Love You Deeply Between The End and The Light

On our sixth wedding anniversary, my husband disappeared with our son.

My mother and I searched everywhere anxiously. When we were about to call the police, I received a call from my husband's number.

"Kneel and imitate a barking dog, or don't think about seeing your son again."

I recognized the voice of my husband's secretary, Cynthia Leech, but my mother thought my son had an accident and was in such fright that she had a heart attack and died.

After I finished dealing with my mother's funeral, I sent my husband a soft copy of the divorce agreement.

His secretary explained in a choked voice, "Katherine, it's just the Truth or Dare game. That's how we young people play."

My husband patiently comforted his secretary with concern but only replied to my message with one word, "Whatever."

I left resignedly, and I only met him again half a month later.

"You have no idea how disgusting the stretch marks on her belly are. I just can't get interested in her whenever I see those marks."

Hearing Marcus Fanning's voice, I stopped outside the door with my suitcase in a daze.

Cynthia then chuckled, "Marc, I know you like firm abs. I've been working out to get a welltoned body specifically for you. Do you want to feel them?"

When I pushed the door open, I saw Marcus' hand on Cynthia's lower abdomen.

While his young secretary, Cynthia, was wearing my pajamas, sitting on the sofa in my place, nesting in my husband's arms.

They both sprang to their feet in a hurry as soon as they saw me come back.

"Katherine, I accidentally got my clothes wet while cooking."

At the sight of the suitcase in my hand, Marcus' intention to explain was replaced by a cold snort.

"Katherine Selby, how can you still have the nerve to come back? You're no longer a little girl. How could you throw a tantrum and run away from home? You failed to fulfill your responsibilities as a wife! You should thank Cindy for taking care of me during this period."

I had been busy with my mother's funeral, yet Marcus thought my absence from home was just a way I threw a tantrum.

For Marcus, a wife's responsibilities were to do all the domestic chores, bear him children, and sacrifice everything for him unconditionally.

Even though he never wanted to eat the food I cooked.

Even though I wasn't allowed custody of the child I had given birth to after ten months of pregnancy.

Without giving Marcus any reply, I turned around and walked into the bedroom to pack my things.

Cynthia followed and explained to me, "Katherine, don't get mad. I didn't know that day was your wedding anniversary. I just felt that Marc was under too much pressure lately, so I arranged a party to help him relax."

"Cindy, don't waste time talking to her. How can a housewife like her understand the pressure we face at work?"

Marcus threw a gift box over as he spoke.

"You just want money, don't you? Here you are. An anniversary gift for you."

I didn't reach out to catch the box. It fell to the ground, revealing a thin necklace inside.

What a coincidence. It was the freebie on offer for the promotion of the necklace on Cynthia's neck.

I couldn't hold back the grievances in my heart anymore. "Why did you take Howie away? Do you know how much my mother wanted to see him?"

Back then, Marcus had coaxed me to quit my job and have a baby, making me take all kinds of nourishing food.

As a result, the fetus was too big, tearing my privates when I gave birth and leaving me with stretch marks that would last a lifetime.

From then on, Marcus had become unwilling to sleep with me and stayed out all night.

While Howie, the baby I had given birth to with great effort, had been taken away by Old Mrs. Fanning when he was just one month old.

They said that as the heir of the Fanning family, the child must be trained well and must not be influenced by my cheapness.

They also said that according to the fortune teller's statement, my mother would be a hindrance to Howie and the Fanning family's fortune.

My mother and I rarely saw Howie throughout the year. She had missed her grandson so much and finally, Marcus had agreed to let her see Howie, so she had come over to celebrate the anniversary with us.

Unexpectedly...

"I've already said that not letting your mother see Howie is for the good of both of our families. If the Fanning family's fortune were affected, how could you still live the good life you have now? Don't forget that your whole family relies on my support."

Marcus felt a little guilty and snapped impatiently, for he didn't remember the promise he had made casually at all.

Seeing that Marcus and I were about to quarrel again, Cynthia tried to smooth things over, chuckling.

"It's normal for a grandma to miss her grandson. How about this? I won't go to the ancestor worship ritual. Just let Katherine and her mother attend."

For six years, my mother and I were banned from all public occasions related to the Fanning family, except for their ancestor worship ritual.

It was because the ancestor worship ceremony was a grind where one had to prepare offerings without eating, drinking, or even a breather.

No one in the Fanning family was willing to take this, so the responsibility for this grind naturally fell on my mother and me.

Each time, we would be sent away without even a chance to drink some water after working hard for a whole day.

The reason why my mother had been willing to endure such injustice was that she could see Howie at the ancestor worship ritual.

At the thought of this, my heart overflowed with sadness.

"No need," I said coldly, "My mother is dead."

My mother had heart disease and had been getting weaker and weaker in recent years.

I didn't have the guts to tell her about the changes in my marriage with Marcus and had just told her everything was fine, fearing that she couldn't bear to know it.

As my mother got older and didn't have much time left, she wanted to see her grandson more before she died.

A month ago, on Marcus' and my wedding anniversary, my mother struggled to prepare a hearty meal and happily waited for us to come home.

But by the time the food was cold, Marcus and Howie hadn't returned yet.

I made countless calls and looked for Marcus everywhere but couldn't contact him at all.

My mother was so anxious that she was sweating profusely, urging me to call the police.

Just then, I received a call from Marcus' phone, but it was Cynthia speaking.

Her order for me to imitate a barking dog took away my mother's life and also the last bit of my affection for Marcus.

