Chapter 4

The cops showed up fast.

From the call to them knocking on the door, it was less than ten minutes.

Two officers in uniform walked in, faces serious.

They frowned at the mess and the standoff in the room.

"Who called the police?" One of the older officers asked, his voice loud and clear.

"Officer, I'm the one who called." Jake said, stepping forward respectfully.

He pointed to the worker with scratches on his face and said to the police, "We're from Golden Fortune Relocation. Grace, the owner, hires us to move her things.

"This family not only blocked the door, but also attacked us.

"You can see, our worker was injured."

The officer glanced at the scratches on the worker's face and nodded.

Then he turned his gaze to Eric's family. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Eric looked like he'd grabbed onto a lifeline. He broke free from the workers and rushed straight to the cops. "Officer, don't listen to him. He's lying. This is my house. They're the ones trespassing. They're the real robbers here."

He was nearly in tears, like he'd been dealt the worst injustice in the world.

Linda, the ultimate drama queen, threw herself back onto the floor and launched into another round of wailing. "This is so unfair. Officer, you have to help us.

"These people barge into our house without saying a word, start moving our stuff, and even hit my son. They're about to break my old bones."

Emily, still clutching the baby, crept over timidly, her sobs barely audible. "Officer we were living here peacefully and then all of a sudden they barged in."

Anyone watching who didn't know the truth would probably think these three were the real victims.

The older cop had seen this kind of drama way too many times. He wasn't fooled for a second.

He stared at Eric, totally unfazed. "You say this is your house? Then show me the deed."

That question went right for the jugular.

Eric froze, his face going pale.

He fumbled for words, but nothing came out. "The deed, it's with her."

"Who's 'her'?" the cop pressed.

"My ex-wife Grace," he sounded so quiet, it was almost like he was talking to himself.

"Ex-wife?" the cop picked up on that instantly."So you two are divorced?"

"Yeah, we split yesterday."

"Whose name is actually on the deed?"

Every question felt like a punch to Eric's gut.

Eric's head dropped even lower. "It's only her name. She buys the place before we get married."

The cop finally got the whole story.

His expression darkened.

He locked eyes with Eric, his voice going cold. "Since this place was hers before you got married, and now you're divorced, you don't have any rights to it.

"Legally, this house isn't yours anymore. The owner calls movers to clear out her stuff. She's totally within her rights. But you guys are the ones squatting here, getting in the way, and even getting violent.

"What you're doing is trespassing and making trouble. I'm telling you right now. Grab your stuff and get out."

The officer's words slammed down like a hammer, echoing through the room.

Each sentence hit Eric and his family like a punch to the gut, leaving them stunned.

Eric's face flushed, then drained of color, as if he'd been slapped.

He wanted to protest, but couldn't come up with a single excuse.

Linda stopped her wailing and just slumped to the floor, her face ashen and hopeless.

She finally realized that all her wild antics and stubbornness were worthless when it came to the law.

Emily was trembling from head to toe, her arms shaking as she clung to the baby.

She probably never thought she'd ever have anything to do with words like "police" or "jail."

Seeing them finally give up, Jake let out a sigh of relief.

Jake thanked the cops over and over. "Thanks, officers, really appreciate you keeping things fair."

The officer waved it off. "Just doing our job."

Then he turned to Eric's family and said, "You've got half an hour to pack up your stuff.

"If you're still here after that, we'll have to force you out."

With that, he and the other young officer stood guard at the door, watching them like sentinels.

Eric and his family had lost all their fight.

They looked like losers with their heads hanging low.

Eric started quietly packing up his and Emily's clothes.

His movements were slow and heavy.

Every piece of clothing he picked up felt like he was saying goodbye to a part of his past.

Linda got up from the floor, looking completely lost as she shuffled into her room.

That was the room she'd spent three years in, always fantasizing she'd live there forever.

Now, she had to leave it behind.

Emily stood off to the side, holding the baby, completely at a loss.

There was barely anything here that actually belonged to her.

She was a passerby, here one moment, gone the next.

But when she arrived, she thought she was on top of the world, convinced she was the lady of the house.

Now, she was leaving in utter disgrace.

I watched it all unfold on my phone, completely calm.

I watched them pack up their stuff.

I saw the despair and resentment on their faces.

Not a shred of pity stirred in my heart.

If they'd known it would come to this, they wouldn't have done what they did.

They brought this on themselves.

Half an hour flew by.

The three of them stood at the door, hauling bags and suitcases.

They looked like three stray dogs kicked out of their home.

Eric took one last look at the place he'd called home for three years.

His eyes were a mess of emotions.

Regret, bitterness, anger, and even a hint of pleading.

It was like he was staring right through the camera, trying to reach me.

But I didn't care.

