed to cashless payments, and without her phone, she hadn’t even brought any cash. Since Elias’s office was actually nearer to her location than their home, she decided to swing by his workplace for some cash. Feeling a pang of frustration, Henry turned her little scooter around, heading back to Elias's company. Elias’s office was somewhere she rarely visited, but today, as she parked her scooter, she noticed him emerging from the elevator, accompanied by a glamorous woman in professional attire. Henry's heart sank. It was instinctual; she hid behind a nearby SUV. Why was she hiding? A gut feeling surged—Elias was holding hands with this woman. She’d never witnessed him being this intimate with any female clients before. Henry's intuition screamed that there might be something inappropriate between them. Peeking from her hiding spot, she watched as they approached Elias's car but were surprisingly drawn to a sleek red sports car instead. Elias slid smoothly into the driver’s seat while the woman took her place in the passenger side.
Chapter 2
As soon as Henry Sutherland and Elias Blackwood climbed into the car, before the windows even had a chance to raise, they were wrapped in each other's arms, their lips crashing together in a fervent kiss. Henry felt as if her mind had been struck by a thunderbolt. She sat there, frozen, unsure how to react. Even after the car pulled away, she remained in a daze. Henry Sutherland could hardly believe it. Just an hour ago, Elias had whispered, “You’ve worked hard, my dear,” and leaned in for a goodbye kiss. Every night, without fail, he returned home by ten. He never missed a single package she left at the Crystal Bay Estates entrance. If Henry suddenly craved takeout—be it lobster or even stinky tofu—Elias would bring it back without hesitation. But now, it felt surreal to her. Her husband—the model spouse admired by all their family and friends—had cheated on her. And so brazenly, too, sharing heated kisses with someone else in the underground parking lot of his office. What if she hadn't forgotten her phone today and followed a whimsical thought to drop by? Would she have ever discovered the betrayal? When had it all begun? How had he been able to return home, acting as if nothing had happened, after being with another woman, showering her with care and affection? Suddenly, Henry found herself kneeling on the ground, her body retching uncontrollably. Gasping for air, she clutched her throat, realizing her cheeks were wet with tears. Flustered and overwhelmed, Henry hastily wiped her tears and jumped on her scooter. Why had Elias cheated? Throughout their relationship, she’d taken care of herself—she hadn’t aged significantly, gained weight, or become unkempt. That woman didn’t even look that much better than her! She didn’t want to go home. Their family lived far away in the next city, and if she did go back, who would cook dinner when the kids got home? Who would help them with their homework? But pretending that nothing was wrong was something she couldn't bear either. Divorce. She needed to get a divorce. But what about the children? They couldn’t stay with her. The car belonged to Elias, the house was his, and while he sent her a monthly allowance, she had no idea about his finances. Losing her husband was one thing; in this world, good men were as rare as three-legged frogs, while two-legged ones seemed to be everywhere. But she couldn't lose her children. A son and a daughter; she’d spent countless sleepless nights caring for them. She had endured the trials of pregnancy and childbirth, pouring every ounce of love and energy into raising them. They could read now, play the piano, dance, and even help her clear the dinner table. She would not tolerate them calling another woman “Mom.” Henry’s mind was so scattered that she stumbled as she made her way home. When she finally arrived, her in-laws were just returning from walking their dog. They were surprised to see her looking so lost. “Henry, what’s wrong?” they asked, eyes wide with concern. Henry had to summon every ounce of strength just to keep her emotions in check.
