Chapter 3

Reina’s POV

From the hospital bed, I picked up my phone to make a call. 

He’s thinking I’ll seek a divorce so that he drains me dry and gets to enjoy my wealth with his new wife. “No! That won’t happen.” I declared within me, stiff faced, determined to teach Harvey and his bitchy mistress who wants to suck me dry a lesson. 

Because I’d stooped low to their level, they thought I could be used. My agent picked, the caretaker of our apartment which we rented, a three story apartment which was rented to us at a far lower price than normal. He’d believed my family, they couldn’t let us live in a low neighborhood no matter how I wanted a simple life with him, so they linked up with the owner, a friend of my dad living abroad who just wanted people to clean his apartment for him. 

It was so big that we wanted to lend it to other tenants as well but permission was denied. It screamed pure luxury and Harvey had been the happiest living here, as someone coming from an average family who never got to enjoy this luxury, now he wanted to eat me up. The same person who had always thanked me for being in his life. 

I dialed the caretaker’s number and called. 

“Hello ma’am.” I heard him pick up barely up to a second. 

“Elon.” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

“I want you to get a quick notice from the mortgage court to deliver to my husband, demanding he vacate the premises within three days.” 

“How—“ Elon stammered. “How’s that possible? There’s always a three week notice period on emergency notice, talk less of when there’s no issue like that.” 

From the moment he knew us, he has always graded us as the best, happiest couple even without a child of our own. The way we loved and cherished each other, he always confessed to adore so much, but now he was confused by his voice. 

“What’s wrong, ma’am?” He snapped. “You never wanted your husband to know that the apartment is yours to prevent him from feeling low. You even returned all the money he spent on renting the apartment to him as birthday gifts each year. Whyyy—“

“Just do what I say, you will get to hear the rest of the news with time.” 

“But the court won’t write a three-day period?” He complained. 

“It’s stated there that Party A will refund all of his rent amount times three of the current year to him. That should be ten thousand dollars, that should be thirty thousand dollars.” 

“Okay ma’am.” Elon accepted. 

“I’ll forward the money to you as soon as possible, first of all, get the notice, then inform him. Make sure he signs. Tell him that the owner has informed you that he will be returning from overseas with his family and he will need more space.” 

“That will be a good idea.” 

With this the call ended. Aside from my family, Elon had been the only one who kept the secret that I owned the apartment we lived in. He had never revealed it to Harvey before, one reason I admired him. 

The next people I wanted to inform were my family. I had to do that immediately, telling them everything. It was certain that once Elon informs Harvey of this, he would want to call my dad to ask. I wanted to let everyone know the kind of husband he is before he even decides to do this. 

As expected, my parents kicked against his act. “He’s trying to eat you dry by picking up a case against you in court and getting your wealth.” 

“Who could have taught him this? This isn’t the Harvey I knew and he’s even a law enforcement officer. He was always loyal to the core.” My dad wondered. 

Mom sighed, shaking her head in the video call. “It must be Alisa, his best friend but why did she change suddenly?” 

“Something is wrong. No! Something is wrong. We have to hire a private investigator to look into this case.” My mom suggested. I was beginning to reason like this. Alisa had been with him for the four years of our marriage, yet didn’t ask him to donate his sperm, why now, why suddenly? 

I concurred with mom's idea, dad too. We were going to hire three of the best private investigators in Brooklyn to look into this matter, two who would be cops and one, a civilian. We have to dig into the root of the matter. 

“Before this mom, can I demand for thirty thousand dollars to refund him for the rent, so Elon can kick him out?” 

“Why do you want to give him money to go enjoy with his new woman? Or because we said something is wrong, you think he’s not intentionally cheating on you?” 

“No. No, mom.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I can never think of that for someone who molested me while in labor.” 

“Should we get his fellow cops to arrest and try him?” Dad got so furious.

“No dad. I have a better plan.” 

Elon had finished up with his task. I was only asked to stay at the hospital for three days to heal then I’ll return home. My family had already hired a special nanny, Hana, adding up to Lucy and Sarah who were serving us before now and helping to clean the large apartment. 

My dad even called to tell me that Harvey had called to ask why his friend told him to vacate and pleaded for his help. “The only thing I told him was,” he had told me in a fit of laughter. “—Is to comply as you’ve been refunded your money.” 

He tried to ask where he would live with me and my triplets but my dad had dismissed him. “I think you have to leave our daughter and her babies to us, we will take care of her. For now, focus on your new wife, Alisa.” 

It was the best response dad could ever give. 

“We don’t want our daughter mingling with a man who marries two wives.” 

They told me he ran speechless upon hearing this.

I returned home early on the third day to meet him and his properties pulled outside, Alisa stood beside him with a dull face. It was still a shock to him, he had refused to pack out upon receiving his refund. Perhaps he thought it was a joke or perhaps because he’s a cop he’ll be feared. Now, it was real. 

He turned to see me, his lips made some movement but they couldn’t say a word. My lips curled into a sinister grin. Seeing me, he put up a frown. Alisa, as well. 

“Are you sure she’s not playing pranks with you? She must have connived her family into this because they are wealthy.” She smirked but I ignored walking in. 

I sighed. I couldn’t believe bringing my babies home but the man I called a husband won’t even show some concern to come check on them, rather he’s with his same bestie, criticizing me. 

I paused in anger. I wanted to reply to them but changed my mind and walked. 

“Heyy, heyy. What’s going on? Isn’t she affected?” He yelled at the court agents who came to take out his belongings. Elon who was supervising smirked, walking slowly towards him, he shot a glance at me and winked. I paused, knowing what it meant. He was about to reveal who I am. 

My lips wanted to break into laughter but I suppressed it, controlling myself. Being revealed under a serious face would make more sense than a smiling face. I didn’t want to hear the Joker name. 

“Sergeant Harvey,” he called him by his name, placing both hands into pocket, a clear gesture of defying his status. “We cannot touch her properties because—“ he paused. 

The heat in my body doubled. The air thickened with suspense. I was eager to hear the words come out of his mouth. 

“She’s the owner of this apartment.” 

I watched at once as both their lips and jaw went down. Motion ceased. They stood like statues gawking at someone. 

“What?” 

“What did you say?” Both scrambled over words. I was smiling within me. This is only the beginning.

“Like it’s not her dad’s friend who stays overseas?” 

“Yes.” Elon replied with pride. “Now you can see why we can’t kick her out.” 

“So all these while, she has been tricking me into paying her rent from my hard earned money?” His voice rose with a wave of shock and anger. 

“And she had refunded you all. Your first year rent was funded by her family, so that’s not included.” 

Harvey turned to Alisa, both startled. “Was she planning for this?” He growled, staring towards my direction and next wanted to storm towards me but Elon stood before him, a short, hefty man. “If you dare lay your hands on her, I wouldn’t fail to make sure you rot in jail even as a cop.”

I was stunned. The courage was screaming loud. He defended me when I hadn’t asked him to. Seeing his aura, Harvey stepped back. 

“She must be cheating with you. Don’t worry, we will see each other in court.”   

He locked eyes with me. “You’ll hear from my lawyer. You are only powerful in your apartment, let’s see if you’re greater than the law.” 

“I’ll leave but let’s watch out for the end.” He finally said and began to carry his things.