Chapter 3

"Mom, why is there an outsider in this house?"

A sharp, grating voice came from the doorway.

Just like in my previous life, today was the day Judith brought the mistress into the house I had lived in for five years.

Helen stood there with a proud expression, deliberately sticking out her pregnant belly for me to see.

"Helen, this woman knows no shame, clinging to this house like a piece of gum that won’t peel off."

"I haven’t divorced your son yet. This is my house," I said coldly.

"You’re still hanging around? My son already said he doesn’t want you anymore. If you had any shame, you’d pack your bags and give way to my future daughter-in-law."

I ignored her and continued eating breakfast. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Judith slapped my bread and milk off the table.

She reached out to hit me, but I shot up from my chair, slapping her face with a resounding smack.

The sound echoed through the room, and she staggered, nearly losing her balance.

This slap was long overdue. Let her feel the sting on her face for once.

"Let me guess," I said. "You’re about to say that because I haven’t gotten pregnant in five years, I’m a useless woman and should leave, right? Well, let me tell you this. the little ‘empire’ of the Clinton family will be squandered in no time, and the grandson you’re so eager to have will inherit nothing but mountains of debt."

Helen, supporting the enraged old woman, looked stunned. She hadn’t expected me to be so fierce, unlike the meek and timid woman they had described.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I shut her down immediately.

"If you love a married man so much then you can have him. I don’t care."

Turning around, I saw Rick standing behind me.

I had been so focused on dealing with the two of them that I had forgotten about him.

"Rick," I said, glaring at him. "I haven’t even signed the divorce papers yet, and you’re already bringing someone into our home? If I refuse to divorce you, are you planning to kill me again?"

I sighed, lamenting how blind I had been in my previous life. Only after dying once had I seen Rick’s true colors.

"Divorce is fine," I continued, "but I won’t leave without my rightful share of the assets. Don’t expect me to go quietly."

Rick crossed his arms, his expression smug. "Every cent in this house was earned by me. What makes you think you deserve any of it?"

I pulled out all the evidence I had gathered—photos, bank records, hotel receipts, and recordings.

"You had an affair with your secretary during our marriage. I have proof. If the entire company finds out, do you think they’ll keep someone with questionable ethics in an executive position?"

I played the recording for him. "Oh, and I also have this lovely clip of you two talking about making me ‘disappear.’ Should I email it to your colleagues and amuse them?"

Rick’s face darkened. "If you dare, I’ll make sure your life is miserable too."

I had no interest in dragging this out. I just wanted the divorce finalized as soon as possible.

"If you want this done quickly and don’t want to wait for asset division, I’ll forgo the house. Let me take what my mother left me and give me the money you have on hand. I’ll sign the papers and leave immediately."

"You don’t have the money to hire a lawyer, so you’ll leave empty-handed anyway. Divorce is inevitable. Why rush?" He sneered, thinking he had gained the upper hand.

"I’ve set up an email with a scheduled send time," I said, showing him my phone. "It contains all the evidence of your infidelity. You have 28 minutes before you’ll be summoned to a shareholders’ meeting to explain yourself."

Rick lunged for my phone, trying to delete everything.

"Don’t bother," I said coolly. "I have backups."

"Laura, you’re such a scheming woman," he hissed.

"Better decide quickly. You only have 27 minutes now."

Helen clung to his arm, pouting. "Rick, just give her what she wants. Let’s get this over with."

He hesitated before pulling out a card. "There’s 50 thousand dollars in here. The PIN is the passcode of the main entrance."

I took the card from him and quickly signed the divorce agreement.

Rick wasn’t strapped for cash, but he was a miser. Giving up 50 thousand dollars must have stung.

His hand lingered awkwardly in the air after I took the card, his expression blank for a moment.

"You know," he said, attempting a facade of generosity. "Even though we’re divorced, I won’t let you end up homeless. Spend this money wisely, and it should last you a while."

Hearing this, Judith and Helen burst into laughter.

"She’s never seen this much money before." Judith sneered. "50 thousand, and she thinks she’s hit the jackpot."

Rick seemed suspicious, worried there might be more tricks up my sleeve.

"Don’t try anything funny," he warned.

"You were the one who wanted a divorce. I’m simply agreeing. If anything, you’re the paranoid one. What could I possibly want from you now?"

I thought back to the financial news I had heard—a boom in the stock market was coming. With the right timing, I could turn this 50 thousand dollars into a fortune.

"If I manage to turn this 50 grand into a million, don’t get jealous," I said with confidence.

I was certain I’d make them regret this.

Judith scoffed, laughing loudly. "You? With no connections and no job? Once you burn through that money, you’ll be out on the streets, begging us for scraps."

Explaining myself to them would be a waste of my time.

"Just wait and see," I said, silently resolving to secure my future and take the first step toward rebuilding my life.