Chapter 3
"I—" But as soon as Henry Sutherland opened her mouth, a pang of pain shot through her throat and eyes, and tears couldn’t help but spill down her cheeks. “I didn't bring any money for groceries today, and in my rush to get home, I tripped and fell—it hurts like hell,” Henry said, bursting into tears. “Goodness, you fell? Elias Blackwood, is it serious? Did you go to the hospital?” Maud Blackwood's voice tightened with concern. “It’s not broken, just some scrapes. It really hurts,” Henry bit her lip and fought to hold back more tears. “Come on, let’s get you some medicine. It’s okay if we didn’t get groceries; Alaric and I can go later. We’ll cook dinner,” Maud said, helping Henry up. “Yeah, we can whip something up later. You should check if you’re feeling any worse. Do you need to go to the hospital?” Alaric chimed in. Henry's tears intensified; she couldn't bear to meet her in-laws' gazes and muttered, “Okay, I’ll check in my room for any injuries.” Avoiding her parents-in-law, she retreated to her room and buried her face in her pillow, letting out muffled sobs. Confronted with such a devastating situation, her mind raced. What was she supposed to do? Should she file for divorce or not? Her in-laws were decent, and her children were wonderful— But the idea of swallowing her pride made her feel nauseous. Henry was filled with anger and resentment. She sprang up and stepped to her vanity, examining every inch of her skin closely. She couldn’t understand what the other woman had that made her so special. Why would Elias cheat on her? Thoughts flashed through her mind of the professional outfit she was wearing; that woman appeared so polished and capable—qualities she felt she lacked. Henry was an outwardly soft person. After ten years of marriage, she hadn’t worked a day and had been a homemaker. They say there's a seven-year itch; maybe Elias was just tired of her. But Henry couldn’t forgive him. Even if he no longer loved her, he could have just asked her for a divorce. She couldn’t tolerate this deceptive betrayal; she felt utterly disgusted. She wanted a divorce. She had to get a divorce. And she would fight for custody of the kids. They had to be hers. ... That night, at ten, Elias returned home right on time. As usual, Henry stepped forward to take his suit jacket, but before putting it in the laundry, she leaned in to sniff it. There was no scent of another woman’s perfume—just the fragrance Elias typically wore. But he had clearly been holding that woman; there was no way it hadn’t rubbed off on him. That thought broke down into two possibilities: either the woman wore the same fragrance as him, or he had spritzed more of it on himself before coming home to mask the scent. Regardless of which it was, Henry was furious. Her heart felt like it was on fire, tension coursing through her entire being. “Mom said you fell off your bike today. I've always said that riding an electric bike can be dangerous. How about I buy you a car instead?” Elias said gently as he walked in, noticing Henry lingering on the balcony. Henry rarely went out except for grocery shopping, and when she did, it was typically with Elias on family outings. A car had never seemed necessary. But now, she wanted one. “Sure, I found a model that’s over forty grand; you can give me the money. I’ll go buy it tomorrow,” Henry said suddenly, looking directly at Elias with resolute eyes. For Elias, forty grand wasn’t pocket change, but it wasn’t huge for him either. He blinked in surprise; Henry was usually so frugal. He gave her two thousand dollars a month for household expenses, and she saved most of it. Why was she suddenly asking for such an extravagant purchase? “Over forty grand? Maybe we should wait until our mid-year bonuses come in. How does that sound?” Elias suggested softly. “You’re just hesitant to give it to me.”
Chapter 4
“I’ve made a mess of things, and you still can't spend the money? Can’t we do this in installments? It’s not like you’re shelling out forty grand all at once!” Henry Sutherland’s pent-up frustration finally exploded as he shouted, “Elias Blackwood, we’ve been together for over ten years! Have I ever asked you for a penny? I didn't even go to a maternity center when I was recovering after giving birth. Now that you’re successful, you can’t even buy me a car worth forty grand?” Elias Blackwood, taken aback by Henry’s sudden outburst, was startled. Their two kids, curious and concerned by the commotion, rushed into the room, their eyes wide with confusion. Henry’s words struck a nerve, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. Elias panicked, his voice rising in urgency. “No, Honey! That’s not what I meant. Let’s just buy it tomorrow!” “I don’t want it anymore! Buying a car seems like you’re slicing off a piece of your flesh. I’ll earn my own money to buy one,” Henry snapped as she angrily wiped her tears and stormed into their bedroom. Elias stood frozen, a flicker of guilt crossing his face as he contemplated her words. “Dad’s bad! You made Mom cry!” Clara, their little girl, glared at Elias with a frown before stomping off in a huff. Samuel, their eldest, shot Elias a disapproving look, mirroring his sister's sentiment, before following her out. Elias: “…” With a heavy heart, he shuffled back into the living room. “What happened? Why were you arguing with Henry?” Maud, Elias’s mother, inquired upon seeing him. “She fell today, and I told her riding that electric scooter was unsafe. I suggested getting her a car, but she said she had her eye on a forty-thousand-dollar one. Since she mainly goes grocery shopping, I thought spending ten or so grand would suffice. That made her angry. I suggested waiting until mid-year bonuses came in, but she wasn’t having it.” Alaric Blackwood, Elias’s father, scoffed, “If you’re hesitant to spend, stop bringing it up! If you won’t buy what she likes, are you just trying to mess with her?” Maud frowned, contemplating Alaric's point, “Elias does have a point. Forty grand is not pocket change, and Henry doesn’t need a luxury car for simple errands.” “Enough, enough. I’ll talk to her again,” Elias replied, pursing his lips as he headed upstairs. Once inside the bedroom, Henry’s tears had dried, but her expression was far from cheerful as she busily tidied up her belongings. “Dear, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Let's buy the car tomorrow, okay?” Elias said in a soft voice, trying to appease her. “No thanks. I’ve realized I’m just a freeloader in this house. You even have to pay my social security for me. My parents at least have retirement plans, but I have nothing and don’t deserve a nice car. I can buy what I want with my own money,” Henry said, her tone resolute. Hearing her words, Elias thought she was still upset and quickly reassured her, “No, really, it’s a misunderstanding! I didn’t say I wouldn’t buy it. Fifty grand? We can do that too! Why don’t you just take my car tomorrow? I can drive my dad's old one to work.” He continued to persuade her.
