Spoiled Wife No More: Paying Off His Ruin

My husband, Theo Hudson, is known for being very frugal. After marrying him, my only hobby is to keep buying branded bags, just to get back at Theo for being extremely stingy with his money. When our son, Oliver Hudson, is seven years old, he has successfully inherited the tendency to be overly frugal from Theo. Both father and son look very out of place in the sprawling manor. I, on the other hand, love wearing anything from the haute couture selection of the season while admiring the heartbroken expressions on Theo's and Oliver's faces when they see the bill. But one day, live comments begin streaking across my eyes. "Wait, this wasteful woman is still splurging on bags? Does she have no idea that her husband's company is about to file for bankruptcy?" "The poor male lead has already worn his T-shirt so many times to the point it's starting to fray just to sustain that vampiric wife of his! Thank goodness the female lead, who's brilliant with finances, is about to enter his life!" "I shall wait for Theo to bring up divorce and kick that useless hag who does nothing but spend his money out of his life! Let's see how she's going to fight for scraps with the strays beneath the bridge in the future!" I'm so shocked that I hurl the limited Hermes bag I was clutching in a random direction. Unfortunately, Theo, who's crouching on the floor while opening the packages for me, and Oliver, who's flattening the boxes by stomping on them, get hit by the bag. Scared out of my wits, I quickly snatch the cardboard from Oliver's hands and hug it tightly. "I… I'm not buying these bags anymore! Let's get a refund! But keep the cardboard boxes and don't sell them! I… I want to use them as makeshift mattresses for when we're about to sleep under the bridge in the future…" Chapter 1 "Mommy, are you sick?" My son, Oliver Hudson, reached out his chubby little hand, trying to feel my forehead. I took his small hand in mine and nearly burst into tears. A year ago, his little hands had been all pudgy and soft. But now the baby fat was gone, and they felt solid. Clearly, he had built that up by following his father's frugal, hard-working lifestyle. I had let them both down. Back then, I used to grumble about how cheap they were. I couldn't even get ice cream without them price-checking three different stores before saying yes. Looking back now, he had already been preparing for the family's bankruptcy all along. "Ollie, I'm not sick." I sniffled a little. "I just grew up, that's all." At that, my husband Theo Hudson and Oliver looked at each other, then silently returned to stacking the cardboard. "Wow, the drama queen suddenly has a change of heart? She's definitely faking it, trying to trick Theo into buying her something even more expensive." "Exactly. Old habits die hard. A pampered rich girl like her wouldn't know the first thing about hardship." "Poor Theo. Even on the brink of bankruptcy, that woman's still trying to squeeze him dry." That was nonsense. I wasn't going to deny it. I, Riley Stone, could be spoiled and delicate, but I wasn't heartless! If Theo could carry the weight of this family on his shoulders, then I could tighten my belt and suffer alongside him too. I couldn't sleep that night. I lay sprawled across the enormous bed, but my mind was anywhere but still. Theo was asleep next to me, breathing evenly. But even in sleep, his brows remained tightly furrowed, as if he were still worrying about the company's debts in his dreams. The floating comments occasionally drifted by. "Theo definitely didn't eat enough tonight. Those two slices of bacon at dinner all went into this woman's stomach." "The creditors' meeting is tomorrow. He's probably so stressed he can't even sleep properly." I was innocent. I had specifically put those pieces of bacon into his bowl! He was the one who insisted he didn't like meat and secretly put them back into mine! It was only then that I realized he had been saving his share for me. I turned sideways and gently smoothed the crease between his brows under the faint moonlight. "Theo, I'm sorry," I whispered softly as tears soaked into my pillow. "I won't buy any more designer bags. I won't even take your bacon. We'll suffer through this together and pay off the debt. Don't leave me, and don't go looking for Evelyn Clark." Theo rolled over in his sleep, draping his arm around my waist instinctively. "Don't be silly..." he murmured, still half-asleep. "We've got money... I'll get it for you..." I burst into tears instantly. Even with everything collapsing around him, he was still dreaming of buying me things. I was going to save this idiot of a man. Chapter 2 I woke up unusually early the next morning. When I walked into the closet, I stopped short. Rows of haute couture dresses. Shelves overflowing with luxury bags. Every single one a gift from Theo—for holidays, for anniversaries, for no reason at all. Even the fake anniversaries I invented on a whim? He celebrated those too. I used to complain that he was stingy, but the truth