A New Beginning

James nodded. “I’ll take you there in a bit.”

Claire smirked proudly, then turned her gaze on me. With obvious provocation, she said, “Why don’t you come along too?”

I understood exactly what she was doing. She just wanted to humiliate me.

“No thanks, I have things to do.”

Suddenly, James frowned and said coldly, “You’re coming too. I don’t like repeating myself.”

I knew better than to defy him at that moment, so I simply lowered my voice and agreed.

Seven more days were all I had to endure. Then, this would all be over.

James had rented out an upscale boutique, leaving only the three of us inside. He stood close beside Claire, his eyes never leaving her.

In a tone I had never once heard directed at me, he said softly, “This one looks good. Try it on.”

Claire giggled as she took the dress, her voice sweet and coy. “How did you know I wear a 36E?”

Then, she lifted her eyes, glancing at me with a look that seemed like she was challenging me.

The sales associate quickly rushed forward with a flattering smile.

“Ma’am, you’re so lucky! Not every husband would close down a whole store just to pick out clothes with his wife.”

James didn’t bother to correct her, and his silence was an acknowledgment.

Claire’s smile deepened. She waved a hand modestly, though her eyes sparkled with triumph. “Oh, it’s nothing really.”

At that moment, the sales associate turned to me. “And you, miss? You are…”

It was as if James had only then remembered I existed.

“She came with us. Pick something out, too, Tess,” he said.

Before I could reply, the sales associate exclaimed in awe, “Wow, sir, you sure are generous to your household staff. You’re incredible!”

The store fell into an awkward silence.

I didn’t even flinch. I simply kept tapping away on my phone, finishing the emails I’d been drafting.

From the day we married, James had forbidden me from working. I was Mrs. Tennant, he said, and I shouldn’t show my face in public. However, I’d always been independent. I couldn’t live completely dependent on anyone.

For the past seven years, I had never stopped working in secret. Using an anonymous handle, I uploaded code to a platform. I became good at it, so good that international tech companies began reaching out to me directly.

Unfortunately, because of the marriage contract, I never accepted a single offer. I chose to wait, and now, my wait was nearly over.

Before James could notice, I quickly shut off my phone.

“I’ll take that one.” I pointed casually at a plain dress hanging off to the side.

“I’ll try it too.”

Claire snatched it up and started toward my fitting room.

I frowned. “Go to the one next door.”

“Oh, come on, it’s just a dress!” she chirped, then suddenly shoved me hard into the fitting room.

I stumbled backward. There was a sharp crack as my arm slammed against the mirror, and glass shattered everywhere.

Hearing the noise, James rushed inside. His face instantly darkened at the scene.

Claire sat on the floor, cradling her hand, tears welling in her eyes. “Was it because I wanted to try the same dress as you? If you’re upset, I won’t wear it… But why did you push me?”

She lifted her hand, showing off a small scratch.

James’s expression changed at once. He knelt beside her, holding her hand carefully, his face full of distress as he asked, “How did you hurt yourself so badly? Does it hurt?”

Then, he turned on me, his eyes blazing with fury. “Tess, why are you so petty? All this over a dress?”

My lips parted. “I didn’t… It wasn’t me–”

“Still making excuses, huh?” he cut me off sharply.

It was as if he didn’t even see me sitting there among shards of glass, both my arms covered in cuts of varying depths, blood streaming down my skin.