Again? You were with her, Emma said, tears glinting in her eyes as she stared at her husband.
James choked on his words and knocked a spoon off the table.
Your watch, she nodded toward the metal band on his wrist.
Yes, thats right, James waved a hand, trying to hide the timepiece beneath his cuff.
I found the box in the bin, Emma replied, and there was even a receipt inside!
James lowered his gaze, staring at the plate in front of him.
We agreed you wouldnt see her again, Emma said, her voice tinged with hurt. You promised me! You swore!
Look, Emma, James began, she begged me. I know I promised, but shes still my boss. How could I turn her down?
Politely! Emma managed, holding back her anger. Im married. I love my wife! I had no choice. And, with all due respect, shes not the only employer in town.
Emma, think logically, James tried to steady himself. Shes offering me the best terms Ive had in years because of my past work. Would another firm do the same? Unlikely.
Living off you would be a burden for anyone, Emma snapped, grinding her teeth. Shes only doing this because of old loyalties. The watch isnt the only thing I brought back!
For you and for Emily, James said, gesturing to the gold necklaces with zodiac charms hed tucked away. A generous gift, isnt it?
Give it back and pay me back! Emma retorted. Neither I nor Emily will ever wear those.
Ill just return it to the shop, James shrugged. Valentina I mean, Victoria Hart left the receipt.
The watch, too, Emma reminded, pointing again at his wrist.
Right, right, James muttered, suddenly remembering the missing box and receipt. He placed the items on the table in front of Emma.
Fine, James said dryly. Ill give it back. Happy now?
Dont go to her again! Find a way to sort this out, but make sure it never happens again, Emma warned.
James clicked his tongue, turned his head, and exhaled. Emma, she promised it was the last time, but you have to understand our wellbeing hinges on the salary she pays. If she
Youll have to refuse, Emma snapped. Fine then, it was a forced measure. We dont need that now.
***
People never truly know how far theyll go when desperation tightens its grip. In those moments they claim theyll do anything, yet often its bravado. Theres always a line you wont cross, even in dire need.
James and Emmas lives were never easy. Their childhood offered little comfort. They hadnt grown up in an orphanage, but theyd often daydreamed about it. Both came from large families.
Whether luck favored them or not, they were middleoftheroad. The weight of responsibility didnt crush their young shoulders, but work was never scarce.
Prosperity, for them, meant simply not being hungry, having clothes, shoes, and a warm roof over their heads a modest happiness. A small slip could mean losing dinner or being forced to sleep in the shed.
From an early age they learned to hustle, survive, lie, grab, and defend themselves. Psychological scars were a foreign concept then; they never considered them.
They were strung together like beads on a thread, each hoping to leave their family home and never look back.
Every one of them could have moved to a nearby larger city to start fresh. Yet both Emma and James chose to travel a thousand miles, settling not in the biggest metropolis but a smaller town, driven by the thought that theyd be hard to find again. They cut all ties with their relatives once and for all, leaving no warm hearth behind.
At the end of their separate journeys, they met. Some call it coincidence; others say like attracts like.
During their first conversation, sharing the stories of their pasts, they were struck by how similar their lives had been.
Maybe its just human nature, James mused. Or perhaps its how were raised. Our hometowns are about two thousand miles apart, we speak different accents, yet weve been broken in the same way.
Shared pain forges stronger bonds than a common goal. Their wedding soon felt inevitable.
Its hard to go it alone at the start, but together they felt they could move mountains. So James and Emma began their joint pursuit of happiness.
They studied, took odd jobs, then held steady workthough never at the same place. They chased everything theyd been denied as children: good food, new clothes, decent shoes, little personal trinkets, and finally, their own home.
Saving for a house proved a grave challenge. The first deposit never seemed within reach; every new gadget seemed essential, every impulse purchase a necessity.
Their behaviour wasnt healthy, yet it became a shared quirk. Arguments never arose about it because both were identical in that regard.
When Emma discovered she was pregnant, the couple finally faced the reality of their wishes.
My love, well soon have a bigger family, and renting a tiny flat with a baby Emma said.
I know, James replied. Well save for a deposit.
Their optimism was naïve. Still, they managed to scrape together some savings and found a modest twobedroom on the secondary market, albeit in a state of disrepair.
Lets just refurbish it, James shrugged. London wasnt built in a day. At least its ours.
Emma, heavily pregnant, sighed, And well be paying it off for twenty years.
Well manage, James said, forcing a smile.
