Chapter 4
After transferring the money to her bank account, Arlene left the company and headed to a nearby upscale mall.
10 thousand dollars wasn’t a small amount to Arlene. But to Brendan, it probably wasn’t even worth a dime.
Td like to see that bag,” Arlene said, summoning all her courage as she stepped into a luxury boutique.
The sales associate gave her a once–over, eyes sharp with judgment. That bag is 8,500.”
Arlene smiled. What a coincidence. She had exactly that much.
Tll take it. Please wrap it up for me,” she said coolly, sitting down to wait as her legs still ached.
The saleswoman’s attitude changed instantly. Smiling now, she rushed off to fetch the bag.
To this boutique, the bag was just an entry–level piece, not particularly special. But to Arlene, it meant dignity.
The moment she held the bag, it felt impossibly heavy.
Owning a designer bag didn’t fill her with confidence. If thing, it made her feel even smaller.
Just before she left, a different bag in a glass case caught her eye.“Excuse me, how much is that one?”
Arlene remembered it well. Brendan had gifted Paige the exact same model once. In Paige’s hands, it had looked so elegant, so effortless. She glowed with
confidence.
That’s a limited–edition piece. It’s a display item,” the sales associate explained, still smiling. To purchase it, you’d need over five million dollars in accumulated spending, or bundle it with about two million in other products.”
Arlene stood frozen in place.
Five million dollars….
To Brendan, five million dollars was the kind of money he could burn just to make Paige smile. But to an orphanage, it could save every child’s life.
Life was precious. And yet so cheap.
And Arlene was born into the cheap kind.
The
gap between her and Paige wasn’t just about the price tags.
It was family, education, upbringing–everything from the very beginning.
Brendan would never offer Paige just a few thousand and call it love. He knew her worth far exceeded that.
And Arlene? She was a toad dreaming of the swan’s life. She had actually believed she could mean something to Brendan.
How ridiculous!
j
Back in her rented apartment, Arlene posted the bag online to resell it. Brand new. She lowered the price a bit so it would sell quickly.
Once the money came through, she’d wire it to the orphanage’s account.
The kids still didn’t have warm clothes for the winter. The money would be enough to get them through the season.
After a long hot shower, Arlene stood by the clothing rack, wrapped in nothing, trying to decide what to wear for her meeting with Albert tomorrow.
The door opened. Brendan hadn’t called. He just showed up.
Arlene froze, instinctively wrapping herself in a towel.“Mr. Dudley…”
You resigned? Brendan asked, frowning, holding a cheap bag of fruit he must’ve picked up from a stand outside.
He never came empty–handed, sure, but the gifts were always small.
Pastries. A handful of fruit. A simple bouquet.
Yes, Arlene nodded. The apartment was his, after all. It wasn’t unusual for him to come and go as he pleased.
“You don’t need to worry about Wilma. Ill handle her,” Brendan said, pinching her chin lightly and pulling her toward the bed. “Are you still in pain?”
Arlene lowered her gaze and shook her head.
“I spoke to HR. Just consider this a break. You can come back whenever you want, Brendan added, offering her a special privilege like it was nothing.
20.09
< Chapter 4
But to Arlene, it felt like charity,
Menu
Brendan had always treated her that way from the moment he found out Wilma had bullied her in college. He never stood with her. He just stood above her.
“You’re getting married, aren’t you?” she finally asked, gathering her courage.
Brendan didn’t answer.
Arlene smiled bitterly, trying to hold back the sting in her eyes.” “I won’t return. I’ll move out of here too. Brendan, let’s end this. I hope you and Ms. Hilton have a wonderful life together.”
She still had her pride. At the very least, she refused
Brendan frowned, clearly
Brendan pulled her
Arlene laughed. ”
be the other woman.
displeased.“Are you picking a fight with me?”
not.”
his arms, like he was soothing a child. “Just stay here. When the wedding actually happens, we’ll talk.”
He said it like it was nothing, completely unaware of how cruel those words sounded.
Maybe he’d never truly seen Arlene as a decent person.
“About the accident, Paige was pretty shaken up. She felt b slender. He’d always liked Arlene’s body. After all, it
for THE JAP
not checking on you,” Brendan said, his fingers grazing her waist, perfectly toned and
had carefully cultivated since she was a teenager.
At nineteen, she was still underdeveloped due to malnutrition. Brendan had taken her in, and given her three full meals a day. No more plain toast.
“Paige is hosting a dinner at the house tomorrow night. Just a few friends. okay?”
planning to propose during the party. Come early and help her get ready,
He tugged the towel from her body, hands already moving over her skin, his breath brushing her neck.
Arlene thought he was truly cruel.
Deep down, he was exactly like Wilma.
Had Paige not satisfied him in the Maldives?
“I’m not going,” Arlene said, pushing him away and picking up the towel. Her stomach churned with nausea.
She had plans tomorrow night anyway with Albert.
“If you don’t go, she’ll misunderstand,” Brendan muttered, clearly annoyed. It was the first time Arlene had sensitive. I don’t want her suspecting anything between us.”
ever
pushed him away.“She’s divorced,
