Chapter 1

[400, 000 dollars.] I stared at my phone, the text message about the demolition compensation still glowing on the screen.

My parents' old house had been torn down, and the money had been deposited into my account.

I was about to tell my husband, Alex Carter, the good news, but he said, "Emma, the compensation came in, right?"

He smiled. "My cousin Sophie wants to buy a car. Transfer 120, 000 to her."

I froze for three seconds. "What?"

"She's my cousin. Our family." He said it like it was obvious. "Besides, the money is from your parents, but you're my wife, so it's ours, isn't it?"

I set down my phone and looked at him.

Three years into this marriage, I was seeing this man clearly for the first time.

"Wait here." I grabbed my purse.

"Where are you going?"

"The bank." I didn't look back. "I need to check whether this money is really 'ours'."

*****

Standing at the bank's self-service machine, I checked my account history for the past three months.

400, 000 dollars landed in my account at 3 PM yesterday.

And at 10 AM this morning, I noticed a transfer out.

The recipient: Sophie White.

Amount: 120, 000 dollars.

Description: Car purchase.

I took a screenshot, saved it, and let my finger hover over the screen for a long time.

120, 000 dollars. My parents spent their whole lives saving up, living in that old house for thirty years.

The demolition payout was 400, 000 dollars, and he took 120, 000 dollars without blinking to buy a car for his "cousin."

I opened WhatsApp and scrolled way up in our chat history until I finally found where Alex mentioned his "cousin Sophie."

At last year's office party, he pointed at a girl in a white dress and said, "This is my cousin Sophie. She joined the company. You guys should get to know her."

Back then, I thought she looked pretty sweet, with two little dimples when she smiled.

But thinking back on it, I found something was definitely off about the way Alex looked at her that day.

I opened Apple Pay and checked the transfer records.

My hands shook as I went through the records.

Over the past two years, Alex sent Sophie countless transfers, ranging from small amounts to large sums of money.

I added them up, triple-checking the total.

It was 80, 000 dollars. With 120, 000 dollars, it made a total of 200, 000 dollars.

I took a deep breath, opened WhatsApp, and messaged Alex: [Where are you?]

Alex replied instantly: [At a meeting. What's up?]

[Nothing. Come home early tonight. I'll make your favorite food.]

[Okay.]

I put my phone away and walked out of the bank.

The sunlight was blinding, so I raised my hand to shield my eyes. I suddenly felt like laughing.

For three years of marriage, I always thought I'd married a reliable guy.

Alex worked in sales. His income wasn't anything special, but he gave me his paycheck every month and was pretty considerate to me.

When I was pregnant, he always remembered to buy prenatal vitamins for me and went with me to every checkup.

I thought we'd keep going like this: have a kid, buy a house, and live a simple, ordinary life together.

I had to wonder what was really behind all that "thoughtfulness."

I rubbed my belly. I was twelve weeks along, and my bump was already showing.

At yesterday's checkup, the doctor said the baby was perfectly healthy.

I was planning to tell Alex both pieces of good news: the baby and the compensation money. We could use it for a down payment on a house, finally giving our child a real home.

But the first thing he said was, "Transfer 120, 000 dollars to Sophie for a car."

I took a cab home, my mind a mess the whole way.

Alex kept saying Sophie was his cousin, but honestly, I'd never once heard his mom mention this so-called "cousin."

And those transfer records... No one would send that much money to a cousin.

The more I thought about it, the more something didn't add up.

*****

When I got home, I turned on my computer and logged into Alex's WhatsApp account.

I knew his password. It was his birthday, and mine put together: a six-digit code he'd never bothered to change.

I used to think that meant he trusted me.

But at this time, I figured maybe he assumed I'd never bother to check.

I got into Alex's WhatsApp account.

I clicked into his chat with Sophie.

The first message was sent three years ago.

Alex: [Hey, Sophie. I got married.]

Sophie: [I know. I hope you'll be happy.]

Alex: [I'm sorry.]

Sophie: [You don't have to apologize. I'll wait for you.]

I stared at that line, "I'll wait for you," my fingers trembling.

I kept scrolling down.

For three years, they'd been chatting almost every single day.

Alex: [Babe, you must be exhausted today.]

Sophie: [Miss you, honey.]

Alex: [Once things calm down, let's take a trip to Sevieport.]

Sophie: [When are you finally going to leave her?]

Alex: [Soon, wait till she's had the baby.]

The last message was from 11 PM last night.

Alex: [The compensation money came in. I'll send you 120, 000 dollars tomorrow. Go car shopping.]

Sophie: [You're the best, babe! I want an Audi A4L.]

Alex: [Anything for you.]

I closed the laptop and sat on the couch, frozen for ages.

Then, my baby gave me a gentle kick, like a little reminder: "Mom, I'm still here."

