When Dusk Fades, No Path to Cross

My wifes male assistant deliberately ruined a painting Id spent two years creating. Infuriated, I punished him by making him my manservant for three days, tasked with cleaning my art studio.

At first, Eleanor Brooks said nothing, acting as if nothing had happened. But three months later, Eleanors company filed for bankruptcy, and she was imprisoned. To repay millions in debt, I worked three jobs a day, toiling relentlessly. For three long years, I lived on the run from creditors, once cornered in an alley and humiliated. For a mere hundred dollars, I even tested haunted houses overnight.

Then, while clearing tables, I overheard Eleanor, who should have been in prison, throwing a lavish birthday party for her male assistant.

A friend asked, Eleanor, you bought Aiden a million-dollar watch, and your good husband is testing haunted houses for a hundred bucks. Can you really be so heartless?

Eleanor scoffed, exhaling a plume of smoke. He deserved it, for forcing Aiden to be a manservant back then. These three years are his punishment.

Once these three years are over, Ill pretend to make a comeback. Hell still be my good husband.

My body swayed in the cold wind, like a stunned puppet. So, these three years of living hell, this was all a punishment orchestrated by you. If thats the case, then I will return it to you, twofold.

I felt as if Id plunged into an ice-cold abyss, and from within, I heard the conversation between Eleanor and her friend, Grace Sloane.

Eleanor, hes still your husband, after all. Before you got married, he was a spoiled young man, living a life of luxury. Arent you being a bit too cruel to him?

The last time I saw Arthur Blackwood, he looked so haggard, so thin. He must be at his breaking point.

Eleanor spoke calmly. It was agreed for three full years. Not a day less.

Anyway, its only another month until three years are up. Hes lasted this long; a couple more days wont make a difference.

Grace hesitated, clearly wanting to say more. But he came to me recently, just asking to borrow a few hundred dollars.

The once privileged Mr. Blackwood, Id never seen him so desperate.

Eleanor snorted. You didnt lend it to him, did you?

Of course not! You said anyone who lent him money would be considered to have cut ties with you. How would I dare?

Through a cloud of smoke, Eleanor smiled coldly. Good to know youre sensible.

Arthur Blackwoods temperament, so demanding and arrogant. Aiden accidentally stained his painting, and Arthur heartlessly punished him by making him a manservant for three days. That kind of overbearing attitude needed to be fixed. See, this three-year punishment has clearly worked, hasnt it? Eleanors tone was filled with pride and satisfaction, as if her punishment had reformed me, making me a new man.

Grace sighed, swallowing the rest of her unspoken words. She had actually concealed a few things. That day, I had knelt. I had even unbuttoned my shirt.

Just five hundred dollars, please.

Eleanor got sick in prison and needs medical expenses. Im still short five hundred dollars.

They exchanged glances, then burst into laughter. Is this still the former Mr. Blackwood? You were so proud back then, wouldnt wear shoes under a thousand. Now youre selling yourself for five hundred dollars.

I could only listen in humiliation, my face devoid of any expression. What expression could I even have? All my pride, my self-respect, had been trampled into worthlessness by reality.

If youre willing to add more money, I choked out. Whatever pose you want me to strike, I will.

Their laughter grew even louder. Finally, the woman who had been silent all this time, sitting on the sofa, sighed and spoke. You should leave.

Even if you bowed a hundred times today, we wouldnt help you.

Because Eleanor had already given strict instructions. A punishment was a punishment. For three full years, they were not to show any pity or offer me any convenience. Only then could they truly get revenge for Aiden, her assistant.

How did I manage to scrape together those five hundred dollars later? I went to the hospital and sold my blood. I took the five hundred dollars to the prison, but was told Eleanor had been released on medical parole. That money, after much effort, was entrusted to Eleanors friend. I was so anxious at the time, I almost knelt. Please, you must get this money to Eleanor. She mustnt have any more trouble.

But at that very moment, Eleanor was with her assistant, Aiden, checking in at Disneyland. She treated the five hundred dollars like a receipt, tossing it to a staff member. Dirty money from an unknown source, how unlucky. Just like my sincerity, it was trampled upon so carelessly.

2.

