“You’re so stupid, you know that.”
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I felt the defiance rise to the surface before I even had the chance to acknowledge it.
“I accepted,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my chest felt tight. “You know how hard I worked for this. I just have some of their documents to read via email, and then I’ll sign.”
Norman’s face flushed red. He slammed his fist on the table, rattling the plates.
“Don’t you understand a woman’s main job is to stay home and serve her husband? I allowed you to work, but don’t push it!”
Allowed. The word burned into my skin.
He slammed his fist on the table.
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Norman stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly across the floor.
“Choose. Either me or your stupid job.”
I didn’t answer. I just glared at him, stunned.
We didn’t speak for hours. I sat on the couch, staring at the wall, replaying every conversation we’d ever had about money. Norman made about $40,000 a year working for his parents’ logistics company. He called it loyalty.
I’d started to see it as insulation.
We didn’t speak for hours.
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His parents would never fire or push him.
He’d never had to prove himself the way I had.
It was hard for Norman to accept that I consistently earned more than he did.
Later that night, his anger vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The lights were dimmed. He’d cooked pasta, opened a bottle of wine, and placed a bouquet on the dining table.
When he invited me to the table, I thought he wanted to apologize for his behavior.
He’d never had to prove himself the way I had.
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“So… have you changed your mind about the job?” he suddenly asked.
“No,” I replied.
Norman didn’t say anything. He just gave me that strange little smile of his.
I should have realized it was a warning.
But I was exhausted in every possible way.
After dinner, my body gave out before my mind did. I fell asleep on the bed, still wearing my clothes.
Norman stayed up later, scrolling on his phone, or at least that’s what he said afterward.
It was a warning.
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***
The next morning, I woke with nervous excitement buzzing through me. I needed to review the final details of the offer with the clinic. I grabbed my phone and opened our email message thread. I almost collapsed!
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