was, he was only harsh on himself. When it came to me and our son, he had never once held back. And now, these gifts had become the only capital our family had left to turn things around. I made up my mind—I was going to sell every last one of them. I spent the whole day posting everything on resale sites. I needed cash fast, so I priced everything absurdly low. High-end limited editions that once commanded reverence from behind glass cases were now being grabbed up like cabbages at a market's closing hour. As the numbers in my bank account climbed with each sale, I felt the smallest knot in my chest begin to loosen. It was nowhere near enough to cover the "mountain of debt" everyone in the comments kept harping on. But at the very least, Theo could eat fewer frozen pizzas and add an extra handful of pepperoni once in a while. By the time my back ached from packing orders, Oliver had returned home from school. The second he walked through the door, he nearly tripped over the mountain of delivery boxes scattered across the floor. When he saw me stuffing the limited-edition bags I used to treasure into cardboard boxes, he immediately ran over. "Mommy, you don't want them anymore?" he asked with a small pout, looking absolutely heartbroken. "These bags are still really new. Are you throwing them away to buy newer ones again?" As he spoke, he carefully stroked my Chanel bag with tiny hands. The expression on his face looked exactly the same as when I used to throw away Theo's worn-out sweatpants after the waistband got loose. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Why's this diva suddenly having a clearance sale?" "Isn't it obvious? She found out Theo's company is going under, so she's planning to bail with whatever cash she can grab." "This kid should be growing up like a little prince of a powerful family, but that woman has raised him into a cheapskate." "Don't worry. Once Evelyn shows up, Theo and Ollie will finally get the happy life they're meant to have." Those damn comments stank worse than farts. As I saw the worry in Oliver's clear eyes, I crouched down and gently ruffled his hair. "I'm not throwing them away, and I'm not buying new ones," I explained. "I'm selling them so we can put the money in our little piggy bank. Daddy's been working so hard lately, and I want to save up enough to buy yummy food for you and Daddy later. Is that okay?" Oliver's eyes lit up the moment he heard I was saving money for Theo. Just then, the house phone rang. I leaned over to check the caller ID. The name Evelyn Clark appeared on the screen. The floating comments instantly exploded, flooding my vision so densely I could barely see. "She's here! Evelyn has entered the story!" "Evelyn was Theo's classmate in college. She's smart, capable, and incredibly good with money." "She's definitely here to help Theo restructure his assets. He's finally preparing to dump this spendthrift wife." "That idiot Riley is finally getting what she deserves! This is so satisfying!" My head spun violently, as if someone had taken a club to it. Evelyn? Was she the woman everyone said would help Theo get back on his feet and who actually knew how to save money? My hand trembled as I pressed the answer button. "Hello, Mr. Hudson." A calm, professional female voice came through the line. "I've already completed the asset restructuring plan you mentioned previously..." Asset restructuring? Wasn't that just a polished way of saying bankruptcy liquidation? Chapter 3 Tears flooded my eyes before I could stop them. "Please, don't restructure the assets! I'm begging you, don't do it!" I cried into the phone. "I have money! I sold all my bags, and I still have jewelry! Don't let Theo go bankrupt! Don't let them arrest him!" For ten agonizing seconds, the other end of the line gave back nothing but silence. It was so quiet that only my ragged breathing could be heard. "Mrs. Hudson?" Evelyn's voice was a little hesitant, like she wasn't sure what to say. "Are you alright?" I was crying too hard to care about dignity anymore. "Ms. Clark, I know you're a good person. Please help Theo. As long as you can save him, I'm willing to step aside! I'll give him to you!" As long as Theo could live well, it didn't matter if I stopped being Mrs. Hudson. After all, all I knew how to do now was spend money. I was basically useless. Evelyn, on the other hand, sounded smart and capable. She probably knew how to make money and save money too. On the other end of the line, Evelyn fell completely silent once more. After a long while, Evelyn cautiously said, "Mrs. Hudson, did you misunderstand something? Mr. Hudson..." Suddenly, the line went dead. I stood there motionless like a statue. It wasn't until Oliver tugged lightly on the hem of my clothes that I finally snapped back to reality. That afternoon, the delivery guy came, hauling away all my beloved treasures. The entire walk-in closet and display cabinets became empty and hollow, as if the place had been looted clean. Ever since I took that call, I had been plunged into extreme panic. Theo