He felt a twinge of guilt; after all, he was just an ordinary guy with no formal education and juggling three jobs for a meager monthly income of $5,000. Genevieve had countless admirers who were far more established than he was.
Their story began when they met at her workplace while she was delivering packages.
An accidental bump turned into something magical; from that moment on, they stayed in touch.
Ethan even took delivery jobs just to catch glimpses of her again, it truly was love at first sight for him!
Three months later, mustering all his courage, he asked her to be his girlfriend, and to his astonishment, she said yes.
He had braced himself for rejection but never expected Genevieve would accept him.
Before long, they were married and welcomed their daughter Octavia into the world.
Now five years later, Ethan was 29 and Genevieve 26, their little family had grown together.
"Dinner is ready; go take a bath!" Genevieve said gently with a warm smile that made Ethan's heart swell.Nodding appreciatively with a smile of his own, Ethan headed to the bathroom for a quick freshen-up.
Just three minutes later, he emerged towel-drying his hair and caught sight of Genevieve and Octavia waiting eagerly at the dining table.
Their cozy apartment wasn't large, just about 500 square feet, with one bedroom and an open kitchen connected to the living room.
The living area featured a small coffee table and an old sofa facing a modest 19-inch flat-screen TV adorned with family photos lining the walls.
While simple in design, it radiated warmth and comfort a true home for Ethan.Why aren't you eating?" he asked as he sat down at the table.
"We were waiting for you!" replied Genevieve cheerfully.
"I told you two not to wait for me! Look at Octavia, her mouth is practically watering!" Ethan chuckled as he glanced at his daughter.
"No... Dad! I'm not drooling!" Octavia exclaimed quickly shaking her head like it was rattling around inside!
"Alright, alright, everyone! Let's dig in!"Genevieve waved her hand with a chuckle, her warm smile lighting up the room.
Ethan glanced at the table, where a simple dinner of rice and vegetables awaited them. It was all they could afford as they scrimped and saved for a house in their sprawlinginternational metropolis.
As he watched his wife and daughter happily eating, a sharp pang of guilt pierced his heart.
Octavia was savoring every bite, and Ethan couldn't help but feel the weight of their sacrifices.
He shook off the dark thoughts, forced a smile, and joined them at the table
"Honey, today marks our sixth anniversary!" Genevieve nestled beside Ethan on the sofa, leaning against him with affection.
Ethan remained silent; if it were any other day, he would have celebrated with joy. But today felt different, heavy with unspoken worries.
"Why are you so quiet?" Genevieve tilted her head to meet his gaze, concern etched on her face.
Hesitation flickered in Ethan's eyes as he finally spoke up. "Do you ever regret marrying me?"
"Ethan! How could you say that? I love you, that's why I married you! If you ever doubt that again, I'll take Octavia and leave!" Her expression darkened as she glared at him.
Realizing his mistake, Ethan quickly apologized."I'm sorry! I won't bring it up again."
With a huff of indignation, Genevieve snorted playfully before curling up against him on the sofa.
As Ethan looked down at her, a deep sigh escaped him. Five years had passed without him being able to provide the life his family truly deserved.
What man wouldn't want his wife and daughter to thrive in happiness?
Juggling deliveries by day and laboring on construction sites by night, movingbricks and mixing cement, he often found himself scavenging for scrap metal just to scrape together a few extra dollars.
Like many young dreamers, he longed to start his own business but lacked both the courage and resources to make it happen.
Life was undeniably tough.
"Honey," Genevieve said softly after a moment's pause, "you really need some rest this weekend. You've been working over ten hours each day without much downtime."
She looked at him with worry in her eyes. "You haven't played with Octavia in ages."
Ethan shook his head resolutely. "I can't rest until we have our own home!"
Genevieve pursed her lips; words eluded her as she contemplated their situation.
The down payment alone felt like an insurmountable mountain in Kings City, a vast metropolis where housing prices could crush even the most resilient families underfoot.
Ethan's heart raced as he pulled a delicate necklace from his pocket, the soft glow of its pendant catching Genevieve's eye. "Happy anniversary!" he exclaimed, a broad smile lighting up his face.
Genevieve gasped, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Wow, honey! This is absolutely beautiful!" She gazed at the necklace as if it were a treasure unearthed from the depths of her dreams.
"Do you like it?" Ethan chuckled, unable to contain his joy.
Hmmm!" Genevieve nodded enthusiastically, her smile radiating warmth. "Could you put it on for me?"
With that invitation, she swept her long hair aside, revealing her graceful neck,a vision reminiscent of a swan gliding across a serene lake.
"Okay!" Ethan replied eagerly as he fastened the necklace around her neck, enhancing her beauty with its cold elegance.
Genevieve admired herself in the mirror and giggled with happiness. "Thanks, honey! I really appreciate this!" Her eyes curved into crescent moons as pure joy illuminated her face.
Seeing her so happy filled Ethan with warmth; he couldn't help but smile back at her.
Later that night, after tucking their sleepy daughter Octavia into bed and covering her with soft sheets,
Ethan watched Genevieve with a mix of admiration and longing.
He felt an overwhelming sense of fullness in his heart but fought back tears threatening to spill over.
Sometimes he wondered if leaving the city behind for a quiet town would ease their burdens, if living simply could bring them peace and happiness.
Yet deep down, a voice reminded him that providing for his family's dreams was worth any struggle they faced together.
But how long could this suffering last?
As Ethan lay beside Octavia in the middle of the bed, with Genevieve on the other side, his thoughts began to drift away into dreamland.
Just then, a faint sound echoed in his mind:
"Ding!"
But sleep had already claimed him.