Now, Eleanor herself had arranged for antique porcelain vases, worth a fortune, to decorate Aidens birthday party. Every detail was meticulously planned. But I had no desire to watch any further. Several times, I almost lost control and charged in. I wanted to appear before Eleanor, slap her hard across the face. I wanted to demand why she had deceived me for three years, all because I made Aiden a manservant for three days. I wanted to show Eleanor all the wounds I had suffered, all the scars on my body, over these three years.

But in the end, I did nothing.

I watched Eleanor, who was supposed to be released from prison in three days, dressed in an expensive designer gown, like a powerful female CEO. She had thrown a grand and respectable birthday party specifically for her male assistant, inviting friends from their circle to celebrate and wishing Aiden a spoiled birthday. Then, I turned around expressionlessly and returned to my cramped, underground rental.

It was dark and damp, and I had lived there for three years. The bathroom was right outside the door, the walls covered in years of accumulated mold, constantly emanating a foul smell. I remembered when I first moved in, I was nauseous to the point of vomiting every day. For the first twenty-five years of my life, I lived in luxury, the privileged eldest son of the esteemed Blackwood family, never knowing hardship. I was an internationally renowned painter, accumulating numerous international awards. At the height of my success, I was even pursued and proposed to by Eleanor Brooks, the eldest daughter of the Brooks family. After marriage, I effortlessly lived the life of a winner.

Until Eleanor hired a timid and gentle male assistant named Aiden. He was the son of my familys housekeeper, yet he constantly tried to compete with me. His clothes werent as luxurious as mine, so he would retort that I was a frivolous pretty boy. His abilities werent as strong as mine, so he would gossip behind my back that I only succeeded because of my birth or because of women. He even deliberately sought to become Eleanors assistant, and never stopped badmouthing me to her, saying how I bullied his housekeeper mother at home, ruined his clothes, and even made him kneel as a manservant.

I believed that the truth would speak for itself and never paid these things any mind. But then came that day. I had finally completed a painting I had worked on for two full years. Just as I was about to frame it, I stepped out for a moment, only to return and find it splattered with ink. Aiden stood nearby, holding the ink bottle, a smug look on his face. Didnt you spend two whole years on that painting? Lets see how you'll impress Eleanor without it.

I was furious that time. I threw a punch that landed squarely on his face. Didnt you always spread rumors that I made you a manservant? Well, for these three days, you can properly be my manservant and clean my art studio. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a figure burst in. Eleanor frowned, shielding Aiden behind her. Arthur Blackwood, cant you control your privileged temper? Aiden tries so hard. He may not have a good background, but why do you always target him? My chest heaved with anger. Eleanor, get this straight, he was the one who

Before I could finish, Aiden, playing the victim, hid behind Eleanor, looking terribly wronged. Eleanor, its all my fault. I wanted to help Mr. Blackwood clean his studio, but I accidentally stained his painting. He said hed sell me to a club as a gigolo, and called my mom a cheap tramp who raised a little tramp. He spoke tearfully and pitifully. Eleanor didnt even ask me or investigate; she just believed him outright. She looked at me coldly. Arthur Blackwood, whats happened to you? Im so disappointed. I was even more enraged. Even with Eleanor trying to persuade me, I insisted that Aiden serve as a manservant for three days.

On the last day, Eleanor acted as if nothing had happened, merely sighing lightly. Arthur, when will you ever get rid of that temper? Its just a painting. Alright, youve vented your anger now, lets just put this behind us. I was naive enough to believe that it was truly over. But days later, news broke of Eleanors companys bankruptcy. Eleanor herself was soon imprisoned, leaving a huge mess for me to deal with.

Initially, I didnt think it was a big deal. Even if the Brooks family went bankrupt, I still had my parents. I called them immediately, but their numbers were all disconnected. I completely panicked. I rushed home to find them, only to be told by the butler that they had hurried back upon hearing about the Brooks familys troubles, but were caught in a landslide on the way and both perished. Overnight, my world collapsed. With no parents or wife to rely on, I had no choice but to sell our property and move into a damp basement. To escape gambling debts, I barely slept. They even found my basement, a group of people barging in with sticks and beating me. Two of my ribs were broken, and my wrist was shattered, rendering me unable to hold a paintbrush again. It took me three years to accept my fate, giving up everything just to survive.

