Chapter 2

"I'm having dinner with Samara. She's not in a good mood. Let's talk another time," Sean said.

With that, he hung up.

Five minutes later, I got a transfer on my payment app. It was just ten cents.

The note said: [Enough for a bottle of water. Calm down.]

I stared at the note, but now, I didn't feel that soul-crushing despair I once did in my previous life.

Instead, it just made me want to laugh. I took a screenshot and saved it, then played back the recording.

I had recorded every single word of that call.

Since fate had given me a second chance, I was going to make that bastard Sean pay for everything.

On the third day of my mom's hospital stay, Sean finally showed up. He was carrying a fruit basket, wearing that practiced smile of his.

"Mom, are you feeling any better?" Sean asked.

Mom nodded weakly and looked at me. "Sean's here. Go get him some water."

I just stood there, stone-faced. Sean didn't even bat an eye. He just helped himself with some water.

He said, "Mom, just focus on getting better. If you need anything, just let me know."

Sean put on such a convincing act that Mom was so moved, her eyes got teary.

I watched the whole performance, my gaze cold and detached.

Once Mom fell asleep, Sean pulled me out of the hospital room. "Natasha, you really spent 10 thousand dollars for this? Where'd you get it?"

Sean didn't even bother with small talk. He just went straight to accusing me.

I raised an eyebrow. "It's my own stash."

"Your own stash?" Sean's face darkened. "We agreed we'd keep our finances open after getting married, and you went behind my back saving money?"

"Oh, and the money you sent to Samara, did I ever know about that?" I shot back.

Sean was instantly at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he snapped, "Samara's my sister. What's wrong with me giving her money?"

"And my mom is my mom. What's wrong with me paying for her treatment?" I shot back, standing my ground.

Sean's face turned livid with rage. "What kind of attitude is that? Getting bold, aren't you?

"Natasha, I'm warning you. Any major expenses from now on, you have to run it by me first."

I stared at him, and out of nowhere, I just laughed. "Sean, let's get a divorce."

Sean stood there, stunned, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What did you just say?" he asked.

"I said, let's get a divorce," I repeated, each word crystal clear.

Sean's face went through a range of emotions before he finally let out a cold laugh. "Divorce? You really think you'll be better off without me?"

"Natasha, you'd better think twice," Sean warned. With that, he stormed off without looking back.

I watched him walk away, not even a ripple in my heart.

In my last life, I was taken in by his phony affection for years. This time, never again would I be so blind.

The next day, I went to a law firm. The woman who greeted me was Fiona Kaufman, a lawyer in her thirties.

I handed over all the transfer records from the past few years.

Fiona's brows knitted together as she looked over the records. She said slowly, "Natasha, based on what you've given me, Mr. Gibson has sent a total of 300 thousand dollars to his sister over the past five years.

"Most of that money came straight from your joint account, so it counts as marital property.

"If you go through divorce, you can demand half of it back. That's 150 thousand dollars."

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Is there anything else I should know?"

Fiona flipped through the paperwork. "Mr. Gibson has a property that's registered solely under his name, but the down payment was made after you two got married. That makes it marital property, so you have a right to split it."

My eyes lit up. Sean always told me he paid for that house in full before our wedding, and I never doubted him for a second.

So the down payment was actually made after we got married.

"Also," Fiona continued, "I suggest you look into whether Mr. Gibson has any other undisclosed assets."

I paused for a moment, then shared my suspicion. "He and his sister might have started a company together."

Fiona's face grew serious. "If that's true, that's a serious case of transferring marital assets. You could claim full ownership of the company."

We mapped out a plan, and after I paid the retainer, I set the wheels in motion to file for divorce.

As I walked out of the law firm, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. This time, I was going to reclaim everything that belonged to me.