My husband, Dax, had a nasty temper. He was constantly belittling me, making me feel worthless. My best friend, Chloe, kept pushing me to divorce him, and I actually listened to her. I divorced him decisively, even agreeing to leave with practically nothing but Leo. I never imagined that after the divorce, I wouldn’t be able to afford our family expenses. By the time I swallowed my pride and went back to him, begging for help, I found out he’d married Chloe. Chloe had him wrapped around her little finger, happy as a clam, and all his money was flowing straight into her accounts. That’s when it hit me: Chloe had been after Dax all along, subtly poisoning our relationship. The betrayal shattered me. I was so heartbroken, I ended up in a car accident. The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes again, and it was that exact moment when Chloe was first trying to convince me to divorce Dax. I blocked her on SnapChat without a second thought. Then, I turned to Dax, who was busy criticizing my outfit, calling it ugly and my taste terrible, and I plastered a sweet smile on my face. “Darling,” I said, “I’ll change immediately. Whatever you say.”
It had been two years of marriage, and this was the first time I’d ever given Dax a pleasant look during an argument. He actually looked stunned for a moment. While he was still blinking, I’d already swapped my T-shirt and jeans for a slip dress and walked out of the closet. Dax’s expression softened, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. “That’s better. Next time, don’t wear such ugly clothes. They don’t suit your vibe.” Seriously, who dresses up like that just to chill at home? But Dax liked to see me that way. If things weren’t exactly his way, his words would turn sharp and cutting, laced with sarcasm. I used to not understand it. We were both successful actors, we fell in love and chose to get married… why did getting a marriage license suddenly make me less than him, like I was beneath him? I always resented it. So, every time he criticized my clothes, I’d fight him tooth and nail. Once, twice, three times. Dax would get so furious his face turned purple, and I’d feel terrible too. Afterward, I’d vent to my best friend, Chloe, and she’d immediately tell me to divorce him. “Honestly, Cassie,” she’d say, “it’s all about equality these days. What kind of guy still acts like such a tyrant at home?” “Everyone treats their wife like a princess, terrified of hurting her or making her sad, right?” “It’s just your Dax, thinking he’s hot stuff because he gives the family a little money every month, acting like a big shot all the time.” “It’s one thing if you put up with him, but your parents have to put up with him too? That’s just too much.” “If I were you, I’d divorce him. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, girl. Dump him and find yourself a sweet, devoted younger guy. Watch him fume.” Though I was angry, I still hesitated. “But… but I’ve been out of the industry for so long, and Leo’s only one. What if I divorce now and can’t find work?” Chloe cut me off. “How could that happen? Your acting skills are just as good as his, if not better!” “Besides, I’m still in the industry. Worst case, I’ll introduce you to a few projects. We’re not going to believe we can’t make it without him, are we?” Despite her words, I actually wasn’t keen on divorcing. Once I calmed down, Dax and I argued and went back and forth for quite a while. That is, until Dax went off to film in a remote, isolated location for three months. While he was gone, a severe flu strain swept through our house, infecting everyone, from my parents to little Leo. I got pretty sick too, with a fever reaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit. I called Dax, but he was incredibly busy. After only two sentences, he exploded, yelling, “Cassie! You’re in your twenties, can’t you go to the hospital? Can’t you hire a nurse? What do you think I give you money for?” “I’m in the middle of nowhere, miles away from civilization, and I can’t just drop everything and