I rubbed my belly, and suddenly, I felt calm.

Alex told her: [Soon, wait till she's had the baby.]

So that was all I was to him, a baby-making machine.

Once I had the baby, he'd dump me and run off with his "true love," Sophie.

I grabbed my phone and hit record.

Then I called Alex's mom, Margaret Carter. "Margaret, it's me, Emma."

"What is it?" Margaret replied, sounding a bit impatient.

"The demolition payout hit my account. 400, 000 dollars. Alex said he wants to send 120, 000 dollars to Sophie for a car. Were you aware of this?"

"Of course I know," Margaret said, not missing a beat. "Sophie's his cousin. She's family. So what if he buys her a car?"

"But—"

"But what?" Margaret cut me off. "Your parents got 400, 000 dollars from the demolition.

"So what if my son spends 120, 000 dollars? You're married. What's yours is his."

I took a deep breath. "Margaret, can I ask whose cousin Sophie is, exactly? I've never once heard you talk about her."

There was a two-second silence on the other end.

"Why are you asking so many questions?" Margaret said. "She's family, that's all you need to know. Give Alex the money and let him take care of it."

"Alright, got it."

I hung up and saved the recording.

Margaret's reaction confirmed what I'd suspected all along.

She knew Sophie was no cousin at all.

She was playing dumb, helping her son keep up the act.

I opened my phone's notes app and started making a list.

That was not enough proof yet.

I needed more evidence.

I opened the website for a private detective agency. Grace recommended it to me. She used them last year to catch her cheating husband.

I filled out the form and uploaded photos of Alex and Sophie.

[Request: Hotel records, proof they lived together, and photos if possible.]

I hit submit.

The detective replied almost instantly: [Got it. You'll have the results in three days. The fee is 2,700 dollars.]

[Okay.]

I transferred the money.

2,700 dollars was no big deal for me now.

What I wanted was a clear-cut answer.

*****

At 7 PM, Alex came home.

I'd already made his favorite pan-fried steak and cooked up some soup.

"Babe, why are you being so sweet today?" Alex said with a grin as he sat down at the table.

I ladled him a plate of soup. "Didn't you say you wanted pan-fried steak?"

"Yeah, you're the best," Alex said, taking a sip of soup. "By the way, did you send the 120, 000 dollars yet?"

"Not yet," I said. "I want to be clear. How is Sophie your cousin again?"

Alex paused for a moment, then smiled. "She's a distant cousin on my mom's side. Normally, you haven't met her."

"Got it." I nodded. "But why does she need a car already? Didn't she start her job?"

"It's for work," Alex said. "She has to visit clients, and it's tough without a car."

"Then why doesn't she get a loan herself?"

"She just graduated and doesn't have enough credit history for a loan," Alex replied, getting impatient. "Why are you asking so many questions? Give me a straight answer. Are you sending it or not?"

I looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Alright," I said. "I'll send it tomorrow."

"That's what I like to hear," Alex said, finally relaxing as he grabbed a piece of pan-fried steak. "You're so generous, babe."

I kept my head down and ate, not saying a word.

What Alex didn't know was that I'd already gone to the law firm this afternoon.

The lawyer, Julia Taylor, was in her forties and very professional.

She looked over my evidence and said, "The key here is your parents' intention.

"If they have a written statement clearly stating the money was a gift to you personally, then it's your premarital property and has nothing to do with Alex."

"My parents said at the time that the money was for me," I said.

Julia said, "Then have them write a statement, as detailed as possible, and get it notarized.

"As for the cheating evidence, chat logs are okay, but it's better to have hotel records, photos, or videos. Something more concrete."

"I've already hired a private detective."

"Good," Julia said. "Also, since you're pregnant, that's a big advantage for you.

"If you divorce, you'll almost certainly get custody, and Alex will have to pay child support."

"I want the baby," I said. "But I don't want him."

"I understand," Julia said. "Right now, keep gathering evidence. When the time is right, we'll settle everything at once."

"I don't want anything else. I want him to give back the 120, 000 dollars, plus the 80, 000 he sent to Sophie in the last two years.

"That's 200, 000 dollars total."

"That's something we can go after," Julia said. "Just be ready, though. It might drag on for a few months."

"I'm not afraid," I said. "I've got all the time in the world."

After leaving the law firm, I went to the bank, opened a new account, and moved the rest of the money, 280, 000, over.

Alex can forget about touching a single dollar of that 280, 000.

*****

Early the next morning, I went back to my hometown.

My parents were living in a rented apartment, in the transition period after the demolition, waiting for their new house to be handed over.

"Why are you back so suddenly, Emma?" my mom asked, a little surprised to see me.

"Mom, I need you and Dad to help me out with something," I said, pulling out a document Julia had printed for me. "It's to show the compensation was meant for me alone, not for Alex and me."