walked in to find me sitting on the couch, completely lost in a daze. My eyes were all red and puffy like I had been crying for days. When he saw the delivery boxes covering the floor and the bare display cases, he frowned slightly. "What's going on? Did we get robbed?" I threw myself into his arms and looked up at him with teary eyes. "Darling, you've worked so hard." Theo blinked, clearly confused. "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so emotional? Did you watch another one of those sad videos online?" The company was already at the point where calls were coming directly to the house, yet he still acted like nothing was wrong and joked with me so casually. This man was going to make me cry myself to death. "Oh, please, she's obviously playing the victim. That woman is just trying to let Theo's guard down before she bleeds him dry one last time." "You have to admit, playing the temptress is a gift. The tears that woman shed just now? I wouldn't even know where to begin." "What's so great about being some spoiled housewife anyway? A career woman like Evelyn is way more likable." "That's such a weird take. Since when is being liked the whole point of life?" "Right? Why should a woman's worth depend on whether people love her or not?" "Come on, this is a romance story. If we're not here for love, what are we here for?" It turned out that not all the commenters were mindless. Some of them had brains after all. "Darling, why do you keep staring into empty space?" Theo suddenly asked. "Oh, it's nothing," I said, letting out an awkward laugh. A thought struck me, and I quickly fished a bank card out of my pocket. "Darling, I sold all my bags today, and I emptied my savings from the past few years too. It's all on this card. Here, take it." Without giving him a chance to refuse, I shoved the card into his hand and gave him my most determined look. "I don't know anything about running a company, but if you're going through something hard, I'm going through it with you." When I finished, I looked up at him expectantly. I was being this understanding and supportive. There was no way he wouldn't be moved to death, right? However, his expression just kind of froze. Then he just stared at me, like he couldn't believe it. "Did you already know?" I nodded hard. "I know everything. Evelyn already told me. Darling, it's okay. Worst case, we'll just start over from scratch. I won't buy bags anymore. I'll get a job. I'll wash dishes if I have to. I'll support you!" Theo lowered his head, looking strangely dejected. He mumbled under his breath, "I hid it for so long. How did she tell you already? Now the surprise is completely ruined..." I didn't catch the rest clearly, but seeing the sadness on his face broke my heart as well. Just as I was about to comfort him, he suddenly lifted his head and let out a helpless sigh. "Well, I guess this counts as giving you a little heads-up. That way you won't get all emotional and pass out from excitement later." Excitement? Wasn't he just completely out of options at this point? "Okay, but you're seriously overreacting," Theo said, rubbing his forehead helplessly. "I'm a little short on cash lately, but it's nowhere near bad enough for you to sell your bags to make money." He stuffed the card right back into my hand. "Keep this card and spend it yourself. The black card I gave you already has no spending limit. Spend as much as you like. Even now, he was still trying to act tough. Fine. I would just play along with him for the next couple of days. As long as he didn't do anything reckless, that was all that mattered. Chapter 4 That night, I lay awake in bed again, unable to fall asleep. The more I thought about that heroine, Evelyn, the one those floating comments kept bringing up, the more my curiosity grew. The next morning, Theo headed out for work as usual. I followed behind him. Theo didn't take the car today. He rented a shared bike instead. When I saw him trying to fit those long legs of his onto that little bike, my heart just broke. Was he really trying to save money down to the gas bill now? I put on a pair of sunglasses and a mask, disguising myself like a spy from a bad movie. Then I rented a shared bike and trailed him from a careful distance. By the time I got off that bike, my thighs were absolutely killing me. I was someone who struggled to open a bottle cap, yet there I was, riding like I was competing in the Tour de Montclaire. Eventually, Theo stopped in front of a cheap-looking little diner. Not long after, a woman in business attire walked over. Her long hair fell neatly past her shoulders, and she carried herself with a quiet, capable air. In her hand was a tidy stack of documents. It was Evelyn. "A date at a cheap diner? Evelyn really knows how to live frugally!" "You two are just meant to be! Promise me you'll stay happy for a lifetime, okay?" "This feels a little unfair to Riley, though. She's not even divorced from Theo yet." "That gold digger will abandon her family soon. Stop guilt-tripping Theo and Evelyn." "Why does it always come