Chapter 2
Edward frowned.
"What's with your attitude?"
"I'm just being myself."
I stood up, laptop in my arms.
He blocked the doorway.
"I can't even ask you a question? Don't forget, I'm the one who bought this place."
"Your mom paid the down payment, and I've been covering the mortgage for three years."
"Do we really have to keep track of everything between us?"
I looked him right in the eye.
"Your money goes straight to your mom, mine pays the mortgage, and all I get is 3 bucks a day. Is that your idea of family?"
His face darkened.
"Here we go again. Is money the only thing you care about?"
I slipped past him and headed back to the bedroom.
Less than ten minutes after I submitted the overseas assignment form, Richard messaged me.
"Sign the papers at nine tomorrow morning. Your flight's already booked," he said.
I replied with a simple "Okay."
The next day, I took half a day off.
As I was heading out, Margaret slammed a bill on the dining table.
"This month's property fees and utilities total 1253 dollars. Pay it before you get off work," she said.
I glanced at it.
"Let Edward pay it," I said.
"His money's for investments."
"So is mine."
She slammed her fork down on the table.
"You married into the Harrington Family. Isn't it your job to help out with the bills?"
"Then let's go fifty-fifty."
"My son earns the money, you take care of the home. That's how it works."
I grabbed my bag.
"His money never even comes into this house."
Margaret chased after me to the door.
"Emily, if you don't pay today, don't even think about using the utilities in this house ever again!"
I shut the door behind me.
When I got to the office, Richard slid the contract across the desk to me.
"There's a snag with the project. The Rosenheim Business Partner wants the entire plan redone, and the last project manager already bailed. If you want to back out, now's your chance," he said.
"Is the package still the same as in the email?" I asked.
"Yep."
"And what about my authority on the project?"
"You'll have full control over the Rosenheim Operations Branch's team and budget."
I flipped to the last page and signed my name without hesitation.
Richard gathered up the contract.
"Your flight's at ten in the morning, three days from now. The company apartment's ready for you. Need us to talk to your family?"
"No need."
I'd been with the company for seven years.
After we got married, Edward insisted someone had to look after the house, so I gave up two promotions.
The first time was when Margaret had her gallbladder surgery.
I took a month off, staying with her from the day she was admitted until she was discharged.
The second time was when Edward got promoted to regional manager.
He said he had too many business dinners, so I had to be home on time to cook, so his mom wouldn't have to lift a finger.
Now, the third chance was staring me in the face.
This time, I wasn't letting it go.
That afternoon, I went to the bank and canceled the automatic mortgage payments. Then I moved all my premarital savings into my personal account.
The house was titled in Margaret's name.
For the past three years, I'd paid 160,000 dollars toward her mortgage.
I downloaded and printed every record, then gave them to Attorney James Mason, the lawyer Olivia Green recommended.
After he finished looking over the documents, he asked, "Are you planning to divorce?"
"Yeah, I'm getting ready for it."
"When are you going to confront them?"
"After I return from Rosenheim."
"Why not now?"
"Some things, I need them to admit on their own."
James shot me a glance, then stuffed the documents into a file bag.
"You need to keep all your chat logs and call recordings. You can demand repayment for the mortgage, and we'll have to recalculate the joint property."
When I got home that night, there was still no dinner waiting for me.
I didn't even blink. I just walked straight into the bedroom and started packing my things.
Passport, laptop, all my documents, and three changes of clothes. Just the essentials.
Everything fit neatly into a single 24-inch suitcase.
Edward finally came home at eleven that night.
He froze the moment he spotted the suitcase by the door.
"You're going on a business trip?" he asked, his voice tight.
"Yeah," I said, not looking up.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Haven't decided yet."
He tossed his jacket at me.
"Next week is my mom's birthday. Don't screw it up. She wants that gold necklace—12,600 dollars. You're buying it."
The jacket landed on the floor with a thud.
I didn't catch it.
"Her son makes 600,000 dollars a year. Let him buy it."
Edward glared at me, clearly not expecting that answer.
"My mom worked hard to raise me. Can't you show a little appreciation?"
"What am I supposed to do with just 3 dollars?"
"Are you really going to keep harping on this?"
I zipped up my suitcase, the sound sharp in the silence.
"3 dollars a day—that's the rule you and your mom set. I'm just following it."
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
After a shower, I booked a ride to the airport.
At one in the morning, my phone buzzed with a bank alert.
Mortgage payment failed.
A few minutes later, Margaret's bedroom door slammed open.
She stormed out, waving her phone and shrieking, "Why didn't you pay the mortgage this month?"
I set my phone face down on the nightstand.
"That's your house," I said, voice calm as ever.
She pointed at me, her hand shaking with rage.
"Say that again?" she demanded, almost losing it.