Quest For Acceptance

Missing money

Chapter Two

“I know you can never amount to anything,” Mr. Jackson sneered, his words laced with contempt. “Yes, I warned my daughter about you, but she doesn’t listen.” He turned his attention to Sandra, his voice dripping with scorn. “I told you this man would never amount to anything. I received a call from his office that they just terminated his contract. Even the money he earns isn’t enough to feed himself, let alone support you and cover your expenses. You mentioned he was going to fund your birthday party on Saturday. Did you even stop to consider whether he could fulfill that promise?”

“He will fail because he is a magnet that has being destined to attract misfortune everywhere he goes,” Mrs. Jackson interjected, adding her voice to the chorus of disapproval.

Sandra’s face went pale. She looked from her husband, to her father, then back to her husband. An unbelievable expression etched her face as she found it difficult to believe what her ears are hearing.

“I — I don’t know what to say,” she stammered, her voice shaking. “I thought he was a hardworking guy, I never knew he would be so dependent on me” Sandra’s voice rang out, filled with anger and disappointment. “How could you lose your only means of survival? How can you be this useless?” Salvador had hoped to keep the news of his termination from her for the moment, planning to explain it to her later when he had resolved the situation.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Salvador’s voice quivered slightly as he tried to defend himself. “I promised you I would search for another job. I’ll do my best to look around and find something else.”

His words hung in the air, the tension between Salvador and his wife’s family growing evident.

“Work? Hold on a second, who do you think would employ an unfortunate guy like you?” Mrs. Jackson’s words were filled with disdain, her eyes narrowing as she belittled Salvador’s worth and potential.

“Mother, I’ll do my best to seek employment,” Salvador responded, his voice filled with both determination and a hint of desperation. He tried to offer a glimmer of hope, promising to put all his efforts into securing employment once again.

However, his plea was met with a sudden and aggressive slap across his cheek. The force of Mr. Jackson’s blow echoed through the room, leaving a stinging mark on Salvador’s skin.

“I am not your mother!” Mrs. Jackson yelled, her voice laced with anger and resentment, further adding to the humiliation that Salvador felt. The sharp sting of the slap combined with the verbal assault intensified his sense of worthlessness, leaving him grappling with his place within this familial battlefield.

The room fell silent, the only sound was the heavy breathing of everyone present. Salvador touched his cheek, feeling the sting of the slap. He couldn’t believe that Mrs. Jackson had hit him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice shaking. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Mrs. Jackson didn’t reply. She just glared at him, her eyes full of anger and hatred.

“You should beg for your miserable life. I can never understand how Sandra ended up with a useless man like you,” Mrs. Jackson’s voice carried a harsh edge as she unleashed her tirade. “It would have been better for her to marry a beggar in the street than to end up with someone as useless as you. Heaven knows, I was never in support of this union.”

In the midst of the heated exchange, Sandra’s voice cut through the tension. “Where is the money you promised me for my birthday?” she demanded, her tone laced with disappointment and frustration.

“I kept some money inside the wardrobe, but it’s incomplete,” Salvador responded, his voice tinged with a tinge of anxiety. “I was hoping I would receive my pay this week to add up.”

“How much are we talking about here?” Sandra inquired, her tone revealing her escalating frustration.

“It’s a lot, I have saved up to $350,” Salvador replied.

“What did you just say? $3, what?” Sandra’s anger surged, her voice fuelled by disbelief and rage.

“Three hundred and fifty dollars,” Salvador repeated, his voice shaking. “I know it’s not much, but I tried my best to save as much as I could. I’m sorry it’s not enough.”

Sandra let out a bitter laugh. “You’re sorry? Sorry for what? For being a complete and utter failure?” she asked, her voice full of scorn. “You promised to give me money for my birthday, and now you’re telling me you don’t have enough? You’re a complete joke!”

“Please, I’m trying my best,” Salvador said. “I know I haven’t been the best husband or provider, but I’m trying to make things right. Please, give me another chance.”

Sandra shook her head. “I’ve given you chance after chance, and you’ve always let me down. I’m done. I can’t take any more of this. I want a divorce.”

Salvador’s heart sank. He couldn’t believe that it had come to this. He had tried so hard to make things work, but it seemed like nothing he did was ever good enough. He felt like he was losing everything, and he didn’t know what to do, “Please, don’t do this,” he begged, his voice cracking. “We can work things out, I know we can. We just need to talk, and try to understand each other. Please, don’t give up on us.”

Sandra’s expression softened, but only for a moment. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. I need to move on with my life, and that means leaving you behind. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”

Salvador felt like his world was collapsing around him. He wanted to fight for his marriage, but he knew that it was futile. He had failed as a husband, and now he was losing his wife. He felt like he had nothing left.

