Chapter 1
My husband made $600K a year.
The moment his paycheck came in, he sent it all to his mother.
As his wife, I only got 3 dollars a day for living expenses.
My mother-in-law, Olivia, with that sarcastic tone, would always say, "You're so good at managing money. You can even get by on just 3 dollars."
I just nodded and grabbed two pieces of bread with that 3 dollars.
After I finished eating, I turned around and signed up for a six-month assignment in Rosenheim.
Before takeoff, I turned off my phone.
Four days later, when I landed and turned it back on, there were 79 missed calls and 126 messages.
The latest one read: [Where the hell have you been? It's the same with or without you in this family!]
*****
When Edward's salary landed in the account, I was sitting in the conference room, quietly waiting for the meeting to start.
My phone buzzed.
A bank notification flashed: [600,000 dollars had just been deposited into the family account.]
Not even thirty seconds later, another message popped up.
The whole 600,000 dollars was gone, transferred out in one go.
The recipient? Margaret Quinn.
I stared at the screen for a couple of seconds, feeling nothing but a cold sense of resignation. Then I turned off my phone and continued my presentation on the Rosenheim Initiative's risk plan.
When I finished, Richard Thompson, the department director, called me aside.
"Emily, the Rosenheim Operations Branch needs a project manager for a six-month assignment. Company covers room and board, plus a separate stipend. Think it over."
"When do I leave?" I asked.
"Three days from now."
"I'll let you know tonight."
When I got home, Margaret was lounging in the living room, admiring her new jewelry.
She shot me a glance.
"Just in time. Go tidy up the kitchen. Edward wants barbecue ribs tonight, so go grab some fresh meat," she ordered.
I dropped my bag.
"We don't have any money for groceries," I said.
She grabbed 3 dollars from beside her jewelry box and threw it onto the coffee table.
"Take it."
I stayed put.
"How am I supposed to buy ribs with just 3 bucks?"
Margaret snorted coldly.
"Aren't you supposed to be some fancy college grad? Can't even stretch 3 bucks?"
"Edward makes 600,000 dollars a year."
"That's my son's money!"
She slid a gold bracelet onto her wrist and twisted it around a couple times.
"Obviously, I handle his money. Women like you just blow it if you get too much. 3 bucks a day is plenty for you to eat."
For the three years we'd been married, Margaret had always been in charge of Edward's paycheck.
I paid the mortgage.
I handled all the utilities, household bills, and daily necessities.
I had to buy gifts for every Harrington Family birthday.
My salary card used to be in the bedroom drawer. Six months ago, Margaret took it and demanded I hand over my monthly pay so she could control all the finances.
When I refused, she blasted me in the family group chat, accusing me of not trusting the Harrington Family.
Edward just chimed in with one line.
"We're family. Don't fight over money."
From that day on, Margaret only gave me 3 dollars a day.
She said it was to teach me how to live within my means.
The door opened.
Edward walked in, saw the empty dining table, and his face immediately darkened.
"Where's dinner?" he demanded.
Margaret jumped in before I could say anything.
"Emily says the money I gave her for groceries isn't enough, so she refuses to cook," she said.
Edward loosened his tie.
"3 dollars isn't enough? Just grab some veggies and eggs, that's enough," he said.
"You wanted ribs," I reminded him.
"Then you cover it yourself."
"My salary goes to the mortgage."
He shot me an impatient look.
"Emily, can you stop obsessing over money every single day? I make 600,000 dollars a year. Do you really think I'd short you?"
I pulled out my phone and showed him the transfer record.
"The 600,000 dollars hit the account, and in less than a minute, it all went straight to your mom's account."
Margaret immediately covered her jewelry box.
"Are you checking up on me?" she snapped.
"I have the right to check the family account," I shot back.
Edward pushed my phone away.
"It's safest with Mom. If you need something, just ask her," he said.
"I told you, I need to buy groceries," I said.
"Didn't Mom give you 3 dollars?" he replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Margaret smirked.
"See? My son knows what's what. Emily's so good at stretching a dollar, she can make 3 bucks last," she said.
I picked up the 3 dollars from the coffee table.
"Fine," I said.
I walked out the door.
The breakfast stall at the entrance of the neighborhood was still open.
3 dollars was just enough for two pieces of bread.
I sat by the roadside and ate, not buying any ribs or groceries.
When I got home, Edward and Margaret had already ordered takeout.
There were four dishes and a soup on the table, but they hadn't set a place for me.
Margaret deliberately raised her voice.
"Edward, see? You can't spoil women. Skip her a meal, and she'll know who's really in charge here," she said.
I stayed silent.
I went into the study, turned on my computer, and pulled up the overseas assignment form Richard sent me earlier that afternoon.
Six months.
Double the salary.
After the project, I'd be eligible to compete for deputy director.
I filled out all the details, one by one.
The last field was for the emergency contact.
I replaced Edward's name with my coworker Olivia's.
Just as my cursor hovered over the submit button, Edward walked in.
He glanced at the screen.
"What are you filling out?" he asked.
I closed my laptop.
"None of your business," I said.
He froze in the doorway.
In three years of marriage, I'd never answered him like that before.