Gina and Gary met on a blind date. Gary had a small business in Ping City and was doing quite well.
He was very friendly to Gina and her family at first. When he first started dating, he helped Gina's family repay the debt of 500,000 dollars. It was because of this that Gina felt moved by him. The two of them got married after knowing each other for three months.
However, on the second day of their marriage, Gary revealed his true nature. Not only did he not allow Gina to go out to work, but Gina also had to report every person she came into contact with to him.
Sometimes, when Gina simply went out to throw the trash and talked to the neighbors for a while, Gary would say that she was seducing other men and beat her up.
In the beginning, Gary would apologize thereafter, saying that he loved Gina too much and was impulsive. However, as time went on, he would beat Gina up for no reason.
Gina had resisted before, but every time, Gary would use Gina's family members to threaten her. In the end, Gina had no choice but to give up resisting.
Gary did all of this very discreetly. The wounds were all in places that Gina would not expose. In addition, Gina had always reported only the good things that happened to her and never the bad, so her family had never known about her being a victim of domestic violence.
After listening to Gina, Laurie clenched her fists tightly. She wished she could punch that scumbag Gary in the face instantly.
"He's too much!" Laurie stood up angrily. "You must divorce him. There's no room for discussion on this matter, and we have to sue him!"
"No, no!" Gina tugged at Laurie anxiously. "He paid off the 500,000 dollars that Mom owed. He said that if I get a divorce, I have to pay him back with interest. I…"
At this point, Gina's tears were pouring like a waterfall. What she didn't say was that Gary had previously proposed using Laurie to repay his money. Gina refused to allow that. Even when she was beaten up, she never allowed Laurie to go to her house. The two of them even slowly cut off contact.
Gina had been using her own way to protect her mother and younger sister, but she was too weak and couldn't fight against Gary at all.
"He actually treats me well." Gina didn't want Laurie to look for Gary, so she tried making excuses for him again.
"We're family after all. The fact that he was willing to help our family pay back the money proves that he still has me in his heart." Gina grabbed Laurie's hand. "Let me solve this matter by myself, okay?"
Laurie objected immediately. "No! Domestic violence will only increase if left unchecked. Look at your injuries!"
As she spoke, tears began to flow uncontrollably from her eyes.
When she thought about how her elder sister had been enduring such domestic abuse, she made up her mind to solve this problem in the shape of Gary.
Gina held back her tears and helped Laurie wipe away her tears gently. "Don't cry. I'll only give him one last chance. If there's a next time, I'll definitely divorce him. Alright?"
The corners of Laurie's mouth twitched, but she didn't say anything in the end.
That night, the two sisters did not sleep much as each was preoccupied with their own thoughts.
Early in the morning, Claude woke up on time to cook. Gina got up early and saw him busy with the chores.
"Morning, Sister." Claude was wearing an apron, which seem somewhat incongruent with his muscular figure.
Gina's lips twitched as she forced herself to greet him in return. "Morning."
Gina felt a little awful inwardly as she looked at the man who was busy in the kitchen. As long as it was housework, Gary would never get involved, let alone wake up at 5 am to make breakfast.
However, when she thought again about how her younger sister could lead such a happy life and not end up like her, Gina felt a trace of comfort in her heart.
After a long day yesterday, Laurie finally fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning. In the end, she had to be woken up by Gina.
When she arrived at the dining room, Claude had already left for work.
Gina also smiled when she saw how contented Laurie was as she ate the egg custard mouthful by mouthful.
"Claude is really a good husband. You have to cherish him," Gina said softly.
Laurie was astonished for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Other than the fact that they weren't a real couple and that Claude had a little girlfriend, Claude could be considered a perfect husband.
Just as the sisters were chatting, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Laurie thought Claude had forgotten to take something, so she rushed over to open the door, but it turned out to be Gary.
He had big dark circles under his eyes, and his body reeked of tobacco mixed with alcohol.
He smiled broadly when he saw Laurie open the door.
Gary sized Laurie up and then licked his lips. "Dear Laurie, you're getting more and more beautiful."