Chapter One

It was a rainy day in Oak Lawn and Donald grasped onto what was left of his umbrella firmly.

Today was his wife's birthday and Donald had worked many hours on three different jobs, his lips widened into a smile with a hint of exhaustion grasping onto his face.

He took a bus and stopped right at a flower shop, there was so much excitement beaming on his face, despite how tough things had been between the both of them, he was glad that he finally got some money to buy her a gift for her birthday.

Striding inside the flower shop, he came to a halt right in front of a white velvet flower and he knew that this was the one for her, it was snow white with a glistering of gold, there was no way Olivia was going to reject such a gift.

"How much is it?" He asked the shop owner who stood there watching him trying to make a choice.

"Two hundred bucks". The old man replied, Donald dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out the last money he had on him, although he was able to make more than a hundred bucks today. Diego, his friend at work, recommended that he invest his last savings—acquired from the payoff of his previous job—into TSLA stock three years ago.

Initially hesitant due to the perceived risk, Donald, holding onto his years of hard-earned pay, succumbed to Diego's persistent persuasion. Eventually, he relented and invested $50,000 in TSLA, leaving $100 to him which he complied and managed to scrape together the hundred bucks so that he could buy a gift for his wife.

The old man accepted the payment and wrapped up the package in a flower bag but as he strode out of the shop, his phone immediately rang, it was his manager at his delivery work.

"Hello Sir"

Donald! Come back to the office for overtime, there's some urgent work.

"I am sorry Sir, but I have got off work, but I promise to tidey up the work it as early as I can tomorrow"

"Get this through your head – this can't wait till tomorrow! The work needs to be done, and if you can't handle the pressure, there will be consequences. You better deliver, or you'll regret it.”

Donald stood perplexed not certain what to do, the harsh tone of his superior left no room for refusal, risking his job if he didn't comply, he knew that he could not say no or else he would be fired, but on the other hand was Olivia whom he badly wanted to celebrate her special day and couldn't afford to be late.

“Alright sir, I will be at the office" He sighed before ending the call and took the next available bus back to the office.

While informing his wife that he would be working overtime, he sensed impatience from the other end as she hung up.

After his wife impatiently hung up, worried about his discovery.

Completing the extra work efficiently, he approached his boss room, only to overhear intimate voices in the room. One of them was unmistakably Olivia's.

Donald angrily barged in.

Donald's gaze fell on the lady sitting on the bed while engrossed in her phone.

"Olivia?" He called out and wiped his eyes hoping that this was some sort of

illusion that was a result of the excessive stress.

Olivia lifted her head while wrapped in a towel above her head and as her jaws dropped, she did not realize that the phone had fallen off her hand.

"Donald! What are you doing here?" She managed to let the word slide with a

frightened expression before bouncing out of the bed.

"Olivia, you know him?" Gerald asked, but Donald pushed past him and scurried

inside still holding onto the velvet flower.

"Olivia, what the hell is going on, are you cheating on me?"

"You won't call this cheating because I have never considered you a husband

before. I told you to sign divorce papers but you refused" Olivia exclaimed.

"What!! " He exclaimed and everything he had been holding onto fell off as

his hands slowly clutched to his chest, his heart engulfed in an unyielding

pain.

"Olivia why would you say such a thing, I am your husband and have been married for three years, I worked my ass out to get you to where you are today. I was nobody because of you". Donald shouted.

"Well, that ends now, because I am a top actress and can't be married to a low-

life like you. I married you to save you from sleeping on the street because you have no one, you are an outcast. 

Thanks to me I could stand you for a

while. So, go and become somebody and look back no more". Olivia spat out.

"Is this the ex-husband you talked about, I must say that you gave him more

credit than he deserves because he is more worthless than you described"

Gerald expressed with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Donald felt his heart shattered into pieces, although he has not been the best

husband, he has been trying his best to provide for some of her needs and

Olivia never failed to strip him of all his earnings each time he came back

home from work.

"I am sorry Donald, but Gerald here has been the one helping my career and has

promised to feature me as the lead role in his upcoming movie as long as I agreed to marry him, I was going to tell you at home tonight, but since you found out, I should at least tell you the truth".

The words slid out of her mouth like they meant nothing but there were so many emotions attached to them, she was destroying a man who was there for her when she was nothing through thick and thin and saw her through acting school, he worked different jobs a day and did not bother to eat or save any money for himself all because he wanted to help her achieve her dream as an actress.

"No... Olivia what are you saying" said Donald.

"I mean everything I said, I can't continue living with someone as wretched as

you with no future, I need a man like Gerald who is capable of taking good care

of me". Olivia smirked as he looked at Gerald.

"That's no reason for you to cheat!" Donald asserted, his voice laced with a mix of disappointment and anger. "I worked tirelessly to support you, to help you achieve your dreams. But if this is how you repay me, then I won't let myself be dragged down by your betrayal. We're done.”