Chapter 2 Asking for Help

I twisted my fingers in shame and explained my purpose for coming.

His gaze darkened slightly, and he smiled as he asked, "Tell me, why would I help you?"

Realizing my request would be in vain, I laughed bitterly. "Then... just pretend I was never here."

Of course. After how we treated him back then, it was already merciful of him not to take revenge. How could he possibly help my family?

How thick-skinned was I to even come here to ask for help?

The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt.

I turned to leave, but he stopped me. "Tell me, what do you have to offer in exchange? If I find it valuable enough, I might consider helping."

I froze. I racked my brain but couldn't think of anything.

My body?

Heh, if he really had any desire for me, he had countless opportunities during our three years of marriage.

Yet, in those three years, he never touched me even once.

Lowering my head in shame, I whispered, "Just forget I was here."

But suddenly, he walked toward me.

He was tall, a full head taller than me.

Leaning down slightly, he chuckled near my ear, "Dressed like this, and yet you act all reserved?"

My blood instantly ran cold. Shame flooded over me, and I wanted nothing more than to flee.

But then, he hooked an arm around my waist and smirked. "I slept on the floor for three years. It's been a long time since I've tasted you. Why not... use yourself to beg me?"

I widened my eyes, thinking I must have misheard. "What... what did you just say?"

His deep gaze locked onto mine, his eyes as unfathomable as the sea, making me inexplicably nervous.

Without a word, he lowered his gaze, his slender fingers lightly tugging at the strap of my slip dress.

My face instantly flushed red. I shoved him away in a panic.

Furious, I said, "Fine! If you won't help, so be it! I didn't expect anything from you anyway. But even if you refuse, you don't have to humiliate me like this."

Julian looked at me with an unreadable expression-half-smiling, half-cold.

He asked, "You think I'm humiliating you?"

"Aren't you?"

He was clearly in love with someone else. If he did this to me, wasn't it humiliation?

Julian suddenly turned and sat back in his office chair. When he looked up at me again, his eyes held a chilling indifference.

He chuckled. "Your outfit shows sincerity, but your attitude lacks it. Since that's the case, you can leave."

I had already expected this outcome. Without another word, I turned and left.

-

As soon as I walked out of his company's doors, my parents rushed over.

My father anxiously asked, "Well? Is he willing to help us?"

I shook my head.

Immediately, my father cursed, "That ungrateful bastard! Now that he's rich, he refuses to acknowledge us. If I had known, I would never have let you marry him! This is infuriating!"

My mother also fumed, "Exactly! He always acted meek and obedient, but he turned out to be a heartless ingrate!"

I sighed helplessly. "Let's not talk about him like that. He never used our family's connections or money. How does that make him ungrateful?"

"Honestly, it makes sense that he won't help us. After all, we treated him so terribly before."

My parents pursed their lips, silent but clearly distressed.

Watching them like this made my head throb.

-

That night, my brother called every one of his so-called "brothers" from the past, hoping someone would lend him a hand.

Back when he invited them out for drinks, they would show up in minutes. But now? Not a single one dared to pick up his calls.

Enraged, my brother smashed his phone, cursing them for their lack of loyalty.

Curled up in bed, I tried to comfort him. "Forget it, bro. This is how the world works. People are fickle."

In the corner, my mother sobbed.

At this point, making a comeback was impossible. The most pressing issue now was the debt.

Every day, debt collectors came knocking, making it impossible for us to live in peace.

Once again, my father turned to me. "Ann, why don't you go ask Julian again? He has money now. Borrowing a little from him shouldn't be a problem."

My mother chimed in, "Exactly! Even though you're divorced, you should still be entitled to some of his assets, right?"

I curled up tighter in my blanket, unable to bring myself to tell them the truth-that Julian had left me with nothing.

Otherwise, they'd curse him even more.

My brother scowled. "Enough! Stop forcing her! After the way we treated him, how can you expect him to help? That's just sending her to be humiliated again!"

My mother suddenly looked at me. "Wait... Julian didn't humiliate you today, did he?"

Panicked, I quickly shook my head. "No, no, he didn't."

She muttered to herself, "That makes sense. Julian has always been mild-tempered and obedient. Even if we're down and out now, he genuinely admired and liked you. He wouldn't actually humiliate you."

I forced a weak smile but said nothing.

My father sighed and looked toward the open balcony, once again mumbling about not wanting to live anymore.

At his words, my mother began wailing again.

Hearing them like this made my headache even worse.

-

The biggest issue now was gathering money to pay off some of the debt.

A few days later, as soon as I recovered, I went out looking for a job.

Regular jobs had low salaries and slow earnings. But I knew that high-end clubs paid well for drink salespeople.

Back when I used to party with my friends, we'd tip those drink promoters generously when we were in a good mood.

So, I went to one of the clubs I used to frequent.

The manager recognized me. Remembering our past connection, he quickly hired me and even assigned me to serve VIP clients.

Delivering drinks to wealthy customers meant receiving plenty of tips.

But I never expected to run into Julian in one of those private rooms.

This man had never set foot in such places before-or at least, not in the three years we were married.

Back then, he strongly disapproved of me coming to places like this. Every time I went clubbing, he tried to stop me, telling me these places were improper.

Of course, I always berated him, humiliated him, and sent him away.

Thinking about the past, he really did seem like the perfect, obedient husband.

But now, sitting at the center of the room, legs crossed, a cigarette between his fingers, and a smirk on his lips, he exuded an air of dangerous charm.

So, all that meekness from before-it was just an act.

He sat there, watching me silently, his gaze arrogant and imposing, making me feel utterly humiliated.

If I had known he was in this private room, I wouldn't have come.

As I awkwardly pushed the drink cart, planning to slip away unnoticed, a playful whistle rang out.

Instinctively, I looked up and saw that everyone sitting beside Julian was part of my brother's old crew-people who once followed me around.

So, they were all sucking up to Julian now.

They knew how I used to treat him. Now, to win his favor, they wouldn't miss the chance to humiliate me.

At this moment, my best option was to leave.

But just as I turned to escape, a voice from the room spoke up.