My mom froze. "What's going on? Did you two have a fight?"

I shook my head. "No, it's that the lawyer said it's better to have everything clear for the future."

My dad glanced at the document. "What does this mean?"

"It means the 400, 000 dollars is specifically a gift from you to me, and has nothing to do with Alex," I explained. "If anything ever comes up, it'll be easier for the law to recognize it as mine."

"What kind of dispute?" My mom frowned. "Emma, is something going on between you and Alex?"

I went quiet for a few seconds, trying to steady myself, then said, "Mom, the demolition money hit my account yesterday.

"Alex asked me to send 120, 000 dollars to some woman so she could buy a car."

"What?" My mom practically shouted, her voice shooting up. "Who is she? Tell me!"

"He claims she's his cousin," I said, my tone flat. "But I checked his transfer history. Over the past two years, he's sent Sophie 80, 000 dollars."

My dad's face fell. "80, 000 dollars?"

"Yeah," I said, pulling out my phone and showing them the screenshots. "Check this out. These are all the transfers and their chat messages, too."

My mom's hands were shaking as she finished reading. "That bastard! Emma, you're carrying his child."

"Mom, please try to stay calm," I said. "Right now, I need you and Dad to sign this document, then we'll get it notarized. When I divorce him, he won't get a single cent."

"Divorce?" My mom's eyes filled with tears. "Emma, you..."

"Mom, I've made up my mind," I said. "A man like that isn't worth my future. I'm keeping the baby, and I'll raise the child on my own."

My dad took a deep breath, picked up the pen, and said, "I'll sign it."

"David," my mom said, her voice trembling.

"Sign it," my dad said firmly. "This money is for our daughter, not for that bastard."

My parents signed the document, and I took them to the notary office.

The notary glanced at the document, then at my belly, and asked, "You're pregnant?"

"Twelve weeks," I replied.

"Does the father know you're getting this notarized?" the notary asked.

"No," I said. "But it's what my parents want, and it's totally legit."

The notary nodded and took care of the paperwork.

Once I had the notarized document in hand, I could finally breathe easy.

The 280, 000 dollars was finally safe.

All that was left was to get back the 200, 000 dollars.

That afternoon, the private detective sent me a message: [Alex and Sophie hooked up at hotels 47 times. The first time was three years ago.]

Attached was a detailed Excel spreadsheet, with every single date, hotel, and room number listed in detail.

Three years. 47 times in three years.

When I was pregnant, he claimed he was swamped at work and disappeared for three months.

When I was recovering after giving birth, he said he had endless business dinners and stayed out all night.

Every single night, he was with her instead.

The detective sent over a few more photos.

Alex and Sophie were walking down the street, hand in hand.

Alex pulled Sophie close and kissed her right there on the street.

Sophie was sitting in a white Audi A4L, grinning from ear to ear.

The photos were taken yesterday.

Just 27 hours after the compensation money landed in my account, he was already out with Sophie picking up her new car.

I saved all the files and took a deep breath.

I got all the evidence.

*****

That night, Alex came home late.

"Babe, I had to drink with clients today. I'm exhausted," he said, collapsing onto the couch.

"You must be tired," I said, handing him a glass of water. "By the way, when do you need that 120, 000 dollars?"

"I already sent it," Alex said. "I used your phone to transfer the money at noon today. Didn't you notice?"

Emma froze. "When?"

"While you were in the bathroom," Alex replied casually. "Your phone was sitting there on the table, so I went ahead and did it. You said you'd send it anyway, so it was a matter of time."

I gripped the glass tighter.

He didn't bother to ask me. He grabbed my phone and sent 120, 000 dollars without waiting for my permission.

"Sophie picked up her car today. She was really happy," Alex said with a grin. "She said she wanted to thank you."

"Is that so?" Emma replied, her voice calm and distant. "Good for her."

"By the way, my mom said she's coming to stay for a while in a few days," Alex said. "Can you get the guest room ready?"

"Okay." I turned and walked into the bedroom.

*****

Once the door was closed, I leaned against it, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

My phone buzzed. It was a bank notification: [120, 000 dollars has been transferred out of your account. Current balance: 280, 000 dollars.]

I opened my phone and checked the transfer records.

The recipient: Sophie White.

Transfer time: 12:23 PM today.

Description: Car payment.

So that was right when I was at the notary's office back in my hometown.

He waited until I was out, then used my phone behind my back to send the money.

I took a screenshot and saved it. Another piece of evidence.

Wasn't there a legal term for someone grabbing their partner's card and sending 120, 000 dollars without asking?

I opened the file Julia had sent me.

I found it: [If one spouse takes joint assets without the other's permission, the other can ask for them back and get compensation.]

But the thing was, the compensation money had already been notarized as my personal property.