come back. Why are you calling me non-stop? Isn’t there enough chaos already?” Listening to the chaotic sounds of crying and coughing echoing from the living room, I felt wronged and scared. I choked out, “Dax, I just wanted you to comfort me a little.” “I don’t have time!” Dax took a deep breath. It sounded like the director was rushing him. He controlled his anger, saying, “You figure it out yourself, damn it. The crew, hundreds of people, have been waiting for this snow scene for ages. I have to go shoot.” “Don’t call me these next couple of days. I’ll message you when I’m done.” With that, he hung up and blocked my number. I stared at the glaring red exclamation mark, my heart aching with shock and pain. Just then, Chloe called. After hearing what happened, she helped me get my parents and Leo to the hospital. After everything was settled, she sighed repeatedly as she looked at me. “See? I told you Dax was useless, didn’t I? Besides giving you some money, what else can he do?” I was speechless, unable to utter a word. Chloe then sent me a dozen videos about how men in marriage are unreliable, how it’s better to live alone, and how if a man isn’t there when you need him most, it makes no difference whether he’s around or not. Watching those videos, I truly started to consider divorcing Dax. But I never realized Chloe had ulterior motives. I also failed to grasp that even after getting married, Dax had always provided for me financially. Leaving him meant losing the three hundred thousand dollars in living expenses every month. This ‘useless’ thing she talked about was what allowed me to live comfortably without a care, ensuring my parents and Leo were happy and well-provided for. So, when I opened my eyes again, Dax’s nature in my mind had changed. He wasn’t my husband anymore; he was my personal ATM, my sugar daddy. Even dealing with a boss means sucking up and taking some crap sometimes, right? So what if my sugar daddy yelled at me a bit? Understanding this, I immediately forced a smile. Looking at Dax, I said, “Darling, you must be tired. Shall I run a bath for you?” He nodded, not speaking.
In the bathroom, I drew a large bath for Dax, even thoughtfully testing the water temperature with Leo’s rubber duck. When Dax walked in, he was still watching my back. “Cassie.” “Hmm?” “Are you still mad at me? I explained it already. Hanging up on you and blocking you that day was an emergency. You’ve been on set too, you know how much pressure it is when hundreds of people are waiting for you to start work.” “We specifically traveled to that remote mountain location just to wait for that heavy snow. If we didn’t get the shot right, who knows when we’d get another chance? The entire production would be delayed, and I couldn’t bear that responsibility.” “You’re in this industry too. You should understand.” He spoke with a stern face, his voice urgent. As he continued, his temper began to flare again. In the past, I would have stood there, hands on my hips, arguing back. Work is important, but weren’t his wife and child important too? My parents and Leo were all in the hospital; what was wrong with me making a worried call? But now I understood: Dax was a straightforward guy, almost simplistic. Like all men, he married to simplify his life, not to create problems. When hormones were raging during our courtship, he indulged and pampered me. But once married, he wanted comfort, freedom, and the effortless warmth of a home. I walked over, hooked my arms around his neck, and nuzzled him like a kitten. “Okay, I get it. Calling you that day was my fault. I shouldn’t have been so anxious and failed to consider your situation.” “You’ve been suffering in the mountains for two months; you deserve a good rest. Just soak in the bath for now. We can talk about anything else after you’ve relaxed, okay?” I stroked his cheek and noticed that when I played along with him, when I stroked his ego just right, Dax didn’t get angry. He let out a long sigh, unusually good-tempered. “Cassie, if only you were always this understanding.”
