Chapter 3

The next day, I brought my mom to the bank.

She had retrieved a passbook and stuffed it in my hand.

"I have 280,000 dollars in here, left behind by your dad. I had wanted to give it to you after you became a mother."

I didn't take it. "Mom, I can settle this by myself."

"You even have to walk on eggshells to get money to pay for public transport. How are you going to settle this by yourself?"

My mom's eyes turned red. "Niki, I've always advised you to bear with whatever comes because I thought Lawrence was a good husband, since he doesn't fool around with other women, have violent tendencies, or have a drinking habit.

"I was wrong."

I pushed the passbook back into her hand. "My lawyer has applied for property preservation. I'm not leaving the marriage with nothing."

The moment I said so, I received a call from Lawrence's lawyer.

He said civilly, "Ms. Scott, the property purchase contract for the marital home under Mr. Yancey's name was dated before your wedding and is therefore considered pre-marital property. The deposit of 900,000 dollars was considered by Mr. Yancey as a gift."

"It was stated in the notes of transfer that it was a joint purchase of property."

"But only Mr. Yancey's name is on the property ownership certificate."

"That's because he said I didn't have the right to own a local property."

The lawyer paused for a moment before saying, "Perhaps you should settle this privately with Mr. Yancey on this. Going ahead with the lawsuit is not going to benefit either of you."

After hanging up, I checked my past accounts.

The record of the transfer of the 900,000 dollars was still there.

However, the property purchase agreement and proof of payment that I kept at home were all gone.

I dialed Lawrence's number.

"Did you take away all the documents regarding our property purchase?"

"You can't accuse me of taking away something found in a house we both live in as husband and wife."

He seemed to be driving as he went on flatly, "Come home and we'll talk."

"Give me those documents back."

"Drop the lawsuit first."

"That 900,000 dollars was from the house I sold before I got married."

"And so?"

He asked me back, "You told me that you were willing to own a home with me when you married me. Now that we have our own home, are you trying to go back on your word and consider the deposit you paid a debt instead?"

I tightened my grip over the phone. "The value of the house has risen to 12 million dollars, yet you refuse to acknowledge that I contributed 900,000 dollars?"

"It's not that I refuse to, but you don't have proof."

Wendy's voice sounded from the other end of the call. "Lawrence, should I go for beige or light gray curtains?"

Lawrence paused for a moment before answering her. "Beige. You prefer lighter colors."

"Are you at her house?"

"She just moved in. I'm helping her check things out."

"Which card did you use to pay for her rental?"

"Niki, don't keep tabs on me."

"Did you pay for it with our family account?"

He fell silent for two seconds. "I earned all the money in that account."

I looked at the passbook my mom gave me, my voice turning cold.

"So, the 300 dollars you give me is considered joint family expenses, while the 120,000 dollars you give her is considered your own money?"

Lawrence was finally all out of patience.

"She's different from you.

"She knows how to be grateful and wouldn't take other people's sacrifices for granted."

I hung up and rushed back to our marital home, only to find the door password had been changed.

Lawrence came back half an hour later with a decoration piece that Wendy didn't want in her house.

"What are you doing here?"

"To take back my documents."

He unlocked the door but blocked me from entering. "You can take them after you drop the lawsuit."

"My identification document and household register are all inside."

"I'm your husband. What's wrong with me taking care of these things for you?"

I pulled out my phone to call the police, but he pressed down on the screen with his palm.

He wasn't forceful, but it was enough to restrain me by the wrist.

"Must it really come to this?"

I stared at his hand. "Let me go."

He released me and pulled out a wad of cash worth 300 dollars from his wallet.

"Your allowance for these few days."

The notes landed on the carpet by my feet.

"Don't sulk anymore. You don't have a stable income, and you need to take care of your mom. You'll have a tough time if you divorce me. A court summons isn't a talisman. The judge looks at evidence, too."

I refused to touch the 300 dollars.

He was about to shut the door when I heard Mrs. Yancey's voice from inside.

"Lawrence, have you changed the password to the safe? Do not let her take the property purchase agreement and proof of payment."

Lawrence froze.

I quickly started a voice recording with my phone.

Mrs. Yancey was still speaking through the door. "She'll come begging you when she realizes she can't get her hands on any proof."

Lawrence quickly shut the door, but I lunged forward and jammed my foot in the door.