The Fishmonger's Secret Chapter 1

After divorcing my billionaire ex-husband, I married an ordinary man.

Every day he is silent, wearing a tattered jacket with messy hair, bargaining over a few cents when buying groceries.

Friends teased me, although consumption downgraded, aesthetic shouldn't downgrade too right.

I just smiled:

"Back then I slashed Sebastian Sterling's little secretary's face in front of everyone in the company."

"For her, Sebastian made a huge scene with me, my reputation long stank."

"When just out of Federal Prison, even dogs walked around me, now having someone willing to marry me is already very good."

Saying this, my knife fell, skillfully gutted a fish.

While bagging for customer, while greeting next one.

"Boss, new fish arrival, pick whatever you like."

The other party stunned, then tremblingly said:

"Joanna, to disgust me, you ran to this kind of place to degrade yourself? Is it necessary?"

* * *

I didn't look up.

The blunt fish knife in hand slammed heavily on the cutting board.

I skillfully scraped scales, scales mixed with bloody water splashing everywhere.

Sebastian stood there, wearing a well-tailored Bespoke Tom Ford Suit, completely out of place here.

He stared at my hands full of chilblains and cracks, those hands once only played piano, now rough like withered tree bark.

"Don't block the way if not buying, people queuing behind."

I casually wiped hand with rag, took the bag handed by the auntie behind.

Sebastian ignored by me, expression on face couldn't hold.

He stepped forward, knocked the knife out of my hand.

"Clang" a sound.

Knife fell on concrete floor, bounced twice.

"Miss Sterling, top student of Finance Department, killing fish here?"

He roared out, voice carrying disbelief and suppressed anger.

Attracting surrounding vendors and grocery buying aunties to look sideways.

"Joanna, do you think this way I will heartache? Will regret sending you in?"

Contempt in his eyes about to overflow.

In his view, everything I do is to gain his attention.

Even making myself so embarrassed.

I bent down picked up that knife, wiped hard on apron.

"This gentleman."

"This knife $30, just fell rolled edge, you have to compensate."

"Also, I don't know you."

Sebastian stunned.

He didn't expect I would talk money with him.

Still merely thirty dollars.

Surrounding aunties started pointing fingers.

"Who is this guy? Dressed like a human, running here to bully a fish seller."

"Exactly, look how scared Little Jo is."

"I see must be hooked up with Little Jo before, now see people down and out come to step a foot."

Discussion sounds drilled into Sebastian's ears.

His face green and white.

Assistant behind wanted to come up stop, pushed away by Sebastian waving hand.

He dead stared my eyes, like wanting to dig out some past affection from inside.

Pity, inside nothing.

Only numbness.

"Pretend what stupid?"

Sebastian gritting teeth, lowered voice.

"If Uncle Sterling knew your current virtue, coffin board couldn't hold down."

"Your hands are used to point country mountains, not used to dig fish intestines!"

"If you lack money, why not apply to big companies? With your degree..."

Speaking here, he suddenly stopped.

Mouth corner hooked a sarcastic arc.

"Oh, I forgot."

"You have criminal record."

"Was me personally sent you in."

"So you blame me? Use this way revenge me?"

More he said more felt he reasonable.

That high above superiority came back.

I ignored him, turned fished a fish from water tank.

Pressed, knife fell.

Fish blood squirted out, straight splashed on his pant leg.

Sebastian subconsciously retreated, face showing disgusted expression.

I expressionlessly bagged fish, handed to customer beside.

"Fish cleaned, $25, scan code on wall."

Whole process didn't look Sebastian once.

This ignoring more uncomfortable than quarreling for him.

He took out a clean white handkerchief, wanted reach hand wipe blood spots on my face.

I tilted head dodged.

Handkerchief hung in mid-air, awkwardly stopped.

"Sir."

I pointed QR code on wall, tone no wave.

"Knife just now $30, plus lost work fee, total $50."

"Scan code, don't delay my business."