Chapter 6
My relationship with James kept getting better.
Charlotte's conflict with Ryan, however, deepened day by day.
She complained, "What's wrong with your husband? He never does any chores and doesn't give a cent. He's just a blabbering freeloader.
"We both earn the money; why does he get to control it all?"
She continued, "He has money when he wants to party, but when I need it for prenatal checkups, there's nothing.
"What I can't understand is how a guy that big could be so small downstairs. He can't even get hard. Even the meds don't work.
"If I'd known he was like this, I wouldn't have traded with you. It's your fault. You never told me what he was really like."
Now, she regretted it, but it was too late.
She was never satisfied.
When money and free time were plentiful, Charlotte wanted romance. She wanted a man to lower himself and flatter her, to feed her vanity.
When a man gave her romance and flattery, Charlotte wanted money, too.
There was no perfect solution.
I was grateful she'd freed me, but I didn't pity her.
Charlotte acted for herself, not for me.
That mirror was a curse.
If one day Charlotte wanted to switch back with me, I could not stop her. The only thing I could do was stay far away from her.
My account already had five hundred thousand followers, and it was bringing in a steady income of over three thousand dollars a month.
I could quit my job.
Charlotte's life was a disaster; she harassed me every day. "What's wrong with your husband? He flirts with people all the time. Does he want to cheat?
"You've been married three years and you're still renting. That Ducati is a used bike. It's worthless."
She continued, "Your mom and your brother keep calling to ask me for money. Where am I supposed to get it?
"Transfer me money now or I'll spill your secret."
I changed my number and cut ties with the past completely.
On New Year's Day, James proposed to me.
Besides flowers and a diamond ring, he gave me a gift list.
On it, there was a house, a car, jewelry, cash, and stocks.
He was sincere.
"Baby, will you marry me?" he asked.
I suddenly realized he never called me by my name.
He always called me "baby" or "darling."
That felt odd. It seemed deliberate, like he was avoiding my name.
Once I noticed it, alarm bells went off.
"Who's your baby, then?" I asked.
"Who else but you?" he replied.
Still, he hadn't used my name. I grew more puzzled.
"Is my name hard to say?" I pressed.
James laughed. "It's a little plain, Charlotte."
Compared to his name, mine did sound plain.
I said yes to James's proposal.
He never told me he loved me, nor did he swear any vows.
I knew his love had long gone to someone else and could not be given to me.
Marriage and money were the things he could offer.
I had already seen through romance.
I wanted wealth and status, not true feelings.
He gave me the resources I wanted; I gave him the tenderness he wanted.
We were a perfect match.