drove Carsten off to the shopping mal

ine initially planned to buy him designer threads

ten to the bustling night market,

awked their wares, from sizzling noodles to succulent f

sphere for Carsten, whose routine dicta

of red wine, a delve into the intricacies of finance

usly out of place, making him rue the agreement to marry

iar terrain as he contemplated his father's

ials and chose two sets of spor

od bargain by

"This stall is the last refuge for cloth

inful look, asked, "You

frained from admonishing his p

to make a fool o

all, deeply inve

conomy is challenging, but given your current financial

icky, and acknowledging her gesture,

tled the bill, telling the vendor, "Madam, t

rties, gazed intently at Carsten a

n your husband? He's

of night market peddling, had never b

e actors adorned in

in front of her

njoyed looking at him, he felt uneasy when t

clothes and seized Nadine

sion to prying eyes,

d walked away did

elt a man's touch w

and the intrusion into her per

hand, conveying a hint of anger. "I don't appreciate

rejection, questioned himself sil

o welcome his closene

y tone, he said,

ave work tomorrow

everal alleys to a modes

hen at her, Carsten couldn't hide hi

n, like his earlier aversion

nt, the reality of his financial downtur

had seized both his vehicle an

e had no right

o reproach him, Nadine mainta

wned endowed with lush surroundings, vigilant sec

e more th

e of servants, from drivers, private nutriti

tensible bankruptcy, he op

s may not be optimal, at least you have shelter. I doubt you'd choose this if alternatives were available

hospitality," Carsten said,

s father and committed t

dom, he had

ment was too s

, and a living room, the entire space was dwarfed

n, he masked his di

m, he gallantly offe

m, and Carsten endured the

ine stirred, her thoughts

e one hundred thousa

her with a deposit, but lending it all

money to decorate her

. She'd always hoped to provide herself with a nice ap

ive him the money int

eally know Carsten. Wa

uggle made her w

ready up, preparing a sim

commotion, joined her at t

a small amount of vegetables and the other w

heir physical exertion, Nadine ga

ut adhering to yesterday's conversation, refrained from any

retorted, savoring her noo

observ

s while eating

some less-than-ele

rance in front of him

't have to make a

nting themselves to him ex

ed to Nadine's di

rled his fork, lifting noodles and ignoring the less-than-m

e, Nadine posed a direct question. "Mr.

Carsten was

e one hundred thous

ed a lie. "My company faced closure, and I mus

d, "Provide your account details.

rsten put down his fork and looked at her. "Financially

d throughout the night, h

but her decision to marry Carsten

r yearning for companionship, a shared

human, a

or her to support and go with him

ttle child. They saw her as a burden an

left her when she was

endured the cruelest abandonments imag

f Carsten coul

their dismissal. Find a new job, and start afresh

oiced his concern, "Are

what?" She

n away with

re else could you possibly go?"