Chapter 1

In the rented room, on the narrow wooden bed, Lionel was rougher than ever.

He leaned close to my ear, his voice hoarse. "Odette, I'm getting married."

My whole body flinched, and Lionel gripped my face. "Don't move."

He chuckled softly. "You want the truth? Her bride price is lower than yours, she's cleaner than you, and she's a college student who just graduated."

I stared at him and said nothing, and Lionel sighed.

"Fine. The truth is, I don't love you anymore."

I pushed him off me, not too hard, not too soft. "Do you really think this is the right time to say something like that?"

Interrupted, Lionel was displeased, and the mood was gone.

He rolled off the bed, turned, and went into the bathroom.

I felt around for my clothes and pulled them on carelessly. The phone on the bed lit up.

Honey, which should I wear to sign for the marriage license? A JK uniform or white stockings?

I was staring at it, lost, and before I knew it Lionel was behind me, dripping wet and wreathed in steam, pressing damp against my ear.

"Reply for me. Tell her to wear white stockings."

After he said it, Lionel kissed the side of my face.

"I may hate you, but your body—I really like it. I was planning to keep you another two years, actually, but she asked for so little."

I straightened my slip dress, and when I got off the bed my legs were weak and shaky.

"How much bride price are you giving her?"

Lionel lit a cigarette. "Ten thousand. I've saved it up."

He'd saved it up.

I took a deep breath and yanked open the only small window in the room.

We'd been together six years. I'd asked him for ten thousand dollars in bride price, and to marry me we lived in a cramped basement.

Damp, with windows that were only half-height.

Last month he'd still been saying he'd almost saved up the ten thousand, that he could marry me soon.

"How long have the two of you known each other?"

I turned around, and Lionel looked down at his watch, counting down. "Five, four, three, two, one." He smiled and looked up. "Perfect. One day."

I gave a cold smile, said nothing, and took the lipstick out of my bag.

Lionel leaned against the edge of the bed, and the plank creaked.

"Isn't it strange? Why give the bride price money I saved to someone else?"

Our eyes met in the mirror, and he went on. "For the same price, would you rather buy something that's been used for six years, or something brand new?"

"A game console—even if the graphics card isn't worn out after six years, it's still dirty. Dirty and old. Why would anyone pay for that?"

Lionel raised an eyebrow. "You tell me why."

I finished my lipstick, turned around, and asked flatly, "I told you. I only wanted you to work hard. My family's giving three cars and a house as my dowry. I don't really care about your money."

Lionel laughed. "Do you even believe your own words? You don't care about money? Great. Then zero bride price, and I'll marry you."

Lionel took ten bundles of cash out of the nightstand and tossed them one by one at the foot of the bed. "Or you go cheaper—thirty, fifty thousand, and I'll marry you."

As he spoke, cigarette in his mouth, he looked me up and down. "While I'm still interested in you, we can still negotiate."

I opened my mouth, but couldn't get out a single word.

I just felt something lodged in my chest, unable to rise, unable to sink.

Utterly disappointed, I took a deep breath and grabbed a handful of my hair. "It's over."

Lionel laughed out loud. "So high and mighty a second ago, but the moment I ask you to lower your price, you won't do it. Odette, you're not a little girl anymore. What makes you worth that much? You're just greedy for money, aren't you? My buddy Joseph Gilbert is loaded. Why don't you go ask him?"

"Fine."

I picked up my bag and headed out. I'd just pulled the door open when something hit me in the back.

"You bought these, and only one's been used. Take them with you. My wife just graduated. I won't use a secondhand one with her."

I picked up the empty box and threw it in the trash.

Then I turned and called Joseph Gilbert. "When you have time, let's meet up."