Marriage Without Heartbreak

"Didn't Bryan say anything strange to you?"

Vivi, who was preparing warm water for Darren to soak in the tub, turned her head back when she heard Darren's voice. The man approached her while unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt.

"Everything he says always sounds strange to me. When has he ever been normal?" Vivi answered Darren's question as she helped the man unbutton his shirt.

"Yes, he's a very strange man. So just ignore what he says," Darren advised.

"Have you talked to him? He won't come here anymore, right?" Vivi asked.

"He's gone, so you don't have to worry about him bothering you again," Darren said.

"Gone? Gone where?"

Darren squared his shoulders. "He can go anywhere and spend his parents' money like he's been doing all this time, and we don't have to think about it."

Darren's hand moved to Vivi’s shoulder and lowered the strap of the housedress Vivi was wearing.

"I've already taken a shower," Vivi said, implying a rejection of what Darren was about to do to her.

"You can tak