The following day, Carson invited Alison for a jog. They were both ready, wearing quick-drying clothes. They had prepared drinks, snacks, and a few other things."Are you ready?" Carson asked.Alison nodded. "Of course, I’m ready. All of this is to become stronger. I don’t want to be a burden to you," she replied.Carson smiled proudly. He wasn’t happy because Alison would no longer be a burden but because she could protect herself. Those were two different things. Carson would always make Alison his priority in life. Whatever happened, he would help his beloved wife.They got into the car and drove to a park near their home. The park was spacious, with plenty of shade and trees, making it a great place to exercise.Once they arrived, they started running. Carson set a goal of five laps around the park, which wasn’t a decision made lightly. He had assessed Alison’s abilities and was confident she could do it. Alison worked out regularly, so this should be easy.This physical training
Ryan still clung to what he wanted to believe. No matter how often Alison explained, it wouldn’t change his opinion unless the realization came from within himself. Unfortunately, that was nearly impossible since his heart was clouded with accusations and hatred toward Carson. “Alison, wake up. You’re being brainwashed by this man. Just divorce him,” Ryan urged. Carson, hearing those words, felt a mix of anger and confusion. He didn’t recognize the man standing before him. It was strange for someone to appear suddenly and lash out in such fury, accusing him of being a lousy husband and demanding Alison divorce him. Carson couldn’t understand the man’s reasoning at all. Ryan continued, “Look at him. Rough and poor, unable to give you a decent life. While I... I can give you everything. Cars, houses, a bright future. I can offer you happiness that this man will never be able to.” He pointed toward Carson. Alison was unaffected by his words. “Love isn’t just about money. Kindness
When some strangers in the park started insulting Carson, Ryan felt a new surge of confidence. He grinned widely, satisfied to hear those people beginning to take his side. With this, he was sure he could win Alison away from Carson."Look at them, Alison. Even they know this man doesn't deserve to be your husband. You should realize that," he shouted, directing attention to the crowd interested in the argument. "He's just a poor, useless man. And now, he's even an abusive husband," Ryan added, pointing toward Carson.A voice from behind said, “A poor and ungrateful husband doesn’t deserve to be kept around. If I were that woman, I’d definitely leave my husband.”"Same here. As a woman, we have self-respect. I wouldn't want to be hurt like that," said another.Ryan smiled, seeing support starting to build around him. "Exactly. You all can see it, right? This man has hurt Alison, which is unforgivable. That's why I want to save her from this ungrateful man."Several people began to mov
Ryan remained silent for a long time. He felt a sharp blow to his heart as if he had been rejected while confessing his love. Even though he hadn’t done that, the situation made it clear she disliked him. Ryan lifted his head, looking alternately at Alison and Carson.Alison took a deep breath, calming herself. "I run to become stronger, for myself. No one forces me. I want to be strong so I won’t burden my husbands anymore. If I can protect myself, he won’t have to worry about me anymore." Her voice was firm, but her frustration was evident. She was clearly annoyed by Ryan's stubbornness."Our family is perfectly fine," Carson added.Hearing that, Ryan felt ashamed. He wanted to disappear from embarrassment but wasn’t ready to give up. He wasn’t the man to run away after making a mistake. After a brief silence, he stood up and bowed his head.“I’m sorry for what I did earlier,” he said softly, full of regret. “I just… I just don’t want to see you get hurt by anyone else. I like you,
Ryan was immensely proud of the diamond necklace he gave to Alison. However, when his eyes landed on her neck, he was startled to see another necklace adorning her. The necklace stood out, its design was exquisite and radiant. He squinted further, and as soon as he recognized the necklace, he swallowed hard. His hands began to tremble."Impossible. No, it can't be that incredibly expensive necklace. There’s no way she could afford it," he whispered, his voice barely audible, as though afraid Alison and Carson might hear him.Anxiety crept into his mind. If the necklace around Alison’s neck was truly what he thought, it was worth a fortune. A necklace that could cost as much as a luxury car. Something Ryan could never dream of buying. He tried to convince himself that it was merely a replica. It was impossible for Alison to own something that expensive.“That necklace looks great on you. What kind is it?” he asked, trying to mask his curiosity behind a forced smile.Alison glanced down
Alison's heart was filled with doubt, and she was confused about what to do. She gripped her necklace tightly. She loved this necklace dearly but couldn’t wear it outside the house if it was fake. She would not only be humiliated by other women but she could also be reported for wearing counterfeit goods. "I don’t want to take it off," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible, filled with uncertainty.Ryan turned, surprised by her resolve. "Are you crazy? It's a fake. You shouldn’t wear it. If you want, I can get you a more expensive necklace than that. Just throw it away," Ryan urged, his eyes filled with concern.Alison shook her head, feeling her heartbeat quicken. "It's precious to me," she replied, looking at Ryan with hope and determination. Her memories of Carson giving her the necklace vividly replayed in her mind—his smile, gentle look, and unspoken promise. Every detail of the necklace reminded her of her love for Carson.She recalled that moment in the small garden w
After trailing Carson and losing track of him, Ryan felt frustrated. He wanted to find proof that Carson was an evil man—something he could show Alison so she could divorce her husband. All his efforts had failed, and anger welled inside him.Ryan had spent hours today, but now he only felt stuck. Finally, he decided to find another gift for Alison—something more valuable than the last one. Seeing how much Alison liked necklaces, the idea of buying another one crossed his mind."A pearl necklace seems appealing," he muttered to himself, imagining the smile on Alison's face.He drove his car to Springvale's most prominent jewelry store, his heart racing with anticipation. Upon arrival, Ryan exited the vehicle and walked into the luxurious store. The interior was bathed in soft light that reflected off the glittering jewelry.Ryan explored every corner of the store, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He carefully examined, comparing various designs. Each necklace he saw seemed to remind
Ryan stood in the centre of the crowd, his heart pounding. Anger filled his head. His face was pale, and sweat began to run down his temples. He looked around at the people around him, hoping to find one figure who cared about him and helped. Unfortunately, there was none."Stop taking pictures. Don't you understand privacy?" he shouted, her voice hoarse with fear. Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to her. "You poor people are so annoying. No brains at all."He cursed at the people who kept filming. There was even a media outlet that came there after getting the news that one of the wealthy family members had been caught with drugs in his shirt pocket. This would make an interesting story for them."Stop filming, motherfucker." Ryan shouted.However, the shouting was just an afterthought to the people there. They were all mesmerised by the drama unfolding before their eyes. No one wanted to miss any of this. Even some of them were laughing. Others had their cell phones out, con