Ruthless Redemption

y was another day she had to face the spa, another day of waiting for customers

ust a loaf of stale bread and a jar of jam scraped nearly clean. Emelia took a deep bre

with a smear of jam on each plate. When Marcus walked in, his fa

tone laced with frustration.

n at her plate. Then something inside her snapped. It had been building for days, weeks - the fear

in you're going through? Do you think it's easy for me to watch you like this, every day, sinking deeper and de

e let out all the frustration she'd been swallowing. Marcus stared at her, his eye

He stepped forward, his shoulders slumping as he reached for her. "Emelia," he said, his v

pulling her close. He kissed her temple, his lips ling

o," she murmured, her voice thick with tears. "We're in

d away her tears with the pads of his thumbs. "Thank you," he s

re my husband," she said simp

us pulled away, taking a deep breath. "I have another interview tod

for him. "You'll do great," she said,

ping out into the street. Emelia watched him go, the ache in her chest expanding. She knew he

meager breakfast now a haunting reminder of how far they'd fallen. She

- 'Now Hiring.' For a moment, she paused, her eyes scanning the details. But then she shook her head,

, but the door remained stubbornly closed. As the day stretched on, her anxiety grew. What if M

me surprise. It wasn't much, but it was something. When the session ended, Emelia cleaned up the spa,

ed Marcus across the street. His shoulders were slumped, his

hen she reached him, Marcus didn't say a word. He jus

waist as she rested her head against his chest. "Don't say

tightly. They stood there for a long moment, wrapped up i

little while. They wandered through the park, the night air cool against their skin. Emelia tried to ke

words 'Now Hiring' flashed in her mind like a beacon. It was a slim chance

ecided to keep it to herself for now. He'd been through enough for one day