Rise Of Rejected Husband

Chapter 1

"Give me that fish!" A woman exclaimed in an unfriendly voice. She pointed to a large fish in front of her.

Richard standing behind the table, picked up the fish and gave it to the woman as she had asked. However, when Richard gave it to her, she gave him an exasperated look and looked like she was about to curse. The woman wrinkled her face and then her hand moved to gesture. "Cut the fish into four pieces, don't you understand?" She grumbled. "What kind of fishmonger are you? Just don't know."

Richard took the woman in stride. He quickly corrected his mistake. "Fine, I'll cut it for you." His calm voice did not affect the woman's temperament.

There are not one or two people who come to that place with an annoying temperament like that woman. They are even worse than her. But Richard served all his customers calmly. He was quite patient and level-headed, and because of that, he could withstand the harsh and rough market conditions.

Richard went about his usual activities at the fish market where he worked. He was busy stocking the fresh fish he was selling and attending to the customers who came with their various requests. His days at the market had become a routine for the past six months. His fishy-smelling body and uncomfortable feeling were no longer a nuisance and a common thing for him.

After selling his fish for the day, Richard fixed up his selling place. He emptied the tub of water where the fresh fish that had been sold out were placed, arranging them on the edge of the stall neatly so that the next day, he would not be so busy preparing his wares in the morning and afterward. He poured clean water on the table where he arranged the other fish. Making sure the place is clean as he closes it. Today, he had some fish to take home with him. He puts the rest of the fish into a plastic bag from a container filled with water to keep it alive and fresh until it's time to go home.

Richard kept the fish alive and brought them home so the fresh fish would taste better because the meat would be sweeter.

Richard rushed home from the market quickly, but just as his feet were about to set foot in the house. Someone exclaimed, "Hey! What are you doing there? Hurry up and move your feet from there." Richard looked over to where the sound was coming from and stopped his steps, only to find his mother-in-law Ella walking over to him while covering her nose with her hand. "You smell fishy. You want to pollute the whole house with your trashy smell, huh?"

Richard stared at her in silence. It's not that he couldn't answer, but she didn't give him a chance to speak by continuing to speak, "You should be self-aware. How dare you come home in such a disgusting state through the front door. Use some sense. With that smell of yours, you should have gone through the back door. What an embarrassing man!"

During Richard's two-year marriage to Jasmine, Richard's mother-in-law had never liked and accepted Richard as her son-in-law. At that time, Richard was working in a small company, and Jasmine had just started a small company. Jasmine's mother had hoped that her daughter, who ran a small company alone, would marry a rich man worthy of her instead of a man like Richard. But what they didn't know was that all this time, Richard was giving favors secretly. He just chose to be a simple man to gain the pure love of the woman he loved.

Richard did not try to fight the woman and just stared at her, but the woman looked at him sarcastically and felt inflamed. "Why are you looking at me? Are you not happy with what I said? You don't accept that?" the woman raised her voice. "You just live in this house. You don't have anything. You are not a husband worthy of my Jasmine. When your wife works in the company, you work as a fishmonger. Do you want to embarrass her?" She looked at Richard contemptuously. "What a shameful man. I can't even bear to look at you."

The woman continued to rant at him with harsh words, while Richard did not respond to anything, but instead of stopping, she became even more annoyed at Richard's silence, which made her feel silly because she was talking to herself. "Why are you silent? Can't you answer that mouth of yours?" the old woman snapped at him loudly.

"I'll go through the back door, ma'am," Richard replied with stable emotions. Then turned to leave the old woman.

"What a brat. He's disrespectful to the elderly. I don't know what Jasmine sees in him that is not qualified." Ella continued to babble even after Richard was out of her sight.

Richard could hear her quite loud ranting. But left her alone. He didn't want to be completely disrespectful by replying to Ella's remarks. He just wanted to focus on his preparations for Jasmine tonight.

