The Day My Contract Ended I Married Another Man Novel – Everyone knows that I am Alexander Whitmore’s most cherished his [外国人无法直接将canary对应到kept woman 这种意思上面，遇到“金丝雀”还是得意译]kept woman. Beautiful, obedient, docile, and understanding. As long as the money’s right, I’ll endure whatever capricious demands Alexander throws my way.
Even though Alexander has repeatedly cast me aside, mocked me, and treated me like a disposable object for the sake of his “true love.” Everyone assumed that I would cling to Alexander for life—even if he got married, they thought he could never shake me off. But I got married. To an ordinary man. … When the $40,000 “maintenance” payment came through this month, I was busy sorting out documents for my return to the U.S. My friend, Lily Monroe, hesitated before speaking up, “Evelyn, are you sure you want to go back to get married after graduation? Won’t Alexander come rushing back to the U.S. when he finds out?” I paused, but my tone remained steady, “He won’t.” Alexander was exceptionally generous to all his lovers who suggested breaking up.
He never bothered to reconsider. Once I returned to the U.S., I figured he’d quickly forget about me and find someone new—[这里单独的破折号使用是有问题的，需与前一句合并]a kept woman [同上]just as obedient as I was. “Alright then,” Lily sighed. “When are you leaving?” I tugged at the corner of my lips, “A month from now.” In a month, the contract I had with Alexander would end, and we wouldn’t be renewing it.
After that, I’d start a brand-new life, change my name, move to a new city, and forget Alexander. Forget everything about London and just be myself. The weather in London was always gloomy, and as I walked out of Cadence Tower, the light rain began to fall again. I opened my umbrella and returned to my apartment, only to find another umbrella waiting at the door. My steps faltered.
He’s here. In that instant, my heart felt as if it were melting under the steady downpour. I tightened my grip on the documents in my hand and slowly pushed the door open. The orange-yellow light spilled out. Alexander’s figure was hidden in the kitchen, the faint light outlining his tall frame. I stood at the door, barely able to make out his sharp facial features. After a few seconds, I walked inside and flashed a bright smile, wrapping my arms around Alexander’s slender waist from behind. “You’ve been gone for 19 days.
You usually come back in 15.” Occasional complaints from a kept woman could provide emotional currency for the sponsor. Usually, Alexander would look at me with a half-smile and ask if I needed more cash. This time, however, Alexander simply plated the steak from the pan, his tone cold, “Eat your dinner, then take a shower.” I froze, my gaze catching on the clear bite mark on his wrist where the sleeve of his shirt had been slightly rolled up.
The wound was thick with scabs—it was obvious he had been bitten hard. I didn’t say anything more. I released Alexander and quietly went to take a shower after finishing my steak. Under the showerhead, the fresh, woody scent of the shampoo lingered in the air. It was the same scent I remembered from the first time I met Alexander.
Outside the window, the rain tapped incessantly against the glass. My thoughts drifted back to the first time I saw Alexander. The first time I saw him, when I was at my lowest. It was four years ago, when I was taking my SAT. My mother, who had never cared about my grades, slipped a note into my pencil case, and I was caught for academic dishonesty, resulting in all my scores being invalidated.
I went to confront her, but she cried, claiming she did it for my own good, to wish me well, and asking why I would blame her for it. I nearly laughed until I cried. My mother had always favored my sister. Everything I used was what my sister didn’t want. And yet, during the exam, the “blessings” weren’t for my sister—they were for me. How absurd. I, who had the potential to get into Harvard, ended up being labeled as a “cheater,” mocked by everyone.
I wanted to retake the exam, but my mother knelt in front of the whole neighborhood, crying. “Your sister is going to art school, and we really don’t have the money. Please, for the sake of your sister, let it go.” “Mom’s already asked your aunt to get you a job at her factory.[Mom’s already asked your aunt to get you a job at her factory.] I’m doing this for you, to give you a way out.” The bright future I once had turned into the endless grind of a low-paying factory job.
Was this really a “way out”? I couldn’t accept it. With the money I had saved from part-time jobs, I ran away to study abroad in the Britain.[第一章内关于几处地点的本地化有问题，当前逻辑是：她在美国 → 计划回美国结婚 → 提到忘掉纽约。 造成地理混乱，需修改] When my mother found out, she was so angry that, for the first time, she didn’t try to manipulate me emotionally but instead cursed me out on the phone and vowed never to care for me again. To survive