I understood there was no need for me to be in this broken marriage any longer.

"Katherine Selby, I can't believe you even have the guts to tell such a lie to get my attention."

Marcus tugged at his hair in annoyance and continued, "I've already told you that I've been under a lot of pressure at work lately. Can you please stop bothering me?"

When I just got married, my career was rising.

At that time, I would still prepare breakfast for Marcus the next day even after working overtime until ten o'clock every night.

Sometimes, when he was already asleep, I would put sound insulation cotton under the cutting board so that I wouldn't disturb him.

Therefore, Marcus' excuse was indeed lame.

"Sign the divorce agreement, and I won't bother you anymore."

"Your unreasonable behavior will only make Marc dislike you even more."

There was no point in wasting time talking to them, so I just picked up my packed baggage and prepared to leave.

Marcus raged, "Never come back again if you leave today!"

I didn't even look back.

The moment I closed the door, I heard Marcus comfort Cynthia again.

"It has nothing to do with you even if her mother is really dead. Besides, it's better if her mother is dead. In this way, her mother won't affect the fortune of our Fanning family anymore. As for her, she's long since been homeless. When she calms down, she'll get back here with resignation."

Indeed, whenever we had a fight, I was the one who compromised and apologized, even though it was not my fault at all.

This time, however, he would never see me return to him.

As soon as I left that socalled home, I burst into tears.

During six years of marriage, I had wasted all my youth on such a man.

It was not worth it in the slightest.

I couldn't help but think that I shouldn't have accepted the piece of candy Marcus handed to me back then.

That year, I had just graduated from college and started my career. I was still green and ignorant.

My superior had once given me a hard time and asked me to work overtime to revise the plan.

It was already past eleven at night when I finished, and I couldn't get a cab since it was raining heavily. Just when I squatted in front of the office building and cried helplessly, Marcus pulled over and handed me an umbrella and a piece of candy.

"We have met before. I'm an executive of your company's client. You impressed me with your intelligence and vigor."

Marcus asked me to get in his car and took the initiative to take me home.

He carefully took off his coat and put it on me, praising my work ability and saying that I was shining in my career. Then, we exchanged contact information.

I dared not have any unrealistic expectations of our relationship since I was well aware of the gap between our statuses.

I remained rational even though I wished there would be something between us.

But Marcus appeared in front of me more and more frequently. He would come to my company on the pretext of discussing work and specifically ask me to report on my work.

He would occasionally treat everyone in our company to drinks. Everyone else's was the same drink, but mine was exactly to my taste.

Gradually, my colleagues started gossiping about our relationship.

I was at a loss for how to explain, but Marcus held my shoulders from behind.

"I'm pursuing Kathy. She is such an outstanding girl. If I don't work harder, how can I stand out among so many suitors of hers?"

From then on, Marcus was even bolder.

He gave me flowers and gifts, offered me rides, and always prepared surprises for me.

How could I not be moved by the attentiveness of the business bigwig Mr. Fanning to me?

Thus, I said yes when he professed his love to me.

That day, he put a ring on my finger and stuffed a piece of candy in my mouth.

"From now on, I will make your life full of sweetness and will never let you suffer at all."

I was so young and naive as to believe it and allow Marcus to cheat me out of my youth with a piece of candy.

Now that I grew old and ugly, he gave the candy to another younger and prettier girl.

When I first got married, I worked very hard for the Fanning family's recognition.

I would accompany Marcus to social occasions and drink. Even when I drank so much that I vomited badly, I would force myself to help him sober up before I fainted.

Marcus urged me to resign with a distressed look on his face, saying that he would take good care of me for the rest of his life.

Therefore, I quit my job and had a child, wasting my best years and watching helplessly as our love drained away in trivialities.

Eventually, my family was broken up, and I had nothing.

I was sad but had no one around me to talk to.

After thinking for a long time, I decided to buy a bouquet of flowers and go to my mother's grave to pour out my feelings.

I picked out the tulips that my mother loved most when she was alive. Just as I had handed them to the owner of the flower shop to wrap them up, I suddenly heard Cynthia's cheerful voice.

"You promised me 9999 roses. I won't accept it even if there's only one flower less."

Marcus' smiling face darkened the instant he saw me.

"Why are you here? Are you stalking me?"

I didn't answer and was about to leave with the bouquet of tulips in my arms.

"These tulips look beautiful. I've changed my mind. I don't want roses anymore. I want 9999 tulips."

When the owner of the shop said awkwardly that the stock was not enough, Cynthia blurted out that I could give her the tulips I had.

"Give them to her! Cindy's dog died. I promised to give her flowers to cheer her up."

"These tulips are for my mother."

Marcus questioned with a frown, "Didn't you say your mother died? You lied through your teeth. Katherine, how did you become like this?"

"Katherine does make an effort to put on this act. Look, she even has an urn in her bag. It just so happens that I don't have a place to bury my dog yet. How about you give me this urn to put my dog in?"

Since Marcus hadn't given me any household expenses for a long time, I had arranged my mother's funeral in a very simple way due to lack of money.

I felt guilty about it, so I sold my wedding ring to buy this urn.

I knew Howie was the one my mother cared about most before she passed away, so I hoped she could take one last look at Howie before burial.

I didn't expect that Cynthia even wanted to rob me of this.

I could no longer stand it and slapped the tulips on her face.

"Here you go. You've been a mistress for so long that you are accustomed to taking everything away from me. Can you just go to hell?"

Marcus grabbed my hand...