Chapter 12: Exiled for Loving Him

Because I answered Lillian’s call, Derek got angry.

His punishment for me was to send me abroad to expand the business.

He sent me to a branch office in Vancouver—rainy, gray, lonely. For nearly a year, he never came back to see me.

Derek was the golden boy. Even in an arranged marriage, I inevitably fell in love with him.

I clung to hope, counting the days until his texts arrived. But a year of silence made me realize there was an unbridgeable gap between us. There were many reasons—family background, knowledge, vision—but the biggest was Lillian.

I knew he was deliberately distancing himself because of Lillian, but my parents kept leeching off me, using the family business as an excuse, always urging me to ask Derek for money.

Mom would send emails—"Honey, just ask Derek to help your father out with the new loan. It’s just a signature." Every request felt like another brick in the wall between us.

My mother said: "I know you’re Derek’s wife now. If you have a child, you’ll have wealth and glory. But that’s your husband’s family—only if your own family is strong will you have confidence. If you quarrel with him, at least you’ll have somewhere to go."

She spoke as if it was a chess game, not a marriage. I was the pawn.

During that year apart, I sent Derek countless Facebook messages, sharing daily trivialities, caring for him. If he was in a good mood, he’d reply briefly.

One time, he sent a thumbs-up. Another time, just "OK." I kept sending updates anyway, clinging to hope.

But most of the time, there was no response.

The silence grew like a fungus in the corners of my heart. I started to dread the little blue "Seen" checkmark more than anything.

But because of my parents, I had to swallow my pride and call him.

Afraid to disturb him, I calculated the time difference so it was his lunch break, even if it meant midnight for me.

I’d set an alarm, rehearse my words, pray he wouldn’t answer just so I could leave a voicemail instead.

But when I carefully made my request, he just sneered coldly.

The sound was so sharp, I flinched even though I was 2,000 miles away.

Then, in a mocking tone, he said: "Natalie, does that mean you’ll marry anyone who gives you money?"

Hearing that, I felt like I’d been punched in the gut.

I hung up, staring at my reflection in the dark window, wishing I could disappear.