Chapter 4

I swiped my keycard, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button for my floor.

David stood next to me, not daring to say a word.

When the elevator doors opened, I walked up to my door, pulled out my keys, and unlocked it.

The living room lights were on, and a woman with long hair and a floral dress sat curled on the sofa, holding a cup of yogurt. It was Sophia.

She paused for a second when she saw me walk in.

Then she spotted David behind me, and her expression shifted instantly.

"David, you..." she started.

"Sophia," I said, cutting her off.

She stared back without speaking.

"Do you honestly think this is your home now?" I asked.

She stood up and took a step back. "And who are you?"

"I'm Emily Brooks," I said. "David's wife, and the one who owns this apartment."

Her face went pale. "His wife? He... he said you two were already divorced..."

I shot David a look. "Well, we're divorced now?"

David kept his head down, not saying a word.

"I must have missed the paperwork. When did that happen?" I said.

"Emily, I can explain this..." David said.

"Then explain. Right here. With her listening," I said casually.

He didn't say a word.

Sophia looked from me to him, her voice trembling. "David, you told me your marriage was over. You said you were living separate lives."

I almost laughed. "Separate lives? I knitted him a scarf last month."

Her eyes filled with tears. "David... you lied to me."

"Sophia, please, just listen to me..." David said.

"You said she never cared. That she was always at work. You said you'd wanted a divorce for ages, just never had the right chance..." she continued.

"Sophia," I interrupted her. "Are you pregnant?"

She froze. "How did you know? He told you, right?"

She didn't deny it, and that was confirmation enough.

I turned to David. "David, what now? What are you going to do?"

"Emily, about this..." David started.

"Go on," I said.

He just stood there, looking completely helpless.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Yes. She is pregnant."

I nodded. "So?"

"So I... I mean, I..." he stammered.

"You want me to just step aside and let you two be together, huh?" I said.

He looked up at me, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Emily, let's just end things on good terms. I'll make it up to you..."

Make it up to me? I laughed. "David, this apartment cost 790 thousand dollars. I put down 330 thousand for the down payment, and I've been covering the mortgage for three years.

"There's still twenty-two years to go. And my name is the only one on the title."

"But... but we got it after we were married, so it's supposed to be ours together..." David mumbled.

"Wrong. I bought it before we were married. The down payment was paid before the wedding, and the deed was in my name before you ever showed up. Can you prove you ever paid a dime for this place?" I snapped.

He was at a loss. "I..."

"David, for the past three years, all you've ever given me is 1,000 dollars a month for living expenses. I've got the bills to prove it. But what about everything else—the house, the renovations, the furniture, the appliances? Did you pay for any of that?" I asked.

"I thought... I thought that's what marriage meant..." he muttered.

"Marriage," I repeated, staring him down. "So you just assume everything I have belongs to you? You think you can use my house to support your girlfriend?"

Sophia stood off to the side, her face completely drained of color.

"Emily, I swear, I really didn't know..." she said.

"Didn't know what?" I shot back. "That he had a wife? That this is my apartment? That you've been sleeping in my bed and lounging on my sofa?"

"He told me you two were already living apart, and that he bought this place himself..." Sophia explained.

"He told you that?" I let out a sharp laugh. "What else did he tell you? That he was a manager? That he made 100,000 a year?"

Sophia went quiet.

I looked at her face and suddenly got it. "You got played too, huh?"

She bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. "He said... he said once he got promoted, he'd divorce you and marry me..."

"Get promoted?" I laughed. "He's just a regular employee at his company, pulling in 3,000 dollars a month. Promotion? What kind of promotion is he even talking about?"

Sophia's expression shifted through shock, fury, and betrayal, and she looked like she was about to fall apart.

"David," she said, turning toward him, her voice trembling, "you lied to me."

"Sophia, I didn't lie to you. I... I just..." David stammered.

"Just what? You said you were a manager. You said this place was yours. You said your marriage was dead. Every single thing you told me was a lie," Sophia snapped.

David just stood there, completely speechless.

Watching them, I felt exhaustion sink through me.

"Alright, that's enough," I said. "Sophia, pack your things and leave."

"What?" she asked, as if she couldn't believe what she'd heard.

"I said, pack your stuff and go." I stared her down. "Since you're pregnant, go find the father of your child. This is my place, not yours."

She stood there, stunned. "But... but David said..."

"So you just buy whatever he tells you?" I pointed at the door. "Out."

"Emily," David blurted out, desperate. "She's pregnant with my kid. You can't just kick her out like this."

"Your kid?" I shot him a look. "That's your problem, not mine."

"We're married..." he muttered.

"Yes, we're married, so you expect me to clear out for your mistress and bless your happy little family of three?" I shot back.

"That's not what I meant..." he said, his voice quiet.

"Then what do you mean, huh?" I pressed.

He just stood there, speechless.

I took a deep breath. "David, I'm giving you two options."

"What options?" he asked.

"First, you leave with her now. We go to the courthouse, sign the papers, and you walk away with nothing. The house stays mine," I said calmly.

"What?" he blurted out.

"Second, if you don't agree, I'll call the police. Illegally staying in someone else's home is a crime," I added.

"Emily, please, don't do this..." David pleaded.

"Don't do what?" I kept my eyes fixed on him. "You moved another woman into my home. You let her sleep in my bed for three months. Tell me, David, what part of that makes you think you have any right to ask for anything?"

His face flushed bright red. "But... this house is partly mine."

"Which part of this place do you think belongs to you?" I shot back.

I walked over to the bookshelf, grabbed the deed, and held it out to him. "Go ahead, see for yourself. Whose name is on it?"

He glanced at it and fell silent.

"Emily Brooks," I said. "Just my name. I bought this place way before we got married. It's got nothing to do with you."

"But I helped with the mortgage after we were married..." David muttered.

"Really? How much? Do you have any proof? Do you have a single bank statement, or a transfer with your name on it?"

He couldn't say a word.