The Gingerbread Man is My Billionaire Boss

Chapter 4: Opened Marriage

With a surge of anger, I rushed to my room, discarding Charlotte's lingerie as if it were a poisoned gift. I tossed it into the trash bin where it belonged, then changed into my usual attire—a tank top and long slacks, with no panties.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, the sound of the door opening downstairs caught my attention. He was back sooner than I had expected, perhaps eager to end the conversation we’d started, and so he decided to leave Charlotte waiting in the car.

The echo of his footsteps and the creak of the bedroom door shattered the stillness.

"Shelly, we need to talk now!" His voice was demanding and hollow, sending shivers up my spine. Deep down, I wasn't ready, and I don't think I would ever be ready to submit to his request.

"I know you're hurt. I know this isn't what you expected from our marriage," he began, his tone uncharacteristically softer, yet brimming with confidence. "I'm not proud of who I am, but you need to understand I love you, and I want our marriage to work... For the sake of our daughter,” he searched my eyes as if seeking agreement.

“For the one hundredth time, I am asking you to please agree to an open marriage,” he insisted, the words falling out of his mouth like a chasm.

I looked into his eyes with hope, searching for a flicker of love and respect for our marriage, but they seemed to have grown dim. I shook my head gently, unable to find the right words. A sense of defeat was overwhelming me.

“Why can't I be enough?” I whispered softly, feeling the ache in my soul.

“I am starting to lose my patience!” His nose crinkled as if he were trying hard to control his anger. “Let's think for a second! You are nothing without me. Remember that prenup you signed? If we divorce, you would return to that dungeon your family calls home and think about the negative impact it would have on Bella!”

Each word was a calculated blow, striking at the deepest fears I had buried within myself. The fact that he’s right summoned me to surrender my dignity. A prenup and little savings wouldn't have gotten me far.

Disdain immediately washed over me as I narrowed my eyes at him, disappointment being my new middle name. I felt the air of hate growing so thick between us that it could have suffocated us both.

“Is this really what you want?” I asked, watching him nod anxiously.

“Ok!” I swallowed the lump in my throat that was forming. “Then I, Shelly Johnson, hereby agree to an open marriage, but on one condition.” I declared as a tear slipped from my eyes.

“Anything you want, just name it!” He exclaimed desperately.

Drawing a deep breath, I summoned the courage that had evaded me for so long.

“I want to resume my career,” I asserted, my voice steady and surprisingly strong. “I refuse to be a housewife any longer. Bella starts primary school next month, and I intend to return to my former job at Starship Bank.”

In an instant, his demeanor shifted dramatically. A suffocating shadow of disappointment darkened his features, casting a shadow over the space between us.

“You can’t do that,” he barked, his tone sharp enough to cut. “You don’t need to work. I’m doubling your allowance, remember? We agreed you’d focus on Bella and the home as a good wife should! With the holidays approaching, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy.”

“I have been nothing but a good wife to you, and what did I get in return?!”I bellowed. Frustration surged within me like molten lava threatening to overflow. “Our house is no longer a home! I can’t endure this misery any longer. I want to work!” I pressed, the steel in my tone unwavering as I laid bare my desires. “You said I could have anything I wished, and this is my wish!”

“You are going to regret this!” He hissed.

“Ha, joke is on you! You are going to regret this!” I shot back with revenge and vengeance quaking in my voice.

“Fine. Suit yourself,” he growled back, a hint of resignation lacing his words.

“And, Tommy, please keep Bella away from everything. I want her to have a happy childhood. That means keeping your affairs out of our home.” I demanded.

“This is my...” He held his tongue. “You know what? Whatever.”

He shrugged dismissively, turning away as if my words carried no weight.

“I’m heading to Charlotte's tonight. We have unfinished business.” He added glancing my way, perhaps searching for a flicker of remorse, a trace of care buried beneath his thick layers of pride. But sadly, there was none left as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Despair immediately washed over me like a tidal wave, trapping me in a storm of confusion and sorrow. My thoughts spiraled chaotically. What had I just agreed to?

I stood there, a prisoner in my own mind.

After watching Tommy drive away, I lay in bed, wishing for sleep to silence the turmoil. Instead, the night turned into a restless struggle, as the weight of his absence settled in.

~~~The Next Day~~

“Mom, wake up! It’s morning!” Bella’s bright, cheerful voice sliced through the thick fog of sleep that enshrouded me.

“Open your eyes! They’re still closed,” she insisted, her tiny hands gently lifting my eyelids.

“Okay, okay! I’m up,” I mumbled, dragging myself into the waking world, the weight of yesterday still heavy on my heart like an anchor.

“I want pancakes and eggs for breakfast!” She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with innocent joy.

“Did you brush your teeth?” I asked, trying to see the time on my little watch. I swung my legs over the bed in haste, seeing that it was already 8:00am.

“Nooo! I want breakfast first. Where’s Daddy?” She whined, a frown knitting her brows.

“Daddy isss...”

“Daddy is right here, sweet pie!” Tommy interrupted, striding into the room, scooping Bella into his arms, and showering her with kisses.

“Want Daddy to brush your little shark teeth?” he asked, tickling her while crossing eyes with me. Bella’s giggles were warm, but the tension between Tommy and me remained cold.

“Hey, how are you doing?” He had the audacity to inquire, that infuriatingly cheerful grin plastered across his face, as if he was oblivious to the storm brewing between us.

“Fck you,” I mouthed silently, as I discreetly raised my middle finger as an expression of my hurt and anger.

In that moment, I noticed his smile falter, transforming into a more serious gaze, as if my silent act of resistance had struck a nerve. My heart raced at his shift. He still held Bella safely in his arms, giving me reassurance that he wouldn’t have hurt me. Yet, just as quickly, he donned the smile again, a performance that deserved an Oscar.

“Great,” he replied, consciously disregarding my feelings, before whisking Bella off to the bathroom.

Where is the man that I once called my husband? The man I truly loved with all my heart was unrecognizable. What have I ever done to deserve his hate?

It wasn’t long before Tommy vanished again. He always claimed it was for work, yet an unsettling question gnawed at me: what else occupied his time besides his affair with my younger sister?

I knew I had to remain unflappable and resilient through it all. By doing this I was resolute in my determination to reclaim my former career. Little did he know that I had already secured an appointment with the manager that very day...