Chapter 9

Queenie's agitation grew with each passing thought, though outwardly, she maintained an air of selfless consideration for Joseph. Joseph, for once, didn't heed her. He even patted her hand reassuringly, saying, "It's no big deal. It's just a small birthday gift. You haven't forgotten, have you? I told you that Winona would present you with an apology gift, and if you weren't satisfied, I'd continue to keep her at arm's length until you were. What do you think? Is this gift to your liking?" Upon hearing that, the guests in the audience invariably looked up, turning their attention toward the stage. Although their social circle had always been small, some of them had married wives whose reputations were less than stellar. Yet, no matter how badly their wives behaved, they would still protect their dignity in public. After all, one should never air one's dirty laundry. Thus, this was the first time they had seen a husband like Joseph openly present his wife's apology gift to another w