Steven laughed loudly, regaling his buddies with tales of his week-long resort fling with his mistress…
Sarah was confused but didn’t press him. He was exhausted from the party, hungover. Of course he wasn’t in the mood for romance.
She’d take care of him, make him some soup, and soon he’d love her. For now, she’d pamper him. A week after the wedding, Steven decided it was time to “set things straight.”
He was affectionate enough, but their intimacy happened in the dark, with no real passion. Sarah was just grateful for what she got. She already knew she didn’t excite Steven as a woman.
She didn’t want to admit it, but it was obvious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited a week. Still, she had a husband, and married Sarah walked with her head high past neighbors and coworkers.
She found happiness in her new status. No longer second-rate or defective—she was just like everyone else. Maybe kids would come soon, one or two.
Sarah desperately wanted children—a girl and a boy, at least two. She’d love them and be happy…
Steven slept with her occasionally, but there was no fire. He always turned off the lights and closed the curtains, saying it was “more comfortable” that way.
Later, he bluntly told her she should be grateful for even that. Who else would want her? Who’d kiss a woman like her? Sarah endured it, never snapping back.
She half-believed Steven was doing her a favor, marrying her out of pity. She tried to please him in every way, never burdening him with chores. Steven lived like a king—meals served, dishes washed.
He never took out the trash or lifted a finger. Sarah, exhausted, still did her best. Six months later, Steven got laid off.
They needed money, so Sarah took a second job as a janitor in a nearby office. After her accounting shift, she’d clean offices, hallways, and bathrooms.
It worked out. At her main job, no one knew about her side gig. At the cleaning job, she worked after hours, unnoticed.
Steven, meanwhile, “looked for work.” He’d skim the job ads in the paper but never found anything “suitable.” He called a couple of listings but skipped the interviews.
To avoid staying home, he hung out at Mike’s old garage, supposedly sorting through junk. Mike didn’t use it, so Steven considered selling it.
Mike forbade selling, saying they could use it or rent it out. The garage, built by their father, meant too much to him. Steven barely touched the clutter, instead calling Sarah to clean it.
On weekends, she hauled out junk, organized everything, and left it spotless. Steven posted rental ads around the neighborhood and waited. While waiting, he bonded with the guys at nearby garages.
They formed a tight crew, even setting up a hangout spot behind the last garage—a table, benches, and a canopy.
Perfect for drinking beer in the shade, playing cards, or eating snacks. Eventually, Sarah got Steven a job at the company where she cleaned. They hired him as a driver for the company’s CEO.
Steven griped at first—driving a boss around wasn’t “his level.” But he soon saw the perks. Irregular hours meant Sarah stopped asking where he was or when he’d be home. He had his own paycheck to spend on “fun.”
No need to tell Sarah how much he made. Plus, he drove a fancy car. He could run personal errands, and no one knew he was just a driver.
He’d buy flowers for the boss’s orders, and the florists assumed he was some big shot. Driving a sleek car, buying expensive bouquets—what’s not to like?
Steven started chatting up women again, reliving his wild college days. A fling here, a hookup there.
He bragged to the garage guys, who envied his freedom. Life was good. He owed Sarah nothing…