So it wasn't joint marital property. It was my personal property.

So what should I call it when Alex grabbed 120, 000 dollars from my own money without asking me?

It was a theft.

I let out a cold laugh.

Just you wait, Alex.

*****

On the third day, Margaret showed up.

She walked in with two big bags and immediately started barking orders. "Emma, get my room ready. I'm staying here for a while."

"Okay, Margaret," I said.

"Twelve weeks pregnant and your belly still isn't showing?" Margaret eyed me up and down. "Are you malnourished or something?"

"The doctor said the baby's perfectly healthy."

"As long as the baby's healthy, that's all that matters," Margaret said. "By the way, Alex told me about the compensation money.

"400, 000 dollars, and he's already spent 120, 000.

"You better keep an eye on the remaining 280, 000 and don't go blowing it."

I smiled. "Margaret, that money came from my parents."

"What's yours is Alex's, and what's your parents' is yours, so it's all the same, right? We're family. Why draw lines between us?" Margaret said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Then why did he give Sophie 120, 000 dollars? Is she considered family too?"

Margaret paused for a second. "She's Alex's cousin, so of course she's family."

"But I've never seen her at our house," I said. "Margaret, do you really have a niece named Sophie?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?" Margaret snapped, clearly getting annoyed. "Alex told you to send the money. Just send it. What's with all the questions?"

I took a deep breath. "Margaret, I want to know who Sophie really is."

"I told you, she's his cousin!" Margaret snapped, her voice rising. "Why are you being so difficult?"

"Then can you tell me which of your sisters she's the daughter of?"

Margaret's face changed. "Emma, what are you trying to do? Are you interrogating me or something?"

"I want to understand," I said. "120, 000 dollars isn't exactly pocket change."

"What's the big deal about 120, 000 dollars? Your parents gave you 400, 000, and Alex only spent 120, 000.

"There's still 280, 000 left! Isn't that enough for you?"

I looked at her and suddenly laughed.

"You're right, Margaret," I said. "I should be grateful. So, how do you think the rest should be spent?"

"Of course, save it for a house," Margaret said. "Alex said he wants to get a bigger place downtown so the baby will have a good home."

"But a place downtown goes for at least 1 million dollars these days," I said. "280, 000 is enough for the down payment.

"We'd still have to borrow some, and the monthly mortgage would be at least 5,000."

"Then get a mortgage," Margaret said. "You and Alex can't handle a 5,000 payment between the two of you?"

"I make 2,500 dollars a month, and Alex makes 5,000 dollars. After taxes and insurance, we take home less than 6,000 dollars together.

"After paying the mortgage, we have 1,000 dollars left. That has to cover food, the baby, and all the favors we owe. Is that enough?"

"Then cut back," Margaret said. "Back when I was raising Alex, I managed on 100 dollars a month."

"Margaret, that was thirty years ago," I said. "Now, a can of formula costs 100 dollars."

"So you're saying we shouldn't buy a house?" Margaret's face darkened.

"I'm not saying we shouldn't buy a house," I said. "I want to talk to you about whether you could help with the down payment."

"Me?" Margaret's eyes widened. "Where am I supposed to get the money?"

"Your pension is 2,300 dollars a month. You must've saved up quite a bit over the years, right?"

"That's my retirement fund!" Margaret shot back. "Are you after my savings now?"

"I'm not," I replied. "I think buying a house is a big deal. Both families should pitch in, not rely on the money my parents got from the demolition."

"Your parents got 400, 000 dollars from the demolition payout. That's plenty!

"My son already used some of it, and you still have the guts to ask me for money?"

I took a deep breath, trying not to laugh.

Margaret's logic never changed: Alex spending my money? That was how it was. Me asking her for cash? Fat chance.

"Okay, Margaret, I get it," I said. "Let's put the house on hold for now."

"Put it on hold?" Margaret snapped. "Alex said we have to buy a house this year!"

"Then let him figure it out," I replied. "My parents' money is already gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Margaret asked, surprised. "Isn't there still 280, 000 dollars left?"

"That money's already set aside for something else."

"Seriously, what for?"

"For myself. Margaret, I'm exhausted. I need a break."

I turned and headed back to the bedroom, with Margaret still shouting in the living room. "Emma! Explain yourself. What are you planning to do with that 280, 000 dollars?"

I closed the door, and at last, peace.

My phone rang. It was Julia. "Emma, I've received the notarized document from your parents. The demolition payout is officially yours now.

"You can take Alex to court and get your 120, 000 dollars back."

"Okay," I replied. "I have another question. What does it mean if he used my phone behind my back to transfer money?"

"If the amount is significant, you could report it to the police," Julia said. "But I suggest you wait until the divorce proceedings. It'll be more advantageous for you."

"Got it."