down to women fighting over a man? No one ever talks about how the real source of the problem is the man himself." I hid behind a utility pole and watched them sit down across from each other. Theo ordered a burger. Evelyn got a salad. They ate while studying the papers, both wearing serious expressions. I couldn't hear what they were saying. I just saw Evelyn pointing at the documents every so often, and Theo would nod. But his eyebrows were still all scrunched up. Then suddenly, Evelyn smiled. It was the kind of smile that radiated confidence, like everything was under her control. And for the first time that entire morning, Theo's expression finally eased. The way he looked at her carried a trace of admiration now. The comments were right. They really did look good together. A sour ache crept into my nose, and my chest tightened painfully. Part of me wanted to run over there and demand an explanation from Theo. Had he betrayed me? Did he also think I was useless, or even a burden dragging him down? However, I didn't want to embarrass myself like that, and I definitely didn't want to drag another innocent woman into the mess of my marriage. I turned to leave, only to accidentally knock over the trash can beside me. The loud crash instantly drew both their attention. The moment our eyes met, the fork slipped from Theo's hand and clattered onto the floor. "Darling?" The embarrassment of being caught on the spot made me want to crawl into a hole and disappear. I forced myself to stand up straight and plastered a calm smile on my face. "What a coincidence, Theo. Are you here discussing work?" The moment Evelyn saw me, her expression turned oddly complicated. Almost instinctively, she hid the documents behind her back, like she was afraid I might see them. "What's she hiding? It's definitely the divorce papers! "It's probably an asset transfer, so the wife gets nothing." "Riley should just give up. He won't even show her the papers." Theo rose to his feet and strode toward me. He was still wearing that cheap nine-dollar T-shirt, yet somehow, the pressure coming off him at that moment was overwhelming. "What are you doing here?" Chapter 5 Theo swept his gaze over the shared bicycle I'd carelessly left unlocked nearby and frowned deeply. "I… I'm out here experiencing life!" I blurted out, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Is digging through trash your idea of experiencing life?" Theo asked, pointing at the overturned garbage bin by my feet. A few empty water bottles had even rolled out onto the ground. An idea suddenly flashed through my mind. Since things had already gotten this embarrassing, I might as well commit to the act completely. There was no way I was admitting that I'd followed him because I felt insecure. My pride mattered more than anything. "That's right! I'm here to collect bottles! What's wrong with collecting bottles? I'm not stealing or robbing anyone—I'm doing this for our family!" The more I spoke, the more sorry I felt for myself. Tears streamed down my face. "If you're embarrassed by me, Theo, just say it. Once I've cleared all your debts, I won't owe you a thing. Then we can end this and walk away clean." The surrounding customers had all stopped eating by now, staring at us in shock as if they were watching some over-the-top rich family drama unfold in real life. Theo looked even more stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you talking about? What debts?" Even now, he was still hiding it from me. Anger flared in my chest. "Theo, we've been married all these years. Can't you just be straight with me? Or do you really see me as the type who'll only stand by you when life's easy, not when it falls apart?" "Of course you're not!" Theo said, looking at me helplessly. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?" "Then why didn't you tell me you went bankrupt?" "Who went bankrupt?" "You did!" "Me?" "Yes!" My face flushed red with anger, and my voice rose uncontrollably. He was such a stubborn fool. So what if he'd gone bankrupt? It wasn't the end of the world. Why did he have to shoulder everything alone? Was he trying to drive himself insane? "The other day, Ms. Clark called! She said your company was restructuring and that you barely had any money left! Besides, you've been even more frugal than usual lately! You came here today to sort out assets, didn't you? Those documents in Ms. Clark's hand are the proof!" After unleashing everything in one breath, I panted heavily, trying to calm myself down. Only then did I realize how quiet it had gotten. Every pair of eyes in the diner was fixed on me. Theo's most of all. His mouth hung slightly open, as if he were completely speechless. The confusion in his eyes was so obvious it practically overflowed. Wait. Why did he look even more confused than I was? Just then, Evelyn walked up from behind him and cautiously held the documents out toward me. "Mrs. Hudson, I think you misunderstood. These are the ownership transfer papers for a private island Mr. Hudson purchased as your birthday gift."