My Wife Believed in Me One Day Too Late

Chapter 003

When the bright hundred-dollar bills were laid out before them, the Easton family dining room fell into stunned silence, punctuated only by a few hurried breaths.

$1000,000 was an astronomical sum for a family like the Eastons, a second-tier household in Cresthaven City.

The matriarch, supported by her cane, shakily approached the person who delivered the gifts, her expression one of intense curiosity.

"May I ask, who are you and which of my granddaughters has caught your eye?"

This query sent a ripple of excitement among the unmarried Easton women, their faces flushing with anticipation.

Despite not knowing who the suitor was, the magnitude of the gift indicated he must be from a wealthy family.

Marrying into such a family was a dream they all harbored.

Daphne Easton turned pale.

She was the only Easton daughter already married, meaning she was the only one without a chance at this fortune.

"I am just responsible for delivering these gifts. Beyond that, I know nothing," the messenger said before quickly departing, leaving no clue as to his identity.

The Eastons, eyeing the glittering gifts and the sizable cash, couldn't help but salivate.

To them, whoever won this dowry would elevate not just herself but the entire family.

"It must be me, I am the most beautiful in the Easton family," a particularly attractive woman declared confidently.

"Really? Don't be so sure. We all have a chance. Maybe the rich young man is actually interested in me," another retorted, sparking a heated debate among the women, fracturing the family's unity.

"You can stop arguing. There's a chance for everyone, except one, who can only watch helplessly," Thomas Easton said, casting a deliberate glance at Daphne.

Everyone knew who he was referring to, and laughter followed.

"That's right, one less competitor."

"Isaiah, we have you to thank for this."

"If it weren't for you, we'd have one more person to compete with."

Isaiah, head bowed, wore an expression of grim determination. Unlike the others, he knew exactly who the Lowell family was.

Did he need this so-called reparation? After three long years, did Isaiah Lowell need it?

"Stop fighting. I will keep these gifts safe. Once the giver reveals themselves and we know who he is interested in, I will pass the dowry to her," the matriarch declared, settling the matter.

After lunch, Daphne and her parents left without waiting for Isaiah, humiliated by the turn of events.

They envied the grandeur of the gift, especially since Isaiah had brought nothing of the sort when he married into the family.

Back home, Daphne locked herself in her room.

Her mother, Margaret Easton, raged at Michael Easton. "Look at others, and then look at us. This is the difference!"

"If you weren't so useless, why would my father have allowed Isaiah to marry into our family?"

"I regret marrying into the Easton family. I thought it would be a life of luxury, but I ended up with you, the most useless of them all. My father never intended for you to inherit the family business."

"Everyone else lives in villas and luxury apartments, and here we are in this old, staircase-only building."

"Being an Easton daughter-in-law sounds prestigious, but with a useless man like you, it's a life of misery."

Michael Easton, a henpecked husband, bowed his head in silence, fully aware of his own shortcomings.

"I don't care, I want Daphne to divorce that nobody. The Easton family's reputation doesn't concern me. I want a good life."

"We can't," Michael replied weakly. "Father warned me against it. Besides, the whole city knows about their marriage. Divorcing now would be a laughingstock."

Margaret began to wail, sitting on the floor in tears.

"Michael, you're useless! Why did I marry such a spineless man? For the sake of the Easton's reputation, are you willing to ruin our daughter's life? She works hard every day. Don't you care about her?"

The Eastons were in the construction material business, so frequent site visits were normal. These tasks fell on Daphne due to their low status in the family.

Michael's face showed his pain. He knew it was because of his ineptitude that his father had pushed Isaiah onto them. This was largely his fault.

But divorce wasn't his decision to make. The matriarch would rather have Daphne and Isaiah live a mediocre life than let the family lose face.

Isaiah, standing outside the door, heard the commotion.

Sitting on the steps, he lit a cigarette, the rising smoke unable to mask the coldness in his eyes.

As he finished his cigarette and prepared to enter, he heard Daphne's voice from inside.

Locking herself in her room, Daphne suddenly walked into the living room, looked at her distressed mother and father, and said, "I won't divorce him."

"Are you crazy? Do you want to spend your life with that loser?" Margaret exclaimed, unable to believe her ears.

"I'm not crazy. For three years, he may have been a nobody, but he never complained about the chores. Even a dog can form a bond; he's a person."

"I may look down on him, but I don't hate him. Grandfather made this decision. If I have to hate, I hate him."

"And Grandma will never allow us to divorce. The Easton family's reputation is her priority."

Outside, Isaiah took a deep breath and smiled.

Today, he realized he wasn't as worthless in Daphne's eyes as he thought. Perhaps this woman did have some feelings for him.

"Hate can indeed turn into love," he mused.

"Sorry for the hardship, Daphne," Michael sighed.

Daphne shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not suffering."

She had always thought she would divorce Isaiah, even telling him so earlier that day.

But when faced with the reality, she realized that the man she considered useless had become an irreplaceable part of her life.

They never held hands or showed affection in public, yet he had slept under her bed for three years, an indelible part of her life.

"I'm just upset with myself for actually falling for him," Daphne admitted, biting her pale lips.

Then Isaiah opened the door, walked into the living room, and gently wiped the tears from Daphne's face.

"You said only I can change you," Daphne said.

"That's right."

"I don't want to be looked down upon anymore. I don't want to be the butt of jokes. I want those who look down on me to regret it."

"Alright."

With that single word, Isaiah turned and walked away.