He turned to the cop. "Officer, can we go now?"

The cop nodded, "Go ahead. And don't come back here causing trouble again."

Eric lowered his head and didn't say another word.

He led his mother and the woman holding his son.

Step by step, they walked out of the house he once thought was his.

And out of my life.

Outside, the sun was shining bright.

But that sunlight couldn't reach their hearts.

Their future was destined to be dark.

I watched their defeated figures disappear down the hallway.

I closed the surveillance app.

I called Jake. "Jake, thanks for handling everything.

"Make sure everything else is cleaned up.

"I'll pay triple for everyone's time today, and cover any medical expenses.

"And give the guys a bonus. Consider it my treat."

Jake was grinning from ear to ear on the other end. "Grace, you're way too generous.

"We're doing our job.

"Don't worry, we'll leave the place spotless."

"Alright, I'll leave the rest to you guys."

After hanging up, I let out a long sigh.

It felt like a huge weight was finally lifted off my chest.

I got up and stepped out onto the balcony.

I stretched, letting all the tension melt away.

The sun bathed me in its warm glow.

I watched the kids playing in the garden below, hearing their laughter float up from afar.

Suddenly, life felt beautiful again.

Divorce wasn't the end.

It was a new beginning.

Today marked the start of my new life.

But I still underestimated how shameless Eric and his family could be.

I thought kicking them out would be the end of it.

But I had no idea. This was just the beginning.

The next morning, I met up with Lewis and the buyers as planned.

The buyers were a young couple, and they seemed really nice.

They loved the house so much that they paid the full price right then and there.

Signing the contract and transferring ownership went off without a hitch.

The moment I saw the money hit my account, a wave of relief washed over me. I finally felt truly secure and at peace.

Money really was the one thing in this world that gave you real security.

Lewis was grinning from ear to ear, holding the contract. "Grace, congratulations.

"It was a pleasure working with you.

"If you ever have friends looking to buy or sell, make sure to send them my way."

"Absolutely," I nodded with a smile.

With the house finally off my hands, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted.

That afternoon, I hit the mall.

I bought myself a few new outfits and a brand-new bag.

Then I went to the salon and got a fresh new hairstyle.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I could barely recognize myself. I looked so radiant and alive.

Turns out, leaving that suffocating family behind meant I could finally live my life to the fullest.

That evening, I met up with my bestie for dinner.

We picked a stylish Western restaurant.

We ordered steak and popped open a bottle of red wine.

I told her everything that had happened over the past few days, leaving nothing out.

When she heard it all, she slammed her hand on the table. "You crushed it, Grace.

"When it comes to losers like that, you can't go easy on them.

"You should've done this ages ago.

"You are too nice. That's why they walk all over you for so long."

She gave me a big thumbs-up as she spoke. "Come on, let's toast to you finally escaping that mess and getting your life back."

We clinked our glasses and downed our drinks in one go.

That night, we talked about everything.

We talked about the past and the future.

We talked about work, about dreams.

I realized my world wasn't just about marriage and family.

I had friends, a career, and my own life.

I felt like the last three years of my life weren't worth it.

But I didn't regret it.

That experience showed me the ugly side of human nature and made me stronger.

After saying goodbye to my best friend, I drove home alone.

I felt lighter and freer than ever before.

But when I pulled up outside the building where I rent my apartment, all that lightness I felt evaporated.

Because I saw three people.

Eric, Linda, and Emily.

They stood at the entrance to my apartment building like three ghosts.

At their feet were several large suitcases.

It looked like they'd been kicked out of the hotel.

Well, I'd already shut down Eric's bank card.

He probably didn't have much cash left on him.

As soon as they spotted my car, they swarmed over.

I sat in the car, locked the doors, and stared at them coldly.

Eric shouted, slamming his palm against my window, his face contorted with fury, "Grace, get out of the car. You ruin us, and you still think you can hide from us?"

Linda marched right up to my car and planted herself in front of the hood, pulling her classic move. "If you don't give us an explanation today, you're going to have to drive right over me.

"I'll haunt you for the rest of your life."

Emily stood off to the side, holding the baby, shooting me a look full of venom.

She stared at me like I was the worst villain on earth.

I looked at those pathetic fools outside my car.

Honestly, they were just ridiculous.

I grabbed my phone, ready to call the cops again.

But just then, Eric spoke up.

What he said made my finger freeze mid-air.

Eric said, "Grace, don't think you can sell the house and get away with it.

"That house is half mine.

"You sell the house while we're still married and tried to hide our joint property. That's illegal.

"I've already talked to a lawyer.

"I'm going to sue you to make you cough up every last cent you take from me."

There was a wild, almost crazed confidence on his face.

It was like he thought he'd found my Achilles' heel.