Richard entered the backyard and opened the back door, immediately revealing the kitchen. Richard placed the bundle of fish he had brought on the kitchen wafer, then put on an apron and started cleaning the fish he had brought. "Tonight, I want to cook a nice meal for Jasmine." Richard's voice murmured as he seemed to smile faintly in the midst of his busy schedule.

Tonight was a special night for Richard, as it was his wife Jasmine's birthday. He was in a very happy mood. Richard wholeheartedly prepares the menu that he will cook and give to Jasmine. Then, after he is ready to cook, Richard cleans himself by showering.

Richard ensured his body was clean from the fishy smell his in-laws had complained about earlier. He also did not want to make Jasmine smell the uncomfortable scent of his body. Richard walked towards his closet. He picked out the best clothes he had and put them on.

Richard then came out of the room looking well-groomed. He moved the dishes he had prepared onto the table and began to arrange them. Ella who knew it was her daughter's birthday and wanted to have a meal together, came to the dining table and looked at Richard sarcastically.

"You should not eat with us." The woman pulled up a chair on the left side and sat there. She started babbling as soon as she saw Richard. "It's a pity my daughter married an incompetent man like you. My head hurts when I look at you and imagine my daughter's fate with you." The woman held her head with a frown on her face.

Ella did not stop hoping that her daughter would one day marry a much better man than Richard, who was just a fishmonger. She could not accept that her daughter would rather marry him than another, more established man.

The woman's gaze did not shift to Richard, who continued to be busy preparing the table with the special dishes and decorations that he had prepared for Jasmine. "You must divorce my daughter! You must divorce her so that she can find a better man than you. She shouldn't spend her whole life with a useless man whose future is bleak like you! There are so many established men out there who like my daughter."

Richard stopped his hand movements. He looked at the old woman sternly. "We will never divorce because we love each other."

Ella glanced at Richard with a sarcastic smile. She scoffed at Richard's confidence. "You'll see, you'll get divorced."

Richard ignored the woman's words quietly. He assumed he had never heard those words from her. Then his eyes caught the silhouette of someone walking towards him. Richard turned his head and found that it was the person he had been waiting for.

Richard stretched his arms out to hug Jasmine. However, Jasmine acted casual in his embrace. She did not smile or even return the hug. Jasmine looked like she wanted to reject it.

Richard did not mind her attitude. He thought that maybe Jasmine was tired right now because she had just returned from work. "Sit down." Richard released her hug and pulled out a nearby chair for Jasmine.

Jasmine looked around the table and noticed something different about their dinner. "What's wrong with dinner tonight?" Jasmine looked at Richard. She was asking for small talk.

Richard cut up the fish he had cooked specially for Jasmine and placed it on Jasmine's plate. "Try it. I cooked a nice meal for you since tonight is your birthday."

"You shouldn't bother to do it. I don't need this kind of thing," Jasmine said coldly.

"Yeah, there's nothing great about this." Jasmine's mother glanced at it sarcastically. "All this is useless, it won't add wealth, and it's not like you're eating something amazing at a fancy price. Better for Jasmine's birthday present if you divorce her." The woman glanced at Richard, who was sitting across from her.

"Realize Jasmine, that the man you are currently married to is useless. You don't deserve to be with him. Your life would be great if you married a rich man. You will live a life of luxury without having to work hard for it!"

Jasmine knew what her choices were. She didn't need to be reminded by anyone, including her mother. "I said stop. I know it." Jasmine snapped with emotion. She does not want to be pressured by anyone. She alone will make decisions about her life.

"Jasmine," called a man's voice suddenly, which made all three of them turn to look at the figure.

Jasmine recognized the voice calling her. Jasmine looked enthusiastic at the sound of a man calling her name.

Richard noticed the man who appeared in the middle of their dinner.' The man's appearance looked so neat and luxurious. From his clothes, Richard was sure that he had spent thousands of dollars on them, as evidenced by the exclusive logo on one of the buttons on his suit. Coupled with the expensive watch on his arm, the man looked like he was no ordinary person.

"I came to bring you a present for your birthday," the man said, making Richard stare at him intently.