My Wife Believed in Me One Day Too Late

Chapter 005

"Boss, a pack of cigarettes, please."

"You're always so punctual."

The owner of the small store across the street from the Easton family company looked at Isaiah Lowell with a mix of admiration and curiosity.

For three years, like clockwork, Isaiah had been showing up precisely on time.

Initially, the store owner found it odd, but he soon realized that Isaiah's visits coincided with Daphne Easton's departure from the office.

The shopkeeper had his guesses about Isaiah's identity but never voiced them, understanding that every family had its troubles.

In Cresthaven City, Isaiah was considered a nobody, an unwanted son-in-law of the Easton family, and probably preferred to keep his presence low-key.

"I've got nothing better to do," Isaiah replied with a smile.

The middle-aged shopkeeper admired Isaiah's dedication. For three years, he had been faithfully waiting for Daphne every day, silently watching over her.

"When are you planning to pick her up from work? It's not really a solution to just watch from afar," the shopkeeper asked during a lull in business.

Isaiah, looking toward the Easton company building, smiled faintly, "The time isn't right yet."

"Can I say something?" the shopkeeper asked hesitantly.

"Of course."

"I don't think you're just an ordinary guy. Why... why did you marry into the Easton family?" The shopkeeper didn't have special insight, but he sensed that Isaiah was different from the others.

He didn't seem like the waste that people made him out to be.

"We all have flesh and blood, eat, sleep, and do everything a normal person does, of course, I'm an ordinary person," Isaiah answered.

"You know that's not what I mean," the shopkeeper pressed gently.

"Enduring so much criticism, I would have broken down if I were in your shoes."

Broken down?

Isaiah chuckled. He, labeled as a worthless man and a burden to the Easton family, had no right to break down, especially when Daphne had borne more ridicule than him.

"I've endured nothing compared to what she's been through," Isaiah said.

The shopkeeper sighed, not probing any further.

After Daphne left work, Isaiah bid farewell to the shopkeeper and rode away on his electric bike, as he did every day.

Daphne stood at the company's entrance until Isaiah was out of sight.

Back home, when Michael Easton relayed the meeting's events to Margaret, she was livid.

"Daphne, have you lost your mind? Have you thought about how we'll live if we're kicked out of the Easton family?"

"Thomas Easton was just provoking you. Don't you see his intentions?"

Daphne replied calmly, "He doesn't want us to share in the Easton family's wealth."

Hearing this, Margaret's face turned pale with anger. "Knowing this, why did you agree? If they couldn’t manage it, how can you?"

Daphne felt conflicted.

She believed Isaiah, but she didn't know if her decision was right or wrong.

Even though their family's status was low in the company, they would still inherit some money after the matriarch's passing. If they were ousted from the Easton family, they would lose everything.

Trusting Isaiah with their future was a big gamble.

"Mom, do you really have so little faith in me?" Daphne asked.

Margaret, frustrated and angry, exclaimed, "How can I trust you when you're agreeing to something even the other relatives couldn't achieve?"

Why indeed?

Daphne herself didn't know, as her agreement was solely based on Isaiah's message.

When Isaiah returned home and approached them, he said to Margaret, “Mother, you should believe in her.”

Margaret rebuked him, "What does this have to do with you? If it weren't for you marrying into our family, my beautiful daughter could have married well. You've ruined us."

Isaiah remained silent and went to the kitchen to cook.

"Can I trust you, Isaiah?" Daphne suddenly asked him.

Isaiah turned, smiling warmly, "Yes."

Margaret sensed something was off and interrogated Daphne, suspecting Isaiah had influenced her decision.

"Come here and explain. Are you involved in this? Did you tell Daphne to agree?"

Daphne, knowing Margaret would make things difficult for Isaiah if she found out about the text message, lied to protect him, "It was my decision. He had nothing to do with it."

Margaret, grabbing Daphne's shoulder in a fit of anger, said, "You're being fooled by this worthless man. How could you be so crazy?"

Isaiah, witnessing Daphne's pain, confronted Margaret with a cold and firm demeanor, "Whether Daphne can do it or not, we'll find out tomorrow. Why won't you believe in her?"

Margaret, furious at Isaiah's intervention, demanded he let go of her, "You have no right to speak in our family."

Isaiah's stern gaze unnerved Margaret, making her feel as if he could see right through her.

Michael Easton tried to defuse the situation, but the tension remained.

After dinner, Margaret didn't join them at the table, leaving Michael to nervously talk about Blue Horizon Real Estate, aware that if Daphne failed, their family would face severe consequences.

Later, after a shower, Isaiah found Daphne sitting on the bed, staring intently at him.

He lay down on his mat, breaking the news, "The owner of Blue Horizon Real Estate is my classmate."

Daphne simply acknowledged, not asking further.

The room fell silent, a familiar scene for the past three years, but tonight Daphne's emotions were different, especially after seeing Isaiah's reaction to Margaret.

"Don't wait for me at the company anymore," Daphne suddenly said.

Isaiah, surprised she knew about his daily vigils, agreed, "Okay."

Daphne, facing away, bit her lip, feeling an unexpected wave of emotion.

She had thought she could easily divorce Isaiah, but when Margaret brought it up, she realized she couldn't.

Isaiah, regardless of how worthless others thought he was, had always been there for her. She had grown accustomed to his presence.

"Pick me up at the company entrance," Daphne added.

Isaiah was stunned, his expression shifting from shock to joy.

Daphne, not hearing a response and thinking he was unwilling, said, "If you don't want to, then forget it."

Isaiah sat up quickly, eagerly replying, "I'm willing. I'm very willing."

Daphne, feeling his eagerness, let tears fall, realizing that all he ever wanted was so simple.

"Sorry for these three years," she said softly.