The Richest God of War

3. You're Practically Useless

For a moment, only Yvette and Richard were left in the living room.

Yvette walked up to him. Her eyes were cold.

Like her sister, Yvette was beautiful and graceful. She could have been a star herself. Instead she had chosen the family business, and now she was general manager of Williams Clothing Company, which her father had founded.

Richard caught her staring and smiled. It was only good manners. She was his sister-in-law, after all.

The smile made her face fall. She looked deeply disappointed.

"Richard! My sister worked all day for this family. And where were you? You vanished! You're useless."

*Useless.* Richard shrugged.

His calm only made her angrier. How could any man be so lazy and so proud of nothing?

*Once this deal is done, I'll make my sister divorce him.*

Her sister was too young to waste her life on a man like this.

Then the front door opened.

A woman walked in. She looked worn out from a long day, but even tired, she was stunning, with both grace and beauty.

This was Rosetta, Richard's wife in name.

"Sis, you're back!" Yvette ran to her. "We were so worried!" Then she spun on Richard and barked, "Why are you just standing there? Get her some warm water for her feet!"

"Yes. One moment."

Richard didn't argue. He went straight to the bathroom.

When he returned with a basin of warm water, Rosetta was already on the sofa, talking business with her mother and sister.

"Rosetta, here's the water." He set the basin down and turned to go.

"Wait!" Mrs. Williams snapped. "Why aren't you rubbing her feet?"

"Mom, he's my husband. Leave him alone," Rosetta said. She always defended him.

The rest of the family looked down on Richard. Only Rosetta treated him with respect. That was one reason he hadn't walked away after his memory came back.

But Mrs. Williams wouldn't let it go. "You still call him your husband? He eats our food and drinks our water. What has he ever done for us? A leech like that is no husband!"

"Mom's right," Yvette said. "Richard, what are you waiting for? If you won't work, get out of this house!"

"Yes, yes." Richard nodded. He knelt and began to rub Rosetta's feet in the water.

Some men would have felt their pride burn. But Richard had lived ten thousand years. He had seen kings beg and empires fall. This was nothing to him.

And her feet were lovely, pale and smooth as white jade. It was hardly a punishment.

Rosetta felt his hands on her skin, warm and soothing. But when she looked down at him, her eyes filled with disgust.

A year ago, she had asked him to marry her. It was a fake marriage, a way out of trouble. Still, even a fake husband should have some backbone. What woman wouldn't want that?

She had never seen it in him. For a year she had tried everything. She had nudged him gently. She had pushed him hard. Nothing changed.

*A man can lack skill. But he shouldn't lack fire.*

She was about to kick him away.

Then her phone rang.

"Miss Williams, it's me."

"Mr. Nelson?" She knew the voice. He was a credit manager at Albany City Bank.

"I'm sorry, Miss Williams. There may be a change with your loan."

"What?"

"Please don't panic. There's still a chance. My boss says that if you can meet him tomorrow, he may be able to approve the loan under the Wade family's name. This is a rare opportunity. Please think about it."

Rosetta's brows drew tight. "I understand. Let me think."

She hung up and tossed the phone aside. Then she sank back into the sofa, drained.

She looked down again. Richard was still rubbing her feet.

Her mind was full of the call. All at once the sight of him made her sick. Another man who could do nothing for her.

She kicked him hard. "Get away from me!"

Richard fell back. He said nothing.

Mrs. Williams stared. Rosetta never spoke to him like that. Normally it would have pleased her, but now she only felt uneasy. "Rosetta, what's wrong? Who was on the phone?"

Rosetta pressed a hand to her forehead. Her voice was low.

"I'm sorry, Richard. That wasn't about you." She took a breath. "It was Albany City Bank. Our loan is stuck. They won't approve it."