Chapter 6
Florida’s pearl farming industry was gradually maturing.
In my previous life, I worked at the fishery bureau in the city and dealt with many pearl farmers.
Since then, I’ve developed a strong interest in pearls.
If government employees hadn’t been prohibited from engaging in business, I would have partnered with others in the pearl industry long ago.
This time, I took the opportunity to make my mark in the pearl market.
Austin was very supportive, specifically contacting his fellow soldier to arrange temporary accommodation for me to rest.
When I had time, I would return to Florida and spend a few days with Austin. When busy, I might not contact him for ten days or even two weeks.
Within three months, I had figured out the local pearl farming situation.
Thanks to my previous work experience at the fishery bureau, establishing sales channels was effortless.
Before second–generation pearls even appeared on the market, I
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had already connected with over a hundred pearl merchants for fixed purchases.
Before Christmas, as a middleman, I had earned a substantial amount of money and quickly gathered ten thousand dollars.
The day I went to repay the debt, Alayna was stunned by my fashionable outfit as soon as I walked in.
After half a year, my skin had become smooth and radiant.
Alayna looked me up and down and said, “Looking at your face, you clearly didn’t go to Adak with Austin. You talked a good game, but in reality, you abandoned your husband in Adak while you enjoyed yourself.”
I said, “Who says I didn’t go? Austin and I went to Florida.”
“Florida? Wasn’t it supposed to be Adak?” Alayna looked confused.
I walked past her, took out a stack of crisp bills from my purse, and placed them in front of Gavin and Natalia.
I said, “Here’s ten thousand dollars, not a penny less. I’ve cleared my debt to you, and now we’re even!”
Gavin and Natalia grabbed the stack of money, counting it bill by bill, even more carefully than they had counted my wedding gifts.
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Natalia excitedly said, “It really is ten thousand dollars! Sienna, how did you earn this? Oh my, I didn’t realize you were so clever. What Alayna said back then was just out of anger. How can family be so calculating? We’re all family here, no need to be so formal.”
As she spoke, Natalia wrapped the money in her small floral handkerchief and tucked it into her pocket.
I knew that as soon as I left, she would hide it at the bottom of her clothes chest, where she kept gifts saved for Alayna’s wedding.
I said, “Farming and selling pearls. There’s a small town near Florida that produces pearls, and that’s where I made the money.”
At this point, Alayna couldn’t contain herself anymore and slammed her chair. “Sienna, explain yourself! You were supposed to be suffering in Adak, how did you…”
Seeing Alayna’s furious expression, I continued to play dumb. “Oh, who told you Austin was going to Adak? His transfer orders clearly stated Florida. I went with him and made some money nearby. What’s wrong with that?”
Alayna was so angry her lips trembled. “Then what was the point of me working so hard preparing for the SAT? I didn’t get into college, and now I can’t even find a tutor for my retake. If I
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had known this would happen, I might as well have married Austin myself!”
A few months ago, when the SAT results came out, Alayna’s scores were predictably disappointing.
The celebration they had prepared in advance went to waste, and they were mocked by the villagers.
Now the villagers often compared me and Alayna, saying I had become a soldier’s wife while she remained a farmer.
Alayna argued that she would definitely get in after retaking the exam, while I might never return from Adak.
With my return home to repay the debt, her psychological defenses completely collapsed.
She said, “I’m not taking the exam anymore! Whoever wants to take it can take it!”
Scraps of paper flew everywhere, and in an instant, test papers and workbooks fluttered down like snowflakes.
Alayna grabbed my collar, choking my neck painfully.
She snarled, “Go back and divorce Austin. Tell him there was a mistake–I was the one who saved him!”
I sneered, “On what grounds?”
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She grabbed the rolling pin from the counter and with a loud “bang,” my vision went blank.
When I regained consciousness, I was lying in the basement of the house.
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