Chapter１

DAY 1

I pressed enter and anxiously stared at the screen for a long time until I got the notification that the email was sent. Breath slowly exhaled from my body as I slumped back on the chair, rubbing my neck. I was seriously tired! But my heart felt happier! I couldn't take this grin off of my face.

I had just written my very first manuscript, posted the first four chapters on the app called Webpad, and emailed the link to one of the chief editors! Everyone had said that on Webpad, my life could change. Every author that had been able to publish here became famous overnight. As soon as I imagined such a scene of ecstasy happening for me, a feeling of pleasure bubbled inside my heart.

I stood up from the table and rushed inside the bedroom. Trying to find my husband to tell him the news!

But as soon as I saw him, a painful lump rose in my throat, he was sitting on the bed with his laptop on his lap. His eyebrows frowned as he pressed back his rectangle glasses rimmed with gold color and focused on the screen. His hair fell on his forehead, but he was too busy to deal with it. His fingers fiddled in his laptop again without even looking up at me.

Seeing this, I tiptoed toward him and was just about to shift his hair back for him when he caught my hands. Stunned, I tilted my head and glanced at him.

"What do you want?" His cold tone made me shiver on my spine.

I rolled my eyes. This was how our relationship had been for the past year. I quitted my job and started pursuing my career in writing a year ago, but gained nothing except scoldings and negative feedback from the editors of several companies. I posted 100 websites the whole year, but the replies are all the same: I am sorry, but you have to improve your writing skills, you have to enhance the plot, you need to rewrite the outline. Currently, Webpad was my last straw. But If I was declined again, I would not be surprised at all.

But my husband thinks in a totally different way. For him, having a regular office job is the most important thing in life. And he is pretty much dissatisfied with his current lifestyle. I couldn't help but glare at this guy. How could he be so unreasonable?! We haven't even had sex for an year because this guy decided to give me a cold shoulder!

Where would you find a husband like him?!

I awkwardly took my hand back and said in an excited voice, "I'm going to be famous overnight." The corners of my lips stretched so much that it could reach my ears.

But my husband had other ideas. He didn't even bat an eye and typed a few words on his laptop before pressing the enter button. "You say that every time you end up writing a novel. What's new this time?"

Hearing this sentence, I was even more excited. "This time, it's a website that has been able to give millions of authors a proper job! It's Webpad!"

"Like it matters." He turned off his laptop and coldly glanced at me. "You'd always end up being disappointed as always."

Seeing his expression, I froze. I looked at him slowly only to find his gaze being devoid of any warmth, making my heart sink. This guy was really cold to me these days. I couldn't help but feel depressed at this.

"Why're you doing this to me? I'm just asking for your support to fulfil my dream as an author!"

"Elise, for God's sake! Just stop it. What you're doing isn't logical in any way! If you had earned money this past year, I would have considered your option. But have you?" He squinted his eyes at me. "All you did was wasting away the money from our credit card! Do you even remember how much money we owe to the credit card company? Do you even remember that I am just a clerk here?!"

I flinched at his response and couldn't help but feel disheartened. Pursing my lips, I ducked my head lower and decided to hear whatever he was saying. It was true anyway. I haven't earned a penny the whole year, and he didn’t earn much either.

After saying everything, my husband coldly glanced at me once again before heading over to the bathroom.

I fell back on the bed, thinking deeply about my life, tears dripped from my eye corners and sank into pillows, was I really wrong?

I was Elise, wedded to Lewis Robbie three years ago. We had a pleasant relationship when I was a waitress at a restaurant, and after four months of dating, we both planned to get married. I was happy back then, brimming with love. We both had a stable job in Beijing, China since Lewis was transferred here for some government work. But in the end, the Coronavirus pandemic hit the country so hard that almost everyone lost their jobs.

Not long before both of us were kicked out of our jobs, and we had no other choice, but to stay at home and look for an alternative. Thankfully, Lewis got a permanent job in China later based on his experience, and didn't even have to go out everyday for his work.

But that was when our relationship started to crumble. When I had first told my husband about my decision to become a full-time author, he had just taken it lightly and ordered me seriously to find a better job. But not only I ignored his words, but also wrote a book right under his nose and submitted to many publishers online. And slowly, his dissatisfaction toward me rose so much that he even denied to touch me, always giving the excuse of heavy work.

We did not have sex or even a kiss, for a whole year.

To be honest, I was exhausted, even with his attitude or our relationships.

After taking a bath, he came back and slept on his side of the bed without saying a single word.

Taking my laptop from the study room, I brought it on my bed and kept it on my lap. I glanced at the sleeping figure of my husband only to find him snoring.

I flashed a grin, thinking, 'You just, wait dear husband! I'll show you my dream wasn't for naught!'

I clicked open the email, there was a reply, I felt so happy. Because 1 out of 100 posted emails could get a reply, I opened it, only to see that there was negative feedback about my novel. The editor first scolded me for my poor choice of words and storyline. I couldn't even make 3D characters! The editor seemed so angry and dissatisfied that he even said that I should find someone else for the job!

I stared at the reply as veins popped up on my forehead.

This freaking editor has the nerve to say such things to my face! I couldn't help but be not angry and anxious at this time. I had really thought that this time, I would get famous. Webpad had the system of earning money for four months only if I could post daily. I had thought I could finally please my husband by showing him my bank account brimming with money! But who would have guessed this to happen? I sincerely felt like crying all of a sudden!

Pursing my lips, I closed the email. I had to do something about it. Did I write something objectionable? I didn't know. But I had to find a way to earn more money otherwise my husband would keep getting away from me. I had to heal the crack between our relationship and find a way to fulfil my dream at the same time!

Just then, a certain email caught my attention. It wrote—

'Dear Elise,

How are you doing? I hope you're fine. I read your book, and I wanted to give you an opportunity to be contracted under the company Webpad. You will get royalty income, and four months worth bonus in your account.

Your book has the potential to be accepted under the romance genre, although you would need to do some changes manually. But it's alright! I'll help you with it!

If you aren't really sure about my ability as an editor, please click the link below and find my website.

www.vampireeditor.com

Happy cooperation!

Yours truly,

Vampire.'

I was stunned after seeing this email, and quickly clicked the link. As soon as I saw the websites I was even more shocked. This was a male editor, and his name was Vampire! What kind of weird name was that? I shook my head and clicked the profile picture and stared at him for a long time. His blonde hair was waving with the wind as he stared intently at the camera with his mesmerizing dark blue eyes. He was handsome indeed. Suddenly, a trace of blush formed on my cheeks.

When I realized that I was blushing after seeing this pic, I patted my cheeks.

'Wake up Elise! You're already married!' I spoke to myself in a serious tone.

Just then, a thought entered my head. What if I meet this editor and coax him into helping me with my novel? I wanted to secure my position as a writer under his command to become a famous author on Webpad! What would be better than to find an editor who could help me all the time?! This Vampire person seemed to have more experience. If I could become his friend, I would be able to get him help me more often! As soon as I got this idea, I became excited and emailed the person.

“Dear Vampire, I am so glad to get your reply. But I really want to know more about your valuable advice, Can we find somewhere to meet me at your convenience?’

I clicked sent, my heart was pumping like a little rabbit, would he accept my invitation?

Surprisingly, within 30 seconds, I got his reply,

“Starbarks at Chaoyangmen Bridge, tomorrow morning.”

I couldn't help but feel elated. I closed the laptop with a big grin on my face. I didn't know a man that would resist my appearance and sexy body curve, Now I would show my husband that I could really earn from Webpad! Let us wait and see!