Chapter 3
By nine o'clock, Andrew still hadn't come home.
I didn't bother waiting for him.
I started packing up my things in the walk-in closet.
I tossed my bank card, ID, and a few outfits into a suitcase.
I wasn't planning to stay here much longer.
My phone buzzed.
It was a message on WhatsApp.
From Crystal.
Crystal had actually added me on WhatsApp.
Crystal: [Susan, are you home? Andrew asked me to bring over a contract. He said he'll pick it up after you sign.]
She even threw in a smiley face.
She made even pushing me to sign a contract seem like no big deal.
I didn't bother replying.
Another message popped up.
Crystal: [Susan, Andrew's working late at the office tonight, so I'm bringing the contract over for him, okay?]
Working late.
At the office.
Half a minute later, my phone buzzed with a bank notification.
It was a spending alert from Andrew's secondary card: [Luna Bay Grand Hotel, 3,333 dollars.]
It looked like he was living it up at a hotel instead of "working late".
I took a screenshot and saved it to a special folder.
That folder already had more than thirty screenshots in it.
It included hotel bills, luxury store receipts, jewelry purchases.
Every single one was from his secondary card.
Every dollar he blew on Crystal.
I never confronted him, never asked, never made a fuss.
It wasn't because I didn't care.
It was because every screenshot would be proof, sooner or later.
The doorbell rang.
I opened the door.
Crystal was standing there, rocking this year's latest trench coat, folder in hand.
She gave me a polite, gentle smile. "Hope I'm not interrupting, Susan."
I stepped aside. "Come in."
She kicked off her shoes and slipped on some slippers, her eyes quickly scanning the living room.
Her eyes lingered on the suitcase. "Heading out on a trip, Susan?"
"Yeah, going back home to handle a few things."
"Oh," she said, setting the folder down on the coffee table. "Andrew asked me to bring this over. He said if everything looks good, sign it."
I opened the folder.
It looked like the exact same contract.
No, something was different.
The licensing fee had doubled; from 160,000 to 300,000.
300,000 dollars a year, huh.
Wow, such "generosity". I could almost shed a tear.
"Crystal, did you actually read this contract?" I asked, my tone laced with sarcasm.
She paused for a moment, then flashed a smile. "I'm here to drop it off. I wouldn't dare look at the details."
"Is that so?" I slipped the contract back into the folder. "Let Andrew know I'm not signing."
She froze. "Susan?"
"Did you hear me? I'm not signing. Not a single word."
I picked up the folder from the coffee table and shoved it back into her hands.
"You..." Her smile faltered for a split second.
"It's getting late, Crystal. You should head home." I opened the door.
She stood there for a few seconds, then nodded with a smile. "Got it, Susan. I'll let Andrew know."
Right as she was about to leave, she suddenly turned around. "You know, Andrew's already treated you pretty well."
She met my eyes, calm and unflinching. "300,000 dollars a year? Most people would've jumped at that."
I leaned on the doorframe, my gaze dropping to the high heels she wore in my hallway.
Limited edition. Of course.
That purchase was in my evidence folder too.
"Crystal." I called out her.
She replied, "Hm?"
"Those shoes you're wearing? 38,000 dollars."
Her smile froze for a second.
"That bag in your hand? 120,000. That trench coat? 76,000." I continued.
"Susan..."
"All on my husband's secondary card."
I shut the door.
There was a long silence outside.
Then I heard the sound of her high heels clicking away.
Faster and faster.