Chapter 3 Marriage Behind Debt

"Anne, try to check on Alice, she hasn't eaten since this morning," Emberly said, just stepping out of the room and approaching Anne, who was cooking in the kitchen.

"Continue cooking, Mom," Emberly added, intending to take over Anne's cooking duties.

Anne didn't actually live with Alice and Emberly in this house. She had her own home with her husband in another city. However, due to her father's recent passing, Anne decided to stay with her family for four days. Tomorrow, she would have to leave because Donny, Anne's husband, had to return to work after his four-day leave.

So, Anne had to reluctantly part from her family again, even though she wished to stay longer. But Anne couldn't, as she always had to follow wherever her husband went if she wanted to be a good and obedient wife.

"Hasn't Alice come out of her room since this morning, Mom?" Anne asked as she finished her task.

Emberly nodded in response to Anne's question. "Yes, Anne. Mommy tried to get Alice to open the door, but there was no response from her," she replied with a saddened expression. Emberly felt a bit guilty about Alice, even though she hadn't forced her to accept David's offer. However, Emberly felt incompetent as a mother to her two children, feeling like she had failed because she couldn't do anything when her family was in trouble.

Anne sighed softly upon hearing what her mother said. "Alright, Mom, I'll try to open the door with the spare key," she replied, handing the frying pan to her mother to take over the cooking activity.

Emberly nodded. "Don't take too long; Mommy is worried that something might be wrong with Alice since there's been no response at all," said the middle-aged woman again.

Anne nodded before leaving the kitchen to head to Alice's room on the first floor. The Oscar family's house had only one floor, a typical modest-sized house in the present day that didn't have more than one floor.

"Where are you going?"

As Anne was about to reach Alice's room, she was intercepted by her husband, who had just come out of their room. "To Alice's room," Anne replied casually. She promptly sidestepped Donny, who was blocking her way.

"Don't block me," Anne said before leaving Donny behind, who sighed heavily.

"Is she PMSing?" Donny asked himself since his wife had just looked at him flatly, not showing any sign of a smile.

"Or is she still thinking about this morning's incident?" Donny pondered deeply. He then heaved a heavy sigh, massaging the bridge of his nose. "I have to try hard to make a lot of money in these two weeks," he murmured with good intentions for his wife's family. Donny wouldn't bear to let Alice accept David's offer, as he regarded Alice as his own younger sister.

Still standing near Alice's room, he remained there, massaging his nose as suddenly a headache hit him. Donny ended up deciding to sit in the living room, where there was a simple sofa.

Shifting back to Anne, who was now attempting to unlock Alice's room after fetching the spare key from a shelf near Alice's room.

Upon trying, Anne immediately sighed in relief as the door opened. She entered Alice's room silently, stepping in without a sound. Anne made sure to close the door behind her.

"Alice," Anne called softly upon seeing her sister lying on the bed, facing the window. Anne thought her sister was deeply asleep, judging by Alice's serene and quiet appearance, breathing rhythmically as someone asleep would.

However, after gently shaking Alice's clothes while looking at her face, Anne realized Alice wasn't asleep at all. Alice was simply silent, staring continuously out of the window without shedding any tears. But her gaze appeared distant before Anne gently nudged Alice's shoulder.

"Hm?" Alice murmured softly, briefly glancing at Anne before returning her attention to the window.

Seeing this, Anne grew worried. "Alice, aren't you hungry? Come on, you haven't eaten since this morning. If you're sick, what will happen? Who will accompany Mommy if something happens to you? Tomorrow, I'll be back at my own house, Alice," Anne said, trying to persuade her sister to come out of the room and fill her stomach. Of course, Alice must be hungry, but she was holding herself back because she wasn't in the mood to leave the room.

Anne felt Alice let out a heavy sigh before slowly sitting up. Alice briefly glanced at Anne. "Yes, I'll eat later by myself. You go out first," she said in a flat tone. Alice wasn't angry with her sister, but her mood since the morning tears hadn't improved yet. Even though she had briefly fallen asleep in the afternoon, Alice still felt like staying in her room without responding to her family calling her from outside the room.

But Alice forgot that her room had a spare key. After hearing Anne's coaxing words, Alice's heart was moved to eat, especially because she was now most concerned about her mother.

After hearing Alice's reply, Anne promptly left her sister's room. "Don't take too long," she said before leaving.