Chapter 14: I Got Married
No, wait. Yesterday, David came out to negotiate with her; today, it was also David. What was going on?
She gently shook her head and thought: Forget it, this is probably someone else’s secret. Maybe he’s an actor; those bodyguards and luxury cars from yesterday were just props. There’s no need to dwell on it.
After all, she had married a stranger. She never expected love from this marriage in the first place. That was enough as long as she had a place to settle down.
Daphne Finney toyed with the set of keys in her hand. The metal gleamed under the sunlight. Looking at them, her mood inexplicably brightened, as if all her troubles had been tossed away. Happily, she pushed open the door to her sculpture studio.
As soon as she stepped in, she saw her good friend Maggie busy inside. Maggie was wholly absorbed in painting a clay model, her hands stained with various colors, creating an artistic impression.
Hearing the door open, Maggie looked up and, seeing Daphne, teased with a smile, “You look like you’re in a great mood today. Did you have hot cocoa for breakfast?”
“I got married.”
Daphne spoke calmly, as if she were mentioning something as ordinary as the weather.
“Oh, you got married…”
Maggie initially thought she was joking and responded with a casual smile. But when she noticed the serious expression on Daphne’s face, her smile froze. Her eyes widened, and her voice pitched in shock, “You got married?!”
Her hands trembled, and with a sudden “plop,” the clay model fell to the floor, instantly losing shape. But she had no time to worry about it—her mind was consumed by sheer disbelief.
“You’re joking, right?”
Maggie still couldn’t believe what she had heard and asked again.
“No, Maggie. I couldn’t take my brother-in-law arguing with my sister every day anymore. You know how bad that environment is for the kids.”
Daphne furrowed her brows, exasperated. “Even though they live in a detached apartment, and it should be relatively quiet, every time my sister and brother-in-law fight, they are so loud that the whole building can probably hear them. Even the neighbors have complained multiple times. I don’t want my sister to get reported for disturbing the peace—that would be terrible.”
“That’s not the point, my dear friend! The point is, who did you marry?!”
Maggie was still in shock and couldn’t wait to hear the answer.
“A stranger, I guess.”
Daphne replied while trying to recall her new husband’s name. But her mind was still a little muddled, and she couldn’t quite remember it.
Seeing the disbelief on Maggie’s face, Daphne bent down to pick up the fallen clay and slowly explained, “You know I don’t know many people in the West End besides you. Those rich guys you introduced me to—I could never be a match for them.”
“They’re all from elite families, while I’m just an ordinary person with no background. Do you want me to end up like Princess Diana, suffering in a noble family?”
“I don’t have that kind of patience, nor do I want that kind of life.”
Daphne sighed, explaining why she had rushed into marriage.
“So you married someone… also from an ordinary background?”
Maggie frowned, still filled with doubt.
“Uh… maybe? I’m not entirely sure.”
Daphne hesitated before recounting her encounter with Ham Koch, her new grandfather-in-law.
“That’s why I didn’t have time to tell you yesterday. I had to pick up the kids from school, so I got caught up in everything. I’m only telling you now.”
“That old man from yesterday sounds pretty adorable. But do you even know anything about his grandson? How old is he? Where is he from? What do his parents do? Has he been married before? Does he smoke? Drink? Does he get violent when he drinks? Does he go out partying at night? Is he loyal in relationships? Does he have any religious beliefs? Was he in the Boy Scouts?”
Maggie fired off a barrage of questions like a machine gun.
“Maggie, Maggie, stop! I don’t even know how to answer all that. But I do know one thing—he solved my biggest problem.”
Daphne shook her head lightly.
“And what problem is that?”
Maggie pressed on.
“He owns a house at 88 Central Avenue.”
Daphne smiled as she spoke.
“Oh my God! That makes him quite a catch. You know, houses on Central Avenue aren’t cheap. Sure, people say the rich live in the East End, but Central Avenue, which is close to it, is home to top professionals. The high-end apartments there are just as expensive as mansions.”
Maggie gasped in surprise.
“So your new husband might be a well-paid professional?”
Maggie guessed.
“Looks like it. He even has a personal assistant.”
Daphne nodded.
“Is he handsome?”
Maggie asked, curious.
“Very handsome. Like a movie star—sexy, and even a little bit cute.”
Daphne smiled as she answered. Deep down, she knew that calling Charles Koch “cute” was a bit of a stretch. He was far too aloof for that. The genuinely adorable one was his grandfather, Ham Koch.
In the small, dimly lit room, Daphne stood quietly. Her gaze swept slowly around before settling on a lone suitcase.
She let out a soft sigh, a wave of complex emotions washing over her as she realized that everything she had accumulated over the years fit into just this one suitcase.
Thinking back to her journey from college to finally establishing her studio, only she knew how tough it had been.
For years, Daphne had lived frugally, stretching every penny. Her brother-in-law’s house had four rooms, yet she had only been allowed to stay in a sunroom near the hallway—because the best guest room had to be permanently reserved for his parents and sister.
Her tiny room didn’t even have a wardrobe to hang clothes. The few hooks on the wall were overloaded with daily coats and scarves, making everything look cluttered.
She never bought pretty clothes, even when they were on sale, because there was nowhere to store them.
In the corner of the room sat a worn-out desk, piled with an assortment of things—unfinished design sketches, paint boxes, and a few old, well-thumbed art books.