Chapter 3The Fake Broke Challenge Committee

Sam started to sound concerned, "Are you feeling tired, Honey? Or did I do something to upset you?"

I was feeling a little tired, but I replied calmly, "It's our third wedding anniversary today."

Sam was apologetic. "I'm sorry, Honey. It's my fault for getting so busy that I forgot about such an important day, but I called you because I remembered it earlier, and I wanted to tell you that I've prepared a gift for you."

I sneered quietly at his words.

Wedding anniversary? It was not today. He was even talking about a gift.

The last time he brought a gift back for me, it was a bunch of wilted vegetables that he bought on the cheap because the stall owner was about to close the stall.

I replied, "All right."

After that, I put my phone down on the table and started to think about what to prepare for our divorce. I had all my personal documents, and we did not have a house or car. Put together, our savings only amounted to a four-digit number.

There was nothing to divide between us.

The only thing I could not let go was the last three years I wasted on him.

I worked several jobs every day for the past three years. I would wake up at 6 am to take the breakfast shift at a diner, and go to my office at 9 am. At night, I would take up small jobs until midnight. All the money I earned was spent on whatever Sam needed money for.

Sam needed money when his company went bankrupt, when his friend needed money for an emergency, when he was scammed by a phone call and ended up in debt, and when he had his accident.

There was not one time in all those occasions that I had ever doubted him.

When Sam came home that night, he was holding two bags. He was taken aback to see me at home. "Why are you home so early tonight, Honey?"

"Am I early?" I asked.

"Of course, it is. It's only 4 pm. It's considered early for you if you come back at 8 pm."

"Why are you home so early?"

Sam paused in his tracks. "Isn't it our third wedding anniversary today? I wanted to come home early to surprise you. By the way, there's a special on eggs at the supermarket today, and I managed to get two dozen."

He put the eggs down and gave me a silly smile.

I used to love that smile of his. It made me feel what a positive person he was because no matter how bad his situation was, he would never complain, nor would he display any negative energy.

When I remained silent, he started to worry. "Honey, are you not feeling well today?" He came over to kiss my forehead. "I'll make dinner. You should rest."

He kissed my forehead again and rolled up his sleeves before entering the kitchen.

While we were having dinner, Sam suddenly took a picture of it. "My friends are asking me what we're having for dinner. I'm too lazy to describe dinner, so I'm taking a picture for them instead."

I grunted a reply. It was true that someone in the chat group was asking him about our dinner.

[What delicious meal has your dumb wife made for you today?]

Sam shared the picture he took. Our dinner was just soup and omelettes.

[That's it? Isn't today your third wedding anniversary?]

[You're a force to reckon with, Sam. When I was faking being broke, I still gave enough money to my wife to make me ribs. We would even eat at a restaurant once in a while.]

[What do you know? The devil's in the details, and Sam knows it. Having simple dishes at home only makes the situation more believable.]

[By the way, what are you planning to tell Edie? You have to be careful not to expose this challenge during her birthday.]

Sam replied, [Don't worry. I've booked the flight tickets.]

[What about your wife?]

[I'll tell her it's a business trip.]

Sam put his phone down and looked at me. "Honey, I need to talk to you about something."

Here it was.

I nodded. "What is it?"

"An opportunity came up at my company, and they're sending me off on a business trip to San Ava. It will take about three months," he sounded apologetic. "I didn't really want to go, but you know how it is at home…"

"You should go for it."