Chapter 3

After the police left, the house fell silent.

Emily didn't dare stay. Hugging the dog to her chest, she walked out the door, but not before glancing back at Adam.

Adam didn't go after her. He stood in the middle of the living room, looking like he'd been slapped.

Linda sat on the couch, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

Richard turned off the TV, his expression stormy.

I walked into the master bedroom. The sheets were dirty, and the vanity was a mess. A lipstick had been twisted off, and foundation was spilled across the table. The perfume bottle was almost empty.

I pulled out my phone and started snapping photos of everything, one by one.

Adam followed me in. "You're still taking pictures?"

I didn't look up. "Just gathering evidence."

He held back his frustration. "Charlotte, Emily borrowed a few things. Did you really have to call the cops?"

I stopped what I was doing. "You were there when she went into my room. You were there when she took my stuff.

"You were there when her dog climbed onto my bed. And now you want to know if I'm overreacting?"

Adam's voice grew harder. "She got back and has nowhere to stay. My mom felt bad for her and let her stay for dinner. Did you really have to make things so hard for her?"

I looked at him. "How is that my problem?"

Adam's face darkened. "When did you become so heartless?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Heartless? My dad spent one million dollars on this place, and you all treat it like a free guesthouse.

"Your ex barged into my master bedroom, used my stuff, and I called the police to stand up for my rights and privacy. And you call me heartless?"

Adam was left speechless.

Linda shouted from the living room, "Adam, don't argue with her! She thinks she's better than everyone else because she owns the house now!"

I walked out. "Exactly."

Linda was stunned.

I stood by the coffee table and picked up a copy of the deed. "This house is mine. So from now on, I make the rules here."

Richard let out a cold laugh. "You think you can stir things up? We're Adam's parents. Do we need your permission to live here now?"

I said, "This is my house. When you moved in, I never charged you a single dollar in rent.

"I pay for the utilities, the property fees, the groceries, and the cooking. That massage chair you picked out? I paid for that too.

"Your son spends his whole paycheck every month paying off his car loan. So don't try to lord it over me just because you're older. I don't owe you anything."

Linda's face flushed red, then turned pale. "You married into the Harper family. Isn't it your duty to be filial to your in-laws?"

"Sure," I nodded. "But since your son married into my house, shouldn't he be showing some filial piety to my dad too?"

The living room fell silent again.

Adam snapped, "Charlotte, don't be so mean!"

I looked at him. "Too mean? Alright, let me say it more nicely.

"By tonight, your parents need to pack up and head back to your old place. And you're going too."

Linda shot up from the couch. "Why? We're settled here. Why should we have to leave?"

I pulled out my phone and tapped open the property payment records. "Because the homeowner says no.

"If you don't leave, I'll report it to property management tomorrow. And if you sneak in again, I'll call the police every single time."

Richard jabbed a finger at me. "You wouldn't dare!"

I set my phone down on the table. "Watch me."

Adam stared at me like he was seeing a stranger. "Charlotte, have you been wanting out of this marriage from the very start?"

I didn't answer right away.

I remembered the day before my wedding, when my dad pressed the house keys into my hand.

His hands were rough, his eyes rimmed with red. He said, "I don't have much to give you, but at least I can leave you a place where you can shut the door and feel safe."

Back then, I even stood up for Adam. I told my dad, "He treats me well, so his family will too."

Looking back, I found my dad saw things more clearly than I ever did.

I said, "Before today, I never even considered it. But now, I am."

Adam's face went pale.

Linda shrieked, "Adam, did you hear that? She's threatening you with divorce!

"You can't let her get away with this. Divorce her right now."

I nodded. "Alright. I'll write up the divorce agreement. The house stays with me. Whoever's paying the car loan keeps the car. We'll split any joint savings fifty-fifty. And you all move out."

Adam gritted his teeth. "Don't regret it later."

I looked at him. "You're the one who'll regret it."

Just then, my phone rang. It was the property manager. I picked up.

The manager sounded hesitant. "Ms. Summers, sorry to bother you. A Mrs. Harper just came by, claiming to be your mother-in-law.

"She had your access card and a handwritten authorization letter, asking us to issue her a permanent resident card."

My eyes went cold.

The manager continued, "She also said you'd agreed to let Ms. Foster stay in the master bedroom for a while. Is that true?"

I gripped my phone, my eyes fixed on Linda.

She'd been all fired up a moment ago, but at that moment, she looked away, avoiding my eyes.

I told the manager, "That's not true. I never authorized anyone to add a permanent resident card.

"And I never agreed to let Emily stay in the master bedroom. Please snap a photo of that handwritten letter and send it to me."

The manager replied right away, "Got it, Ms. Summers. Also, Mrs. Harper is still at the property office."

I smiled. "Please keep her there for me. I'll be right over."

After I hung up, the living room was so quiet it felt like the air had frozen.

Linda was the first to break the silence. "Why are you looking at me like that? I wanted to make things easier, so I went to the property office to get a card. What's the big deal?"

I looked at her. "Are you worried about your own convenience, or Emily's?"

Linda's face changed. "Don't make stuff up."

Adam frowned. "Mom, you actually went to the property office to get a card?"

Linda shot back at me, "Everything I do is for this family, okay?

"Your dad and I aren't getting any younger. Having to swipe a card every single time we come and go. It's such a pain.

"Emily just got back from abroad, and she's only staying for a few days. Why is it such a big deal to get her a card?"

I asked, "If she's only staying for a few days, why does she need a long-term access card?"

She was left speechless.

I pressed on, "And why does that authorization letter say I agreed? Who gave you the guts to act as if I agreed?"

Linda was so flustered she snapped, "I'm your mother-in-law! Why can't I make a few decisions around here?

"You married Adam, so this house is basically the Harper family's front door. It's what people see when they look at us.

"You're the daughter-in-law. Do you have to keep bringing up the deed all the time?"