After Emily was born, they sat down and ran the numbers. If they avoided unnecessary expenses and saved a little each month, the mortgage could be cleared and they could live reasonably well.
There were many assumptions and unknownsinflation, unexpected billsbut they tried to factor everything in. Confidence gave them hope, though fate had other plans.
Emma worked as a cashier at a supermarket, while James was a manager in a local office. She aimed to become senior cashier; James hoped to head a department.
A raise would lift their standard of living. Yet Emmas promotion was halted when Emily fell ill. Doctors couldnt pinpoint the cause at first; after weeks they discovered shed contracted a rare tropical disease from a travelling petting zoo that had stopped in their town.
Treating the illness would take years, and the medication was exorbitantly priced.
Weve arranged a mortgage holiday for a year, James said, but thats all theyll give us.
What do we do? Emma asked, tears welling.
I dont know, James replied, bewildered. Our companys new director, Victoria Hart, has taken over. All raises are frozen. Ill go to her on my knees and beg for a promotionanything to fund Emilys treatment.
Emma nodded. Shes a woman; shell understand. Ill go too if I have to.
Three days later James staggered home late at night, exhausted. The next morning Emma asked why he seemed so drained.
Emma, I dont know what to say, James said, shaking his head. Our new boss, Victoria Hart, is a single woman who apparently needs personal services. Shes willing to promote me and even pay extra.
Is she out of her mind? Emma gasped. Youre married!
And thats happened more than once, James smirked. She says Im healthy and reliable, and she only wants a professional arrangementmoney for services. Nothing more, just business.
Emma sat in stunned silence. On one side of the scale lay Emilys health; on the other, a sordid business proposal.
What do you think? she asked softly.
Whatever you say, Ill do, James replied.
Emma realised that by handing James the decision, she had already given him moral permission. He had spent sleepless nights wrestling with the choice, bottle in hand.
He decided to go aheadfor Emilys sake. He could never have told Emma the full truth if it were just for himself.
James checked Victorias profile online: she was fifteen years older, childless, a classic businesswoman whose heart seemed replaced by a leatherbound ledger. Her motives were purely financial.
James, tell her its only for the child, Emma whispered, though the words felt impossible to utter.
I told her that straight away, James blushed. Ill be a manofthehouse, but I must save Emily.
Four years passed before Emily recovered. Throughout that period, James called his boss only once or twice a month.
When the promotion finally came, James became head of his department, then deputy branch manager. His career continued to climb, though not without setbacks.
Victorias gifts were generouscash, luxury items, even a designer suit for James. She attached receipts and shop addresses, knowing he might return them later.
Emilys recovery coincided with the couple finally paying off the mortgage, largely thanks to Jamess hard work.
When the last medical reports arrived, Emma sighed with relief. Now we dont have to rely on your boss any longer. We can just work and live normally.
Thank God, James replied, smiling. Ill tell her tomorrow.
But a month later Emma spotted a new shirt in Jamess wardrobea designer piece, not bought from any high street store. A goldtipped tie, a polished leather wallet, and even a watch she hadnt seen before.
She eventually found the discarded box and receipt in the rubbish bin.
Look at these gifts! she exclaimed.
James, still serving his boss, tried to brush it off. Ill sort it out.
***
What are you thinking? James shouted, exasperated. We have no need for more luxuries! We live frugally, hunt for bargains, and still want a decent life. I want a car, a holiday, dresses, shoes, coatsfor you and for Emily. I want a stable future for her education, not a life of hopping from one rental to another.
His words burst out like a dam breaking. Emma stood frozen, watching his flushed face, feeling the cold splash of realization.
Honestly, Emma said, breaking the silence, youve dressed this up so nicely, but its just an excuse. All for the family, you say, yet youre ignoring us. You think youre not hurting anyone, but you are.
James stared at the watch on Emmas wrist one last time. What now? he asked.
Nothing more, Emma replied, her voice steady. Thank you for helping Emily heal, but I cant stand this any longer. Leave.
James never understood why Emma drove him out.
Does it matter? he muttered. If its for the child, its okay. But if its not, why not? I earned this. I have a right to my wishes.
Emmas eyes softened. People have limits. We learned that the hardest battles are fought not against others, but against the parts of ourselves that forget were all human. In the end, the only true wealth is keeping your integrity intact.
The lesson lingered: even when love drives us to extreme measures, we must never sacrifice our own honor or the respect we owe each other, for a life built on deceit crumbles faster than any mortgage.
