Chapter 910: Falling into the Abyss
The couple slept until five in the afternoon. Jason, holding his wife's soft body, was sleeping soundly when he heard someone calling him from outside. He got up to see who it was and found Terrence and Jack inviting him to play cards. They said they had gathered a few more friends, making it a lively game.
When Jason first arrived in Starhaven, he couldn't find a job for a while and spent his days playing cards with Terrence and others in the neighborhood. After finding his job as a driver, he hadn't played much. Hearing about the card game, he couldn't resist the urge and told Audrey before heading to a nearby card room with Terrence and Jack.
Audrey didn't mind. She got up and tidied up, thinking that she had been in Starhaven for over half a month. Since she had already discussed things with her husband, it seemed she should return home. She initially wanted to spend more time with her husband, but Jason was often away on business trips for three or four days at a time. Despite being here for so long, they hadn't spent much time together, wasting the days away.
Moreover, encountering that rich playboy Derek today made Audrey feel uneasy. Since he had set his sights on her, he wouldn't let go easily. She didn't know what tricks he might pull next, so it was safer for her to return home.
It was hot in the summer, and she had no appetite. She went to a snack shop at the entrance and bought some noodles. On her way back, she ran into George. Remembering their awkward encounter last time, both felt a bit uneasy.
Audrey asked George how his exam preparations were going. George shyly said he had studied enough but wasn't sure if he could pass.
"George, I believe in you. As long as you work hard, you'll get good results," Audrey said with a sigh. "Knowledge changes destiny. You don't want to stay here working menial jobs forever, do you? With a diploma, you can find a better job."
"Thank you, Mrs. Johnson," George said gratefully. "I'll do my best. By the way, where's my brother?"
"Oh, Terrence called him to play cards," Audrey said with a smile. "Don't you play cards?"
"I don't like playing cards, and I don't have money to play," George said hesitantly. "By the way, Mrs. Johnson, be careful when you shower. I think I saw someone peeping through the bathroom window last time, but it was dark, and I couldn't see who it was."
"I'll be careful," Audrey nodded, glancing at George. She had suspected him of peeping last time, but since he dared to bring it up, it probably wasn't him. Could it be Terrence?
When she first arrived, Terrence often stared at her chest and took advantage of her. But because he was close to Jason and she wouldn't be here long, she didn't want to strain their relationship, so she tolerated it. However, after her experience with Herbert, she knew that tolerating such behavior would only encourage it. She couldn't compromise any longer.
By nine in the evening, Jason still hadn't returned. Audrey called him, but he impatiently said he'd be back soon and told her to go to sleep.
Audrey hung up, feeling uncomfortable. Since arriving in Starhaven, the only sweet moments they had were those few hours when they first met. After that, it was constant friction, making her feel very disappointed. She used to think their long-distance relationship was why their feelings had faded. But even now, when they saw each other often, they still argued constantly. Even going out for a meal was a hassle. It seemed Jason had changed too much since coming to Starhaven, making her feel out of place. She increasingly wanted to return home.
Starhaven's nights were still sweltering. Audrey took a basin to the water room for a shower, then lay on the bed, browsing her phone while waiting for her husband.
Suddenly, a text message popped up on her phone: "You are more beautiful than a rose, enchanting my soul. May I have the pleasure of kissing you?"
Audrey was startled, staring at the text for a long time before replying, "Who are you?"
"What, you forgot me already after we just met today? That hurts my feelings."
It was that rich playboy Derek again. Audrey felt helpless. This guy was really persistent. She ignored him, deleted the message, and blocked his number. She couldn't afford to offend or engage with such playboys; the best way was to handle it coldly.
Audrey waited until midnight, but Jason still hadn't returned. When she called again, his phone was off. She had no idea what he was doing, playing cards for five or six hours without coming back. It was too much.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She had broken off her relationship with Kevin for the sake of this family, but Jason didn't appreciate it at all. She had traveled all the way to visit him, yet he chose to play cards with others, not caring about her at all. Why should she stay here?
Audrey tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Memories of her sweet times with Kevin kept flashing in her mind. Maybe she shouldn't have said those harsh words to Kevin. She regretted it. But could she return to that ambiguous relationship with Kevin?
