1. Humiliated and betrayed

"I'm here with the delivery!" Henry Flakes announced the moment he barged into the top-notch eatery in the city, panting heavily from run. In his hands, he held a parcel.

A woman wearing black shirt and white tulip skirt replied, "And as usual, you're late." She looked at him from head to toe and her face crumpled.

"Why do you look like you came from a place filled with dung? Are you trying to irritate our guests?" she felt irritated as her hands flew to block her nose.

Henry looked down on his clothes and sighed. While rushing to make the delivery, the muddy water on the road splashed on his shirt, staining it and making him smell.

He turned around and saw that even some customers in the eatery were casting stares and covering their noses with their handkerchiefs.

It wasn't his fault actually. Every morning, he had to wake up early and do all the house chores in his in-laws house for them which took hours considering the large size of the house. Therefore, he was late and had to drive roughly to bring the parcel on time.

He bowed his head in shame and said sadly, "I just wanted to deliver this..."

"Let me have it!" The receptionist snatched the parcel from his hands. "You should have just given it to the boss over there and left."

Henry's eyes trailed the location her fingers pointed to and saw the boss, Ryan, seating at the corner. He was seated with a woman, like it was an occasion, as they had their meal. They both dressed in white and red.

'She might be his wife,' Henry thought and smiled. She was lucky, he wished he would have romantic moments with his wife, Clara, like this. Clara had been asking him to take her out to this restaurant for the longest, and he had been working really hard to afford it.

Clara Willstone was her full name, the only child and daughter of the late Charles Willstone.

After his death, she was inaugurated and became the owner of the family business, The Willstone Group and he has been trying to support her from the back even though she saw him as a failure.

The Willstone Group began to flourish so well that it is ranked as one of the richest group in the province.

Maybe because it wasn't easy for her to manage the business, that's why she was a little rude to him, insulted him all the time, made him wash her clothes even when there's a nanny, made him sleep outside most times...

Yeah, maybe. And he is willing to exercise patience for her to change as long as she loves him! He smiled and brightened with a ray of hope.

Henry snapped out of his thoughts and began to leave. However, a voice he heard made him stop.

"Haha, oh my love, you're such a flirt," the woman with the boss softly giggled.

Henry frowned. Why did that voice seem awkwardly familiar?

Wait....

He flipped his head back only to catch them kissing deeply and passionately. From the side view, the face appeared to be even more familiar. He walked closer to their table and his fear came to pass.

It was his wife.

Not some other lady, but his own wife!

The helmet in his hand fell off and resounded on the floor. "Clara!" He couldn't help but yell her name as she flinched and noticed him.

Her eyes dilated and she froze. “H-Henry… what are you doing here?”

Her reaction alone was the summary of everything. Clara was having an affair with Ryan?

“I should be asking you,” his eyes went to Ryan who had his brows raised, “what are you doing here…with him?!”

“Uhm, he….I….” Clara stood up innocently trying to explain herself. She was equally shocked to see him there, wasn't he supposed to be at work? Why coming to spoil her blissful day?

She threw a glance at Ryan who was also standing up in confusion. “Let's talk outside,” she grabbed Henry's arm to take him outside but he didn't budge.

“Talk about what? About you cheating?” Henry barked in a hoarse voice, his eyes turning red from extreme anger and heartache. Tears stung at the corners.

"What is going on babe? Who's this?" Ryan stood up, visible creases on his face showing he was in his mid-thirties as his hair flowed down his back.

He glanced down at Henry like he was an unwanted pig. "Ohh, don't tell me it's your worthless husband you always talk about? Damn, he smells!" He laughed in mockery, causing Henry’s anger to boil the more.

The customers did not help matters as they were still waving their noses, and making sounds of disgust.

Henry shot him a deadly stare. He balled his fists and swung it to give Ryan a punch.

"Don't dare touch my man!" Clara stood in front of him.

With shock, Henry withdrew the punch. "Your man?" He asked, eyes as red as flames. Clara threw her face away and grabbed on Ryan's shoulder. “You heard me right.”

"So, cheating on me is not enough, you're defending him right in my face? Clara, what did I ever do to you?"

She hissed, tired of his bullshit. “Why should I even explain it to someone as narrow-minded and poor as you? Of course you can never see the brighter side. For months now, I've been asking you to take me out to this restaurant but you've been coming up with excuses. Guess who has done it countless times? Him.”

“Kiss my ass for all I care!” She folded her arms and tore her gaze from his.

"You heard her right," Ryan wrapped his arms around her neck, "Kiss our asses for all we care!"

Henry's world collapsed right before his eyes. The shock pierced through his heart like a thousand knives. His head was spinning and the only thing he saw was two shameless adults in front of him kissing passionately.

He took steps back, then rushed out to his delivery bike. He couldn't believe his eyes and ears. Though their marriage was arranged, he still loved her desperately. And what he got in return was "kiss my ass"?

"Wait! Henry, wait!" Clara ran after him.

"What do you want from me?!" He glared at her.

"Stop acting dumb, boy!" She began to yell in her highest pitch. "Didn't you know that man owns this restaurant? Aren't you happy your wife is dating someone wealthy, Henry? What you almost did was very stupid.”

Henry felt numb from her quick tables turn. She made it seem like he was at fault, while she was helping. What did he do to deserve this treatment?

He felt weak in the knees and fell to the floor. "How could you do this to me, to us?" He held her feet tightly. "I loved you so much Clara, what have I done to deserve this?"

Clara merely rolled her eyes. "Enough with the pity face, dude. He gave me all what you and your miserable delivery business couldn't. Live with it!"

Ryan came out and saw his girlfriend's legs being held. Deeply annoyed, he kicked Henry on the chest. "How dare you mess with my girlfriend?"

Henry, an ulcer patient who had not eaten since morning, felt the pain tear his heart as he coiled up. His heart was burning faster than flames.

Ryan shook his head at Henry. "I never knew your husband was this pathetic. Maybe if you kiss my toes, I'll make you my restaurant assistant!"

Clara laughed behind him. Gracious goodness, Henry was pitiful!

"Ayy, he's so pathetic!" A passerby exclaimed.

"I pity him, honestly. I hope my child doesn't turn out this way," a pregnant woman also sneered, rubbing her tummy.

Henry hated being pitied the most. He stood to his feet and dusted his knees. "I'd rather die than kiss anyone's toes!"

Due to anger, he resorted to a comeback. They wanted to humiliate him?

His lips twisted into a smirk and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Anyway, kiss my ass!" He threw his soiled shirt in their faces, staining their white shirts and enveloping their nostrils with the odor. Without wasting time, Henry got on his bike and sped off.

His action left both of them dumbfounded for half a minute. "Sh*t! What's this foul smell?" Clara cringed.