Chapter 5
"He came back this time because he wants to settle down with you and the kid," Irene said.
Her words were so considerate.
She sounded just like a soulmate, always putting her lover's needs ahead of her own.
Now, some parents around us were casting curious glances our way.
I really didn't want Lara to be here, listening to this kind of nasty stuff.
"Ms. Tucker," I said.
My voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.
"You probably are mistaken," I said.
"What?" She blinked, caught off guard.
I said, "First, I'm not your so-called Mrs. Massy. My last name is Fairbank.
"Second, the Alban you keep talking about has no legal ties to me whatsoever.
"And third, and most importantly."
I paused, locking eyes with her.
"You have no right to interfere in my life or my daughter's. You're just an outsider," I said.
Irene's face went pale.
She probably hadn't expected me to be so straightforward, not holding back at all.
She bit her lip, her eyes started to well up with tears.
She said softly, "Ms. Fairbank, I'm not trying to cause any trouble.
"I just don't want a misunderstanding to keep you and Alban apart.
"He's a distinguished professor at one of the top universities in the country now. His future is incredibly bright.
"If your daughter is with him, she'll have everything she needs.
"It's really tough raising a kid on your own."
Every single word out of her mouth sounded like she was acting in my best interest.
But I could catch the subtext loud and clear.
She meant that Lara and I would only have a shot at happiness if we stayed with Alban. Without him, we would be nothing.
She was offering charity with one hand and threatening me with the other.
I laughed.
"Ms. Tucker, do you really think I can't live without Alban?" I shot back.
"No, that's not what I meant..." she hurried to deny it.
"So what gives you the right to talk about my daughter's future?" I demanded.
I stepped closer, locking eyes with her.
I pressed, "So, are you here as the homewrecker?
"Or just another girl in Professor Massy's collection of female Ph.D. students?
"You!" she choked out, unable to find any words to fight back.
Her face turned crimson, and tears spilled down her cheeks.
She looked utterly pathetic.
"Ms. Tucker, cut the crap," I said coldly.
I held Lara in my arms and walked right past her.
I shot back, "If you've got time to put on a show here, why don't you go ask your precious Alban?
"Did he ever tell you how much that house he signed away five years ago sold for last month?"
Irene's crying stopped dead, just like that.
I didn't even need to look back to feel her stiff, shocked, and totally dumbfounded gaze behind me.
Everyone thought I was holding onto that house, waiting for Alvan to come back.
But what they didn't know was, I'd already sold that so-called "home" and my past along with it. I'd let go of everything.
I worked for every inch and built my current home up from scratch.
Irene's expression was the most stunning sight I saw that evening, beautiful in its misery.
Her flawless makeup shattered in that instant.
Her shock morphed into panic, then simmered into resentment.
The look she gave me was no longer masked with fake sweetness. It was raw jealousy and hatred, plain as day.
She hated me, not just because I made her lose face in front of everyone.
It was because I destroyed the blueprint she'd been carefully crafting for five years.
She wanted to be with a renowned professor, live in a spacious penthouse in the heart of the city, and have a flawless life.
Now, the house was gone.
Her blueprint had collapsed halfway.
I held Lara in my arms as we headed home, in a really good mood.
I cooked up her favorite ribs for dinner.
Later that evening, I got a call from Gary.
"Ms. Fairbank," he said.
His voice was steady as ever, with a hint of amusement.
"Mr. Massy, your ex-husband, contacted me this afternoon," he said.
I raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all.
Irene was a smart woman.
She knew just how serious it was that the house was gone.
She'd definitely push Alban to get to the bottom of things.
"What did he say?" I asked.
"At first, he was extremely arrogant," Gary said.
There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
Gary continued, "He introduced himself as Professor Massy and demanded an immediate report on all assets registered under your name.
"He said he suspects you of deliberately transferring marital assets and reserves the right to take legal action."
I let out a soft laugh.
That was classic Alban.
He was always so high and mighty, thinking everything was his by default.
"And then?" I asked.
Gary replied, "Then, just like you told me, I asked him a question.
"I said, 'Mr. Massy, do you remember signing an asset split agreement before you left for abroad five years ago?'"
On the other end, Gary imitated Alban's tone perfectly.
Gary said, "'What agreement? I don't remember. You lawyers are always messing with people using all those documents!'
"His reaction was explosive."
I could just imagine the look on Alban's face.
As someone who always believed he had everything under control, he suddenly realized the ground beneath him had disappeared, and he was about to plunge into the abyss.
Gary said, "I told him the original agreement is locked up in my safe, and we can get it checked for handwriting anytime.
"I even spelled out the two main terms in the agreement.
"First, Unit 1101 in Building A belongs to you alone.
"Second, he gave up any claim to that place, and in return, you promised not to go after his earnings from abroad over the last five years."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.
Gary was letting it sink in, giving me a chance to take it all in.
I didn't need any time.
I remembered every single word of that agreement, like it was burned into my memory.
Five years ago, late at night, I sat in Gary's office, my eyes swollen from crying, but my mind was crystal clear.
Gary looked at me and asked, "Are you sure about this? You're basically walking away with nothing."
I nodded.
I said, "I just want the house and the baby growing inside me.
"He took all our savings, calling it his so-called research funds.
"I don't care about any of that.
"All I want is a safe place to call home."
Alban was in a hurry to leave, desperate to run off to his promising future and his new muse.
I slid the agreement across the table to him.
He barely glanced at the title. It read: [Statement of Voluntary Asset Surrender.]
He snapped, "What's this?"
I said, "You took all the cash. At least leave something behind for me and this home.
"I don't want us still arguing about money when you eventually return.
"If you sign this, whatever you make abroad is yours. I'll never ask about it.
"We'll owe each other nothing."
Those words were enough to settle him.
He probably figured that was just my last bit of pride before I finally gave up.
He signed and stamped it without even hesitating.
He didn't even glance at what he was giving up.
Now, it hit him.
"What did he say after you told him that?" I asked Gary.
"He was quiet for a long time," Gary said.