“Can we at least talk about this?” he asked, his voice desperate. “I know we have our differences, but we can try to work them out. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make things right.”

Sandra paused, her expression thoughtful. “I’m not sure if there’s anything left to talk about,” she said, her voice flat. “You’ve already proven that you’re not the man I thought you were. I can’t trust you anymore. I’m sorry, but it’s over.”

Salvador felt like the world was crashing down around him. He felt lost and alone, like he was in a dark and endless void. He had never felt so hopeless before. He was at a loss for what to do next.

After a long moment of silence, he said, “I understand. I’ll do whatever you need me to do to make this easier for you. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do it.”

“You still want this marriage?” Mr. Jackson, who had been observing Salvador with disdain, interjected.

“Yes, sir. I cannot simply let go of this marriage,” Salvador replied earnestly, determined to salvage their relationship.

“Good. I will help you,” Mr. Jackson responded, surprising Salvador with his unexpected support.

“Thank you very much, sir,” Salvador expressed his gratitude, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and appreciation.

“On one condition,” Mr. Jackson added, introducing a new element of uncertainty into the conversation.

“I am willing to do anything. Please help me talk to Sandra,” Salvador pleaded, willing to agree to anything that might help restore harmony to their marriage. Anyone could tell that he truly does love Sandra.

“The condition is that we will be letting go of all some maids in the mansion,” Mr. Jackson stated matter-of-factly. “You will be solely responsible for the household chores, and additionally, you will serve as Sandra’s personal driver. I will compensate you for these additional responsibilities. At least it would be a better option than working for someone unfamiliar.”

Salvador’s heart sank. He knew that if he took this deal, he would be at the mercy of Mr. Jackson. He would be working for him, doing whatever he asked, with no way to escape. But he also knew that this was his only chance to save his marriage. He felt like he was caught between a rock and a hard place, with no practical options. He felt like he was being forced to choose between two terrible options. Working for them wouldn’t be ideal, but for now, it was a necessary step for him. As he sought a more fitting job elsewhere, he knew it was a temporary arrangement. However, Sandra had made the difficult decision to divorce him. With that looming over his head, he feared he might soon find himself without a stable place to call home.

“I’ll do it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll do whatever you want.”

Mr. Jackson smiled. “I knew you would see things my way. I’ll have my lawyer draft up the paperwork. Meanwhile, I want you to pack up your things and move out of the master bedroom. You’ll be moving into the mini’ quarters.”

Salvador’s heart sank even further. He was being reduced to a servant. He would be living in a small room, far away from his wife. But he knew he had no choice.

“I’ll do it,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “When do you want me to move?”

“Immediately,” Mr. Jackson said, his tone cold and indifferent. “You’ll be sleeping in the mini’ quarters tonight. I want you out of my sight.”

Salvador felt like he was being banished from his own home. He felt like he was being treated like a piece of trash, to be thrown out instantly’s notice. He felt like he was being ripped apart, his heartbreaking into a million pieces. But he had no choice. He had to do this if he wanted any chance of saving his marriage.

“I understand,” he said, his voice barely audible. “I’ll start packing now.”

As he started packing his things, he felt a sense of grief and loss. He had worked so hard to build a life with Sandra, and now it was all falling apart. He felt like he was losing everything that mattered to him. He felt like he was losing his home, his wife, and his dignity. But he knew he had to go through with this, no matter how painful it was.

As he packed his clothes and personal belongings, he felt like he was packing away his entire life. He felt like he was leaving behind everything he had worked for. He felt like a failure, like he had let himself down. But he knew that he had to do this, if he wanted to have any hope of rebuilding his life.

When he was finished packing, he stood in the room, feeling lost and alone. He took one last look around the room, trying to memorize every detail. Then, he took a deep breath and walked out the door. He felt like he was leaving a part of himself behind.

“And where’s the money you were referring to?” Sandra demanded, her voice laced with impatience. Her priorities were crystal clear — fixing her nails with Salvador’s money was of utmost importance to her. Salvador, though slightly amused, couldn’t help but feel a pang of contempt for her self-centeredness.

“I’ll be right back,” he replied with forced politeness, concealing his irritation behind a courteous smile. Determined to prove his worth, Salvador turned and made his way back into the room, scanning every corner searching for where he had stashed the money. His increasing frustration was evident as his search turned fruitless, the precious funds eluding his desperate gaze.

He searched everywhere, under the bed, inside the drawer, inside the wardrobe, he searched everywhere, but he couldn’t find it. He was getting anxious. What if someone has stolen the money, he wondered. He was unable to bear the thought of explaining this to Sandra.

He went back to Sandra and she’s already wearing her coat. “Let’s go,” she says.

“There’s a problem,” he says, trying to keep his voice steady. “I can’t find the money.”

Sandra looked at him, her eyes hardening. “What do you mean you can’t find the money?”