I knew why Dax looked that way. I was eight years younger than him, and when I married him, I still had a childlike mentality. During our courtship, he catered to my every whim, spoiling me rotten. After I got pregnant, my parents came to live with us, and since I was their only child, they listened to my every word, pampering me like a delicate princess. So, Dax often told me he felt like he’d married a daughter, not a wife. I thought this was a sign of his love, until I saw him with Chloe. To please him, Chloe was so docile that she’d even kneel to tie his shoelaces when they came undone. Dax’s heart just melted. “You don’t have to do that. I can do it myself.” Chloe just smiled. “It’s okay, I want to treat you well. You put up with a lot when you were with Cassie. Now let me love you and spoil you like a child.” Her words, seemingly soft, carried immense weight, subtly manipulating him. Dax’s expression shifted, and he pulled her into a hug. “Thank you, darling. I never knew what love was until I met you.” “Come on, let’s go to the mall. I’ll buy you an LV bag.” Chloe demurred, “Why waste the money? You work so hard to earn it.” But she didn’t object, instead kissing Dax. I watched them like a creep, hand in hand, shopping. Dax bought Chloe a ton of things. Unlike his frequent outbursts with me, he was always calm and peaceful with Chloe. If he occasionally spoke too sharply, Chloe would gently pat his chest. “Darling, just take your time. Your loud voice scares me.” She had him completely under her thumb. Watching Chloe, that masterful manipulator, it suddenly hit me. I had been too naive, too childish. Dax was genuinely an excellent catch. An orphan, incredibly handsome, and he held a significant position in the entertainment industry. I was lucky to have found someone like him. After we got married, he even moved my parents into the spacious home he’d bought. He was often away, filming for months at a time, but my parents, Leo, and I lived a comfortable, dignified life, sustained by the three hundred thousand dollars he transferred monthly. Besides a fixed allowance, he’d sometimes buy me diamond necklaces and designer bags. At the end of the year, he’d transfer another hundred or two hundred thousand dollars to my parents. His major income wasn’t squandered either; besides investing in real estate, he’d also set up an education fund for Leo. Such a good man, just with a bit of a bad temper. Why did I have to be so stubborn and fight him? I felt like smacking myself silly. My naivety had jeopardized my entire life, and that of my parents and Leo. This time, I would learn from Chloe. I needed to play the gentle card. I refused to believe I couldn’t make this work.
The next afternoon, Dax was still asleep. My parents, as usual, kept the food warm, waiting for him to wake up. I had just put Leo down for his nap and eaten a couple of dumplings. Mom walked over and nudged my elbow. “Oh, Cassie, why are you so well-behaved today? No yelling at Dax for sleeping in?” After all, I used to be much less patient. If Dax wasn’t up by ten, I’d storm in and rip the covers off, complaining that he didn’t eat with the family and didn’t respect my parents. This time, I just smiled at Mom. “He’s tired from filming. Let him sleep. I’m a mother now; I can’t keep acting so immature.” “Oh, Robert, come listen! Our daughter says she’s being sensible now!” Mom chuckled, going to tease Dad about me. Watching them huddle together, a wave of sadness washed over me, a bitter ache in my chest. In my previous life, I had insisted on divorcing, and with barely any money, they had to find jobs in their old age just to maintain our previous standard of living. I didn’t know how they’d managed after I died. And Leo, barely a year old, had lost his mom. My heart was heavy with pain and regret, my eyes starting to well up. Dax opened the door, coincidentally catching sight of me. His heart inexplicably twitched. He walked over. “What’s wrong? Who upset you?” I immediately snapped back to reality, shaking my head at him. “Nothing. I just feel so happy with our life right now.” Dax was surprised by my words, looking a bit stunned again. After freshening up, he sat at the head of the table. I served him a plate of food and then a bowl of soup. “Mom simmered this all morning. Try it.” Dax took a sip, his face stern as he commented, “Hmm, it’s a bit too strong. Don’t put ginger in next time.” Mom gave an awkward laugh. “The pork stomach will be too fishy without ginger.” “Then try another method. Anyway, I don’t like it. The most important thing is to find a solution. People cook abroad without ginger, and their food’s perfectly edible. Use your brains a bit, stop sticking to old methods.” He reverted to that domineering tone, and I felt the familiar spark of anger ignite within me. I struggled to suppress the urge to snap back, took a deep breath, and said, “Then we’ll try a different recipe next time. Is there anything else you don’t like? This fish is pretty good.” With that, I put a piece of fish on Dax’s plate. Throughout the meal, everyone except Dax ate a bit cautiously. After clearing the table, he was off to a work meeting, grabbing his phone on the way out. “Cassie, I transferred you half a million dollars. Use it to buy some things for your parents.” “Director Miller has a script he wants to go over with me. I probably won’t be home until very late tonight.” He’d just gotten home last night, and today he was leaving again. He was always coming and going, barely seeing our son. I originally wanted him to leave a little later, to say goodbye to Leo, so Leo wouldn’t forget what he looked like. But then I reconsidered. No, my sugar daddy’s main job is making money.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “350235”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #惊悚Thriller #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn
Leave a Reply