Chapter 3

The next morning, I went shopping early to cook my husband's favorite dish. Every weekend, he likes to have seafood soup in the morning. He loved it when there were several tomatoes and onions. 

When I came back from the market, I immediately took a shower to get rid of the strange smell from the market before cooking. It's quick to cook because we have a rice cooker at home, and it only takes a few minutes to prepare the soup. 

Aside from the seashells that I bought, there was also a kilogram of fish. I would fry it later. Or maybe I can ask Brent to fry the fish. Yes, and we are quite relaxed in life, but we have not yet been able to hire another helper. 

I am still sending my siblings to school, and Brent continues to support his children born out of wedlock. 

"Good morning, my love!" I looked at Brent and Karla, who had entered the kitchen. As usual, Karla's smile was wide because her father carried her. "Are you hungry, Brent? Breakfast is almost ready," I told him.

"A bit. I was tired this morning, so I ran out of energy," he said softly to me because the nanny was just in the living room arranging the children's toys. 

And when Brent and I talk sweetly, I can temporarily forget the man's shortcomings in me. The ten times I've been hung up because of his insensitivity to my sexual needs can be temporarily put aside whenever he does something that I love most of all.

"Alright, sit there, and I'll follow. Call nanny so we can have breakfast together," I ordered her to go to the table first.

"Alright, my queen! Your word is my command," the man replied, and I don't know why I was shocked by what he said. 

My God! Was I just too in love with my husband? The man was not deserving of my total devotion, but he really knows how to make me smile.

"I will handle our budget first," the man proposed while we waited for Karla's nanny.

I frowned because it was not clear to me what he wanted to happen. "What do you mean?" I asked him.

"Let me handle our finances here at home," said Brent. 

"You mean, I'll give you my salary instead of you giving it to me?"

"That's how it is," he replied. 

At that moment, I didn't know whether to be happy or angry because I'm not stupid, eh! He just told me how much his salary is, but he has no intention of giving it to me. Then, he wanted to have my salary too! 

My goodness, I was really amazed at the way his brain worked. Honestly, I was insulted by his proposal, but I didn't show it. As soon as his salary increased, his true behavior when it comes to money came out immediately.

"No problem," I answered. I don't want to lie to him anymore, but it looks like I still have to do it to protect myself.

"You are really smart, my love. I'll take care of everything, and you don't have to worry about bills or buying things we need at home. All you have to do is transfer your salary to my account once you have it," the man explained, and I just nodded.

"That's good so I can spend more time with our daughter," I told him, because grocery shopping is a waste of time, especially when supermarkets are crowded every payday. "By the way, Brent, Levi will be moving to sales, and I will be replacing him," I informed him about my promotion. 

"Is there a salary increase?"

“Of course there is. Maybe around 5K," I lied. 

With what the man wanted to happen, I felt it was only right that I not tell him everything. 

“About dinner, we have to do it next week,” he stated.

For a moment, I wondered why his plan suddenly changed because he insisted on having it yesterday. 

"Why are there changes in the plan?" Hmmm, because our new GM called an emergency meeting," the man replied.

"Is that so? Or, it's up to you," I said, because I understood that he first needed to show off his new position. 

After breakfast, Brent and Karla went upstairs to sleep, but I stayed in the living room. My brain is still messed up because of what Brent wants to happen. 

Overnight, the man changed just because of his income. It's not just about our finances that changed because of Brent's promotion in the company he joined. Also, the man's behavior gradually changed. I asked him several times if we had a problem or not, but he didn't answer properly.

"I think you're constantly working overtime now, Kylie!"

I didn't like his tone on the other line. I called him to say goodbye and say that I would be home late because I had something important to finish. Because our clients have received shipments, and they were our VIP clients, I don't want to fail and disappoint Mr. Chavez.

"Not always, Brent. Only when there is an arrival of imports," I explained to him.

"But you have weekly arrivals, Kylie! You don't have time for me and for Karla," Brent added, but my ears perked up when he said that I don't have time. 

Well, every weekend I do laundry, and he goes out drinking with his friends. He knows that we don't have the same work schedule, yet he wouldn’t refuse his friends. 

He always prioritized them over me! I was constantly biting my lip while waiting for Miss Rona, and I only got more nervous when the man faced me. 

Who wouldn't be nervous when someone like Mr. Chavez smiled in front of them? Even though I was married, I still had a crush on him. 

"Read it," the man ordered, and he handed me an expandable blue folder. 

I opened the folder and then looked up to ask the man if what I read on the first page was true, but he didn't speak and just smiled. Suddenly, my hand started to sweat, so I simply put it down and put it in my skirt pocket. 

Then I focused on the following pages. I wondered how much the company's total monthly income was and whether it could afford to pay me that much. Besides the salary, I still have allowances for my cellphone and food.

"Shall I sign?" I asked the man.

"Sure," he answered, and Miss Rona arrived just in time.

Our manager sat in front of me and then smiled. “Congrats, Kylie,” she smiled. 

I just ignored what Marian said because it wouldn't happen that I would rely on Brent. 

"Why not? You two are married, eh? If you stay here at home, you can save money on the nanny," said Marian.

"That's right. Actually, I really intend to resign, but that's it. My child is still small, and you know how Brent is," I told Marian, because, in truth, I was always annoyed with Brent.

Who wouldn't find that man to be annoying? We both work from Mondays to Fridays, but the laundry is left to me. What on earth did he think of me? Part-time assistant? Did we get married so that he would have a maid? When I heard the sound of Brent's motorcycle approaching, I immediately fixed my hair and asked Marian if I was fine. 

Marian scolded me because I was only good at talking, and doing my hair didn't mean I would get her attention. I just don't want to look bad with my appearance. When Brent walked in, I had my sweetest smile ready, but the guy didn't even notice me.

"He didn’t even look at you, Kylie," Marian remarked. 

"I know. Should I kick him out of this house? I’m getting angry now, Marian."

“You can’t do it, Kylie. You love him so much," she teased me. 

True to Marian’s words, when Brent called me to bring him a bottle of water upstairs, I immediately went to get a bottle of water from the refrigerator. When I looked at Marian, she was even more disappointed in me, but what can I do? I love that guy so much!

"You will understand me too when you fall in love," I told her.

"If I will be given a man like your husband; I’d rather die an old maid, Kylie." 

"Really? Don't you want to taste a man? Bigger is better, you know," I teased Marian and the woman laughed.

"What about Brent? Is he huge?" She responded with a question, and I, as his wife, said it was confidential. "Secret," I answered.

"Alright, go see your prince, and maybe he'll turn into a frog," Marian said, and I laughed a lot. 

"How can that happen when he already looks like a frog?"