The next morning, Audrey woke up and still didn't see her husband. She was about to call him when Jason walked in, reeking of smoke, his hair disheveled, eyes red, and looking dazed. Anger surged through her, and she stormed over, shouting, "Jason, do you even care about this family? You said you'd be back soon, but you were gone all night. What were you doing?"
"Honey, I'm sorry," Jason said, lighting a cigarette and taking a few puffs before saying with difficulty, "I lost all our money."
"What?!" Audrey stepped back in disbelief. She knew Jason had saved nearly a hundred thousand dollars over the past few years. How could he lose it all in one night? "Jason, are you joking? Say something!"
"Honey, I'm sorry," Jason said, looking desolate. "I really lost it all. I don't know how it happened."
He sat on the bed, pounding his head with his fists.
"Jason, don't do that," Audrey rushed over to hug him, her face full of concern. "Tell me what happened. Don't worry, we'll face it together."
Jason explained that he had gone to play poker with Terrence and Jack. They started with a ten-dollar limit, and he was doing well at first, winning a few hundred in half an hour.
But then someone suggested raising the stakes, and the game became intense. Jason's luck fluctuated. Sometimes he won three or four thousand in one hand; other times, he lost five or six thousand. He became desperate to win back his losses, but the more anxious he got, the worse his luck became. Eventually, he lost all his money and borrowed another hundred thousand from Terrence and Jack, which he also lost. He had essentially wasted the past few years and was now deeply in debt.
"You're so foolish," Audrey said, both angry and worried. Gambling was a dangerous habit, often leading to ruin. Jason had never had this problem before. She didn't know how he suddenly became addicted. "No, I have to call the police. Terrence and Jack can't do this. They pushed you into this. I can't believe they lent you money out of the goodness of their hearts."
"We can't call the police," Jason said quickly. "The casino owner knows people in the police department. If we report it, we'll offend him, and I won't be able to stay in Starhaven. Besides, no one forced me to gamble."
"What should we do then?" Audrey's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't believe they had fallen into such a dire situation overnight. Twenty thousand dollars gone just like that. "I have two thousand dollars on hand. Can't you borrow some money from your company?"
"I already called, but they said no," Jason said, pulling at his hair in frustration. He deeply regretted his actions. How could he have been so foolish to play cards with those guys?
"Alright, Jason, don't worry. We'll find a way. There's always a way," Audrey said, trying to stay calm, fearing Jason might do something rash.
But what could they do in a city where they knew so few people? They spent the entire morning brainstorming without any luck.
In the afternoon, Terrence and Jack came to collect the debt. Audrey threw a bank card on the floor, coldly saying, "Here's two thousand. Take it and leave. We'll pay the rest as soon as possible. Now get out. Jason was blind to consider you friends."
Terrence looked embarrassed, picking up the card and smiling apologetically, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. We advised Jason not to play so big, but he wouldn't listen. He threatened to fall out with us if we didn't lend him the money. We had no choice. Jack was there too, wasn't he?"
"That's right," Jack said.
"I said we'll pay the rest soon. Didn't you hear me?" Audrey said coldly. "Now leave. I don't want to see you. Get out!"
Terrence and Jack exchanged glances before leaving. Audrey looked at her silent husband and suddenly burst into tears. How had they ended up like this?
Suddenly, Jason's phone rang. He stepped out to take the call and returned after a while, looking serious. "Honey, I talked to Terrence and Jack. They said they could give us three months to pay."
"Really? That's great," Audrey felt a glimmer of hope. It was impossible for them to gather that much money in a short time, but three months gave them a fighting chance. She could stay another month, earn some money through her training classes, and Jason could earn two or three thousand a month. They could also borrow from relatives and friends back home. At least they could get through this crisis.
With this in mind, her resentment towards Terrence and Jack lessened slightly. Maybe they weren't entirely heartless and had a bit of conscience. Perhaps this wasn't entirely their fault.
"But they have one condition," Jason said hesitantly.
"A condition? What condition?" Audrey frowned, feeling uneasy. "Do they want interest?"
"No, they don't care about that," Jason said awkwardly. "It's just that their wives aren't around, and there are no women here, so they want..."
"What do they want?" Audrey's face darkened, sensing something bad. She bit her lip and said coldly, "Tell me. I want to see what they want."
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