I knocked on my wife's door, waiting for her to give me permission to come in. But I didn't hear her voice.
I know, husbands and wives are meant to share a room and a bed, but that isn't the case for Nora and me.
We've been married for four years, but this is where our marriage has ended up.
Four years ago, everything was different.
I can vividly remember the last day of college when Nora approached me, confessing her feelings for me, which left me stunned because she was a wealthy girl from an opulent background.
Compared to me, I was just a penniless orphan with nothing to offer her.
As our relationship grew, her family began to despise me for being poor and lacking prospects. Initially, Nora stood by me, but the pressure on her became unbearable. And Eventually, she broke down.
Things began to take a turn as every day became a reminder of how useless and worthless I was to her.
I still didn't give up. I tried countless businesses, determined to prove I could be a better man, because i loved her, But as time passed, Nora grew distant.
Now, four years later, I find myself standing outside her door, feeling more like a roommate than a husband.
"Come in!" she yelled, her tone sharp, cutting through my thoughts.
I hesitated before stepping inside.
The room was filled with the scent of makeup—lipsticks, powders, and perfumes scattered across the table.
Nora sat in front of the mirror, applying a bold red lipstick, her gaze focused on the reflection.
"You need to get ready," she said, not bothering to look at me. "In an hour, a driver will come pick us up."
"Why?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Really? You forgot about Grandma's eightieth birthday?"
"I'm sorry," I mumbled. Work had been overwhelming, and I barely remembered anything.
But my heart sank at the thought of going. I didn't want to face her family, who treated me as an affront to their status. All I would receive were insults and reminders of my worthlessness.
Nora turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. " I got you clothes, I dont want you looking broke and worn out"
I frowned unsure if I should take it an insult.... But i kept my cool.
---
As the car pulled up in front of the grand estate, I glanced up at the enormous mansion, a looming testament to wealth.
Laughter and music spilled from inside the mansion, the air filled with the scent of expensive perfume and gourmet food.
Nora stepped out first, radiating confidence. I followed, trying to match her energy, but the moment we entered, the atmosphere shifted because all eyes were now on me, gazing at me with hate and disgust.
"Look who decided to grace us with his presence," Nora's mother, Mrs. Thompson, sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Mr. Ethan, the penniless orphan who thinks he's a man. How quaint." She spoke as laughter erupted from the crowd.
"Honestly, Nora," Nora's Aunt Rebecca chimed in, her tone sharp. "You could have done so much better than this… this fool." She glanced at me, clearly irritated by my presence. "You're wasting your life on a man who can't provide a penny for you? Ugh, the thought of it makes me furious," she spoke shaking her head before walking away.
I could see some nearby guest whispering to themselves, their eyes darting toward me, eying me from head to toe as if I were covered in dirt.
Nora's cousin, Adrian, stepped forward, smirking. "No, let me ask him," he said, glancing around the crowd before turning to face me. "What's the plan, huh? Are you going to charm us into investing in your failed businesses? Or is this just another scheme to get your hands on Nora's inheritance?"
I clenched my fists, trying to suppress my reaction because each word felt like a punch to the gut.
"Gold digger!" someone shouted from the back, and the crowd erupted in laughter again. "You really think you belong here? You're nothing but a bastard!"
I stood frozen, humiliation flooding my veins.
"Why don't you just admit it? You're too proud to accept that you're a nobody," Adrian taunted, leaning closer. "You think you can fool us into believing you'll be successful? Newsflash: you're just wasting our time."
As the laughter swelled, my heart felt like it was shattering. I glanced at Nora; her face was a mix of frustration and embarrassment, but she remained silent. It wasn't like she was on my side either.
I took a deep breath, trying to swallow the humiliation, but I could no longer bear it.
Without another second wasted, I turned on my heel to walk away, but I felt a hard grip on my shoulder.
With rage boiling through my veins, I slowly turned back, fists clenched at my sides.
"Where the hell do you think you're going, loser? Do you think we're done with you?" Adrian laughed, looking away from me, back to the crowd, who stood watching, amused.
"We might as well have some fun with him, right?" he said, and the crowd laughed mockingly.
No! No! I couldn't take it anymore. Just before Adrian turned back to me, I threw a hard punch to his face, sending him crashing to the ground.
As he fell, silence enveloped the room. The laughter faded, replaced by shocked gasps and wide eyes.
Mrs. Thompson's face turned red, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you!" she growled.