Chapter 5
Henry Sutherland pulled out her collection of certificates from her bag, dust covering them from lack of use. There were her college diplomas and various awards she had achieved over the years. “I’m going to look for a job tomorrow. I graduated too, you know. We were classmates, and I once was a top student. Back then, I had companies offering me salaries of $300,000 a year. How did I end up like this, unable to even afford a $40,000 car?” Elias Blackwood’s face fell as he listened. “Henry, are you being ridiculous? I never said I wouldn’t buy you anything.” “Buy me? Yes, buy me! You’ve got me living off your earnings; you think that makes you special?” Henry met his fury head-on, standing tall as she pointed a finger at him. “Elias, let me tell you, even without you, I could drive that $40,000 car just fine.” “Enough! Can you behave for once? I work hard every day. Do you think I’m going to fight with you over something so trivial? The kids still have homework to finish,” Elias replied, frustration clear in his voice. “Tomorrow I’ll go out looking for a job, and I won’t need your help with household expenses. Each of us can handle the children’s costs separately. I’ve already helped Clara with her homework; you’ll need to take care of the rest on your own,” Henry said, sliding her certificates into her pocket as she headed to the spare room. Elias was genuinely exasperated now, his voice cold. “Go ahead. If you manage to find a job that pays more than $5,000, I’ll kneel down and apologize. Do you think $5,000 is enough for anything? That won't even cover two months of property fees.” Henry didn’t argue back. She slammed the door to the spare room with a resounding crash. She understood all too well that even when Elias contributed to the household, it came with limits. He believed that he was only responsible for the $20,000 he handed over. If she ever asked for more than he deemed suitable, he would hesitate, hold back, and delay. At the end of the day, deep down, she felt unworthy and undeserving. If it had been another woman, he might easily have spent $600,000 or $1 million without a second thought. She had to find a job. She needed to find a job. --- By morning, Henry awoke as usual and set about preparing breakfast. This time, she only focused on the children’s needs, making shrimp stir-fry with asparagus, whole grain porridge, boiled eggs, and fresh tomato-cucumber juice. Once breakfast was ready, she called the kids to the table and hopped on her electric bike, heading out the door. When Elias woke up, he noticed Henry’s retreating figure and glanced at the table, realizing there wasn’t even any breakfast laid out for him. His face twisted into an ugly scowl. Henry wasn't naive; she had her sights set on the job hunt, but it wasn’t an easy road. Rather than face interviews, she took out her phone and signed up as a delivery driver. Having studied at Ravenwood and being married, she knew the streets well. Plus, there was no experience required for this job — just a willingness to hustle. It turned out there couldn’t be a better fit for her than this. And her reasoning for choosing this line of work offered her another layer of freedom. By the end of the day, Henry, though still a novice, managed to deliver over ten orders. She even made friends with other delivery drivers in the area, who, upon seeing a woman among them, treated her with kindness. Despite earning less than $100 working all day, she felt a sense of fulfillment. This job allowed her to be self-sufficient and helped her temporarily forget the pain of her husband’s infidelity. At 6 PM, as the kids were getting home from school, she returned with some groceries. Surprisingly, Elias had come home early, skipping out on work. Upon seeing Henry dressed in her delivery uniform, he couldn’t help but scoff, a mix of ridicule and resignation on his face. “So you spent the whole day running around, neglecting the house and the cooking, just to deliver meals?” Henry was exhausted after a long day. She had no energy left to argue with Elias.
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