Chapter 4

"Step aside." Lawrence said in a hushed whisper, "Don't force me to call security."

I held on tightly to the door frame. "Return my documents and my dad's bracelet, and I'll leave right away."

Mrs. Yancey came out from the living room, looking calm and unperturbed.

"It's useless even if you record what I just said. I was talking about family documents and not your personal belongings."

She opened the safe and pulled out a folder. "You can have it if you sign this agreement."

There were a total of four pages.

My fingertips turned cold as I read the first page.

[Niki Scott confirms that her deposit payment for the marital home was a personal gift to Lawrence Yancey.]

The second article demanded I give up on the division of marital property.

The third was about me taking responsibility for all accidents that happened while taking care of Lawrence's father.

The final article required me to withdraw the divorce case.

"Sign it, and I'll return both the bracelet and the documents to you."

Lawrence put a pen on the table. "I won't leave you with no place to go. I'll give you 5,000 dollars every month and pay for your mother's insurance premiums as well."

"What is this?"

"Divorce compensation."

"Using my money and my house to compensate me?"

Mrs. Yancey sneered. "You really think of yourself as some kind of savior just because you took care of my husband for a few years? A nurse earns only 3,000 dollars a month. You should be thankful we didn't charge you for the meals and roof over your head we provided you."

I looked at Lawrence.

"Is that what you think, too?"

He avoided my gaze. "It always sounds nasty when you talk about a marriage in terms of money. You were the one who brought us down this path."

My phone rang.

It was my mom's neighbor.

"Niki, your mom fell down the stairs, and she can't move her foot. The ambulance is already here."

I turned to leave, but Lawrence grabbed my arm.

"You haven't signed the agreement."

"My mom is injured."

"You can't treat her even if you rush there right now."

He stuffed the agreement into my hand and said calmly, almost gently, "Sign it, and I'll lift the suspension on your card. I'll settle the hospital admission deposit and surgery fees as well."

I struggled free of his hold. "I don't need your help for her treatment."

"How are you going to pay for it?"

Lawrence picked up my identification document and waved it before me. "Without this, you can't even draw money from the bank."

I glared at him.

He was the man I had shared a bed with for seven years.

He knew all my weaknesses, and every move he made drew blood.

My neighbor was still rushing me over the phone. "The doctor said that it might be a fracture of the femur. Come quickly."

I reached out to take the pen.

Lawrence looked relieved. "That's the way. There's no need to let an outsider judge our family affairs."

As I rested the pen nib on the paper, I asked, "Where is the bracelet?"

Mrs. Yancey pulled it out from her bag and placed it at the corner of the table.

The bracelet was out of shape, and there was even a deep scratch on the inside.

"How did it become like this?"

"I scratched it when I sent it for verification. It can still be worn."

I touched the scratch mark and remained silent.

Lawrence urged me, "Sign it."

I held the agreement in my hand and tore it right down the middle.

I tore it into quarters and let the pieces fall to the ground.

Mrs. Yancey shrieked. "Niki Scott! Have you gone mad?"

I put the dented bracelet back on my wrist. "I'll call the police if you don't give me my identification documents."

The look in Lawrence's eyes grew cold.

"Fine."

He flung it on the floor. "Walk out this door today, and you can forget about begging me for mercy from now on."

I bent over to pick up my identification card.

When I walked to the door, I received a photo on my phone.

It was a court staff member sending supplementary documents, asking if I was the one who had signed it.

It was a letter of consent for a house mortgage.

The house in question was the marital home Lawrence and I had lived in for seven years.

There was a signature in the field "Spouse's Signature".

"Niki Scott."

However, the signing date was when I was overseas with Mr. Lawrence for his rehabilitation therapy.

I showed Lawrence the photo on my phone.

"Who signed this?"

He glanced at it but remained calm.

"I had someone sign it on our behalf."

"You forged my signature?"

"We took a loan for cash flow. It'll be fine as long as we repay it on time."

"Where did the money go?"

Mrs. Yancey cut in. "Lawrence, don't bother explaining anything to her."

I looked at the loan amount.

3.8 million dollars.

The next day after the loan was released, there was a full-payment transaction for an apartment with a riverfront view.

The property purchaser was Wendy Lyons.

I called the police.

Lawrence stepped forward and snatched my phone away.

"Niki, I simply signed a document on behalf of my wife. Must you blow things up and get the police involved?"

The call connected.

I stepped back and gave the policeman the address.

"I want to report a case. Someone forged my signature and mortgaged a jointly owned marital home, effectively transferring marital property."