Ch. Chapter 1 Time will turn your hair white together Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

 

How much did my husband used to love me? 

 

Seriously, the guy proposed like, ninety–nine 

 

times just to get me to say yes. 

 

It wasn’t until the hundredth time that I finally 

 

cracked. 

 

I became the envy of everyone in Chicago as 

 

Mrs. Frank. 

 

On our wedding day, I gave him ninety–nine 

 

“Get Out of the Doghouse” cards. 

 

We agreed that as long as those cards 

 

weren’t all used up, I’d stick around. 

 

Five years into our marriage, every time he 

 

ran off to be with his precious Emily, he’d use 

 

one up. 

 

When he was down to card number ninety- 

 

seven, Frank suddenly realized I was 

 

changing. 

 

I stopped with the crying, the begging for him. 

 

to stay. 

 

I just quietly asked him, when he was losing it 

 

over his ditzy secretary, “If you go be with 

 

her, can I use a card?” 

 

He blinked, a rare moment of guilt flashing 

 

across his face. 

 

r 

 

“Sure, whatever, you’ve only used like, sixty- 

 

something. Knock yourself out.” 

 

I just nodded, letting him go. 

 

What he didn’t know was that it was actually 

 

his ninety–seventh card. 

 

And we only had two left. 

 

1. 1. 1. 

 

Five years in, and Frank and I still didn’t have 

 

any kids. 

 

Tonight was the celebration for Frank 

 

Industries landing that downtown project. 

 

It was also the ninth day of us trying to get 

 

L 

 

But when Frank’s little airhead secretary 

 

knocked over the champagne tower, 

 

drenching the client, his first move was to 

 

shield her. 

 

Then, without hesitation, he pointed at me. 

 

“Ashley, apologize to Mr. Thompson.” 

 

I froze, totally stunned. 

 

The client frowned, pointing angrily at 

 

Jessica. 

 

“Mr. Frank, this young lady is the one who 

 

made the mistake. I want her to apologize.” 

 

Jessica’s eyes welled up. She tugged at 

 

Frank’s sleeve like she was about to cry. 

 

< 

 

Frank patted her hand gently, then completely 

 

ignored everyone else and looked at me. 

 

“What are you waiting for? Go toast Mr. 

 

Thompson and apologize.” 

 

“One drink isn’t enough, make it two. If two 

 

isn’t enough, make it three. You need to 

 

make sure he isn’t angry.” 

 

He forgot that we were trying for a baby. 

 

Or maybe he just didn’t care. 

 

People started whispering, giving me these 

 

pitying looks. 

 

Everyone knew it wasn’t my fault. 

 

L 

 

Everyone could see that Frank was dead set 

 

on protecting Jessica. 

 

I wanted to say no, but Frank seemed to 

 

anticipate it, mouthing something to me. 

 

[“Doghouse Card.“] 

 

Frank had proposed to me ninety–nine times 

 

to get me to marry him, and I turned him 

 

down ninety–nine times. 

 

I thought he would give up. But on the 

 

hundredth time, Frank brought all my family 

 

and friends and swore in public. 

 

“Ashley, I will only love you in this lifetime. If 

 

you don’t agree I will continue to beg, until 

 

you agree to marry me.” 

 

L 

 

I was touched by his love for me and agreed. 

 

To return the favor, I specially customized 99 

 

reconciliation coupons on the night of our 

 

wedding. 

 

The agreement was that as long as these 

 

reconciliation coupons were not used up, we 

 

would never be separated. 

 

For the first three years, Frank cherished 

 

them and didn’t use a single one. 

 

Until Jessica appeared, in just two years, he 

 

used 96. 

 

Now, it was the 97th. 

 

My fingers tightened around the glass, turning 

 

< 

 

white as I forced a smile and walked over to 

 

the client. 

 

“Mr. Thompson, my apologies.” 

 

The client sighed, telling me to just take a sip. 

 

But I forced a smile and drank the whole 

 

glass of wine. 

 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Frank 

 

affectionately flicking Jessica’s nose, his 

 

voice all soft. 

 

“Silly girl, don’t run so fast next time. What if 

 

you get hurt?” 

 

Jessica grabbed his hand, her eyes sparkling. 

 

“Okay, boss. You’re the best.” 

 

< 

 

Yeah, real good to you. 

 

The wine burned going down, making my eyes 

 

water. 

 

It’s okay. 

 

I told myself. 

 

There’s only two left.