CHAPTER 1. (Mia wore an old gown that look too small for her ) "Mommy, why is Daddy crying?" The question froze Perry where she stood. Her three-year-old daughter was pointing toward the sitting room. Perry's heart skipped a beat. Johnson never cried. Not when they got thrown out. Not when their baby was sick. Not when he worked twelve hours under the scorching sun only to return home with barely enough money to buy food. Perry stood motionless, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs. Johnson never cried. Yet there he was. Sitting alone in the darkness. His head buried in his hands. His shoulders trembling. Perry slowly walked toward him. "Johnson?" He quickly wiped his face. "I'm fine." It was a lie. The kind of lie that husbands tell when they are breaking apart inside. Perry sat beside him. "What happened?" Johnson stared at the floor. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he slowly pulled a folded paper from his pocket. His hands shook. Perry took it. The moment she opened it, her stomach dropped. Her eyes widened. The electricity company had issued a final warning. If they failed to pay within three days, their power would be disconnected, i came home carrying yet another burden—I had been dismissed from work. Perry felt tears sting her eyes. Three days. Just three days. The fridge was already empty. The rent was overdue. Mia needed new clothes. “Everyone else has nice clothes, but ours are old .” Her innocent words pierced Johnson’s heart. The little girl was too young to understand poverty, yet she could see it every time she looked at clothes they wore. The faded fabric, the patches sewn over tears. And now this. Johnson laughed bitterly. A painful laugh. The kind that came from a man who had reached the end of his strength. "I worked every single day this month only to lose my job before I could receive my pay." His voice cracked. "Every single day." Perry grabbed his hand. But Johnson pulled away. It was the first time he had ever rejected her comfort. Perry's heart broke. "I'm trying, Perry." His voice was barely a whisper. "I'm trying so hard." The front door suddenly burst open. Both of them looked up. Perry immediately recognized the angry expression on her mother's face. Without greeting anyone, her mother stormed into the room. Her eyes landed on Johnson. Then the unpaid bill. Then the nearly empty kitchen. And finally their sleeping daughter Mia. Her face hardened. "This is exactly why I told you not to marry him." A tense quiet settled between them. "Perry, look around you." "Three years of marriage." "And this is what your life has become?" Johnson slowly stood. His jaw tightened. Perry knew that look. He was trying desperately not to lose control. Her mother continued. "My friend's daughter married a businessman." She pointed around the room. "You married poverty." The words hit harder than a slap. Johnson clenched his fists. Perry immediately stood between them. "Mom, please." "No." Her mother shook her head. "No more pretending." She turned to Johnson. "If you were a real man, my daughter wouldn't be suffering like this." The room fell silent. Johnson's breathing became heavier. For several seconds nobody spoke. Then something happened that terrified Perry. Johnson looked straight into her eyes. Not her mother's. Hers. And what she saw there made her blood run cold. Defeat. The kind of defeat that changes a person forever. The kind of defeat that makes people do things they never thought possible. Without saying a word, Johnson walked out of the house. The door slammed behind him. Perry stood frozen. Perry’s mother looked at her with a mixture of disappointment and pity. When you had suitor’s lining up to marry you , you could have chosen a wealthy businessman . men with cars. men that have good businesses they’re doing. Men who could actually provide your needs”. Her eyes swept toward her daughter Mia “ And this is the life you choose for your self Perry felt heat rise to her face. Mom, please stop .” Her mom continued. “Do you know who came to visit me today?” Her mother asked Perry didn’t answer “ my friend. The same woman whose daughter got married just a year ago.” She shook her head “ she couldn’t stop talking about how well her daughter is doing. Her husband bought her new car. They’re living in a beautiful mansion, and she never has to worry about bills Her mother’s eyes swept around the room Only one year of marriage, and her life is already moving forward.” Then she looked directly at perry Tell me, perry, what exactly has three years of marriage brought you besides suffering and struggling?” She started at her mother as if she had spoken another language. “I came here to tell you something you didn’t know “ her mother said coldly. I’ve said what I came to say. l’ll be leaving now” Minutes passed. Then an hour. Then two. Night fell. Johnson never came home. Yet she remained standing there, At exactly 11:47 PM, Perry's phone