Chapter 3
1127 Words
Marcus stood in the storage room, looking at his one clean shirt. It had a small stain on the collar that wouldn't come out. This was the best he had.
"Are you ready?" Diana appeared in the doorway, wearing an expensive black dress. She looked beautiful.
"Almost," Marcus said quietly.
Diana watched him button the cheap shirt. Her dress cost three thousand dollars. His entire wardrobe probably cost less than fifty.
"When we get to Ryan's house, just... don't talk, okay? Let me handle everything."
Marcus understood. Don't embarrass her. Don't remind everyone she's married to trash.
"I understand," he said.
Downstairs, Margaret and Derek were waiting. Margaret looked Marcus up and down with disgust.
"That's what you're wearing? You look homeless!"
"It's all I have," Marcus said quietly, head down.
"Of course it is." Margaret shook her head. "Derek, make him sit in the trunk."
"Mother, that's illegal," Diana said.
"Fine! But he sits in the very back and doesn't say a word."
They drove to Ryan's house in silence. Marcus sat squished between boxes, staring at his hands. Nobody spoke to him.
Ryan's mansion was huge. The driveway was longer than most streets. Luxury cars everywhere.
"Look at this place!" Margaret breathed. "Diana, this could be YOUR house!"
A butler led them inside. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, expensive artwork. Ryan was waiting in the living room.
"Diana!" Ryan hugged her too long. Then he saw Marcus. "Oh. You brought him."
"My mother insisted," Diana said.
"Of course! Come, everyone! Dinner is ready!"
The dining room table was set for four people. Ryan pointed Marcus to a small stool in the corner, far from the table.
"Sorry, we're short a chair," Ryan said with a fake smile.
"It's fine," Marcus said quietly, walking to the corner.
He sat on the tiny stool while everyone else sat at the beautiful table. Ryan poured expensive wine for everyone except Marcus.
"So, Diana," Ryan said. "I heard about your problem at work."
Diana's face went tight. "It's handled."
"The embezzlement? But you're still short three million dollars." Ryan sipped his wine. "And Richard Peterson is pulling his investment."
Diana felt sick. "How do you know that?"
"We're golf partners." Ryan smiled. "But I have a solution. I can invest five million in your company."
Margaret gasped. "Five million!"
"But I need something in return," Ryan leaned forward. "Divorce Marcus and marry me."
Silence.
"What?" Diana stared at him.
"Marry me. I'll save your company. Give you everything you deserve."
"Ryan, I can't—"
"Think about it! Your company is dying. Without money, you're bankrupt in three months."
Margaret grabbed Diana's hand. "Baby, he's right! This is perfect!"
"I'm not divorcing Marcus!"
"Why not?" Derek laughed. "Look at him! He's sitting there like a scared rat! He won't even defend himself!"
Everyone looked at Marcus in the corner. He sat with his head down, not moving, not speaking.
"See?" Derek continued. "He doesn't even care! What kind of husband is that?"
Marcus stayed silent. Head down. Like always.
"I need time to think," Diana said quietly.
"You have until tomorrow morning," Ryan said. "Now let's eat!"
Servants brought out expensive food. Steak, lobster, everything beautiful. They served everyone at the table.
Nobody brought Marcus anything.
He sat in his corner, stomach growling. He'd only had stale bread this morning. But he stayed quiet.
"This is amazing!" Margaret said. "Diana, you could eat like this every day!"
Diana wasn't eating. She was thinking about Ryan's offer. Her company was dying. She needed money.
She glanced at Marcus in the corner. He looked so small. So pathetic.
"Actually," Ryan stood up with his plate. "I feel bad. Marcus hasn't eaten!"
He walked to Marcus's corner. "Here. You can have my leftovers."
Ryan put down the plate. The food was half-eaten, with bite marks.
"Enjoy!" Ryan patted Marcus's head like a dog.
Derek laughed hard. "This is gold!"
Marcus looked at the half-eaten food. Then he picked up the fork and started eating. Quietly. No complaint. Just ate the scraps.
Diana felt her stomach twist and turn watching it. But she said nothing.
"Good boy," Ryan said, laughing. "See, Diana? This is your husband. A man who eats garbage without complaint."
Marcus kept eating. Head down. Silent.
Margaret smiled. "Diana, you see the difference? Ryan treats you like a queen. Marcus acts like a dog."
"Because he IS a dog," Derek added.
Marcus finished the food. Every bite. He didn't look up once.
Ryan sat back down. "So, Diana. Tomorrow morning. What's your answer?"
Diana looked at Marcus one more time. He was wiping his mouth with a dirty napkin, still not looking up.
"I'll think about it," she said quietly.
"Perfect!" Ryan smiled. "Now, who wants dessert?"
The dinner continued. They laughed, drank wine, talked about Ryan's cars and houses.
Marcus sat in his corner. Invisible. Silent. Like furniture.
After two hours, Ryan called for his driver. "Let me have my driver take you all home. You've had too much wine."
"That's so thoughtful!" Margaret gushed.
They all walked to the door. Ryan pulled Diana aside. "Think carefully tonight. This is your future we're talking about."
"I know," Diana said.
Marcus walked behind them to the car. The driver looked at him with pity but said nothing.
On the drive home, Margaret wouldn't stop talking. "Diana, you HAVE to say yes! This is a miracle! Ryan is perfect!"
"I said I'll think about it," Diana snapped.
When they got home, Margaret went straight upstairs. Derek followed, still laughing about Marcus eating leftovers.
Diana stood in the hallway. Marcus walked past her toward the storage room.
"Marcus," she said.
He stopped. "Yes?"
"Why do you... why do you just take it? Why don't you fight back? Say something?"
Marcus looked at her with tired eyes. "What would be the point?"
"The point is you're a human being! You deserve basic respect!"
"Do I?" Marcus asked quietly. "Your family doesn't think so. You don't think so."
"That's not—" Diana started, but stopped. Because it was true. She didn't respect him. She never had.
Marcus turned and walked into the storage room, closing the door softly.
Diana stood there, feeling something uncomfortable in her chest. Guilt? Maybe.
She went upstairs to her bedroom and lay down. Sleep wouldn't come.
Her phone buzzed. Ryan: "Have you decided? Remember, tomorrow the offer expires."
Diana put her phone away. She needed to think.
Three million in debt. Company dying. Ryan offering everything.
All she had to do was divorce a man who ate garbage without complaining.
A man who asked "Do I deserve respect?" like he genuinely didn't know the answer.
Diana stared at the ceiling until sunrise.
She still didn't know what to do.
- Writer