But now, Im told that it was all a lie. Eleanor, with her punishment, had stripped me down to the bone, transforming me completely. Just then, my phone rang. It was from Eleanor. Arthur, Im getting out of prison in three days. Dont forget to pick me up.

3.

I unconsciously clutched my phone, a dull ache throbbing in my heart. Even now, Eleanor was still acting. She was clearly at the birthday party already, celebrating Aidens birthday, with such a huge, beautifully decorated cake. Yet she was still treating me like an idiot. I stared at the line of text, tears blurring my vision until I could read it clearly again. I typed back: Okay, Ill pick you up in three days.

Three days later, I didnt expose Eleanors lie. I went to the prison gates to pick her up. From a distance, I saw Eleanor wearing shabby clothes, pretending to be destitute after bankruptcy, and even using makeup to create a fake scar on her face. Seeing me, she limped, excitedly rushing towards me. Arthur!

She embraced me, tears welling up in her eyes. In prison, I truly atoned. They said my behavior was excellent, so they released me early. Arthur, youve really had a tough time these past few days. She appeared so genuinely affectionate, as if she had truly suffered in prison for three years. But I subtly pushed her away. Its good that youre out.

Eleanor paused, seemingly noticing my unusual demeanor, but then she suddenly grabbed my wrist. Arthur, what happened to your wrist? Her anxious expression seemed genuine. But I found it amusing. Eleanor, what are you playing at? It was clearly your people, pretending to be creditors, who came and beat me to this state. Now youre acting innocent? I just felt apathetic, perhaps also afraid of directly confronting the truth. Nothing, I just fell accidentally. I pulled my hand away. The doctor said it will heal with time.

Eleanor finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thats good. She took my hand, gently intertwining her fingers with mine. The injury is on your right wrist. If it gets serious and affects your painting, youll be crying again. Her voice was deliberately doting, but to me, it was incredibly piercing. I was born with immense artistic talent. I had won countless international awards, and everyone said I had a very bright future. But to get money for medicine, to get Eleanor out of prison early, I was willing to let them break my wrist. Now I couldnt even hold a paintbrush. But now, she was telling me it was all just a punishment game she orchestrated. How ridiculous.

I remained silent the entire way, Eleanor seemed very nervous, chattering on about many things. Clearly, these were lines she had prepared from online research, trying to convince me she had really spent three years in prison. But I listened absently, only asking a faint question after she finished. Eleanor. Did I do something wrong?

Eleanor froze instantly, her eyes red as she looked at me. What is it, Arthur? Why do you ask? I suddenly remembered the last time, when I was finally allowed a visit. I was so happy, taking the allowance I had saved for a long time to buy meat and vegetables, and preparing them for Eleanor. No wonder she wrinkled her nose and refused to eat it. She must have thought the meat was cheap. And yes, I thought she had spent three years in prison, enduring hardship. But in reality, she was taking her male assistant on a round-the-world trip, enjoying delicacies and imported foods. How could she truly suffer with me? Even that prison visit was a meticulously staged play for which she paid a hundred and twenty dollars. I just felt that for these three years, I had been utterly foolish, manipulated like a toy.

Seeing me cry, Eleanor immediately panicked and came forward to wipe my tears. Arthur, why are you crying? Did someone bully you? I looked into her eyes. If someone bullied me, what would you do? Would you still, as you swore before, protect me no matter what, even if it meant sacrificing your life? Eleanor nervously wiped my tears with a tissue. She nodded without thinking, her resolve firm. Whatever it takes, Arthur, just tell me, and Ill do it. I looked into her sincere eyes. Really? I want you to kill Aiden.

Eleanor suddenly looked up, staring at me in shock. What did you say? A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. Did you misunderstand something? She was so afraid I would discover something amiss. Even her body began to tense. My company went bankrupt three years ago. Aiden resigned and went abroad; I havent had any contact with him. Did he come to bully you while I was in prison? If so, Ill definitely get revenge for you! I took her hand, scoffing. Im kidding. Killing is against the law. You just got out of prison; how could I bear to put you back in? I was just teasing you.

I turned away, lowering my gaze to pick up something. Eleanor didnt see my true emotions. She thought I was truly just joking and breathed a sigh of relief. Arthur, Im sorry. Youve suffered a lot these past three years. I didnt turn back, but in my heart, I thought silently. Its alright. Your karma is yet to come.