Semua Bab Receipt for a 50-50 Marriage: Bab 1 - Bab 8

Right after we got married, Desmond proposed that we have a fifty-fifty marriage, where we went Dutch for all expenses.At the time, I actually thought he was trying to make things easier on me—like he didn't want me bearing the full financial burden.But little by little, I started noticing how he'd constantly sweet-talk me into paying for everything."Honey, the house and the car are both in your name. I don't want people thinking I'm after your assets, so I'm afraid you'll have to cover those yourself."I know we're supposed to split everything evenly, but I really feel bad for you. How about we go half on the renovation costs and gas?"He was always playing the victim while borrowing money from me—for his mother's surgery, for Janet's tuition, for their living expenses…But not once did he ever pay me back.What was I supposed to think? That marrying him was my personal contribution to poverty relief for his whole family?I was so angry I couldn't sleep the entire night.E

I looked at Desmond's cold, emotionless face and said slowly, word by word, "Desmond, do you have any right to the trust fund my parents left for me?"He hesitated for a second, then answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world."Of course I do. We're married."I forced myself to stay calm."But we keep things strictly fifty-fifty, remember? Since you've taken from me, shouldn't you pay me back too?"I pulled out my phone and played a recording from our home security cameras.In the video, Desmond and Janet were openly discussing how to drain me dry."Desmond, you're so smart. Using Amy's money to buy me real bags while giving her fakes. But what if she finds out?""Ha, that idiot? There's no way she'll notice. She believes all my lies. Just look at those IOUs.""True. She actually believed we weren't the ones who took them. So when are you going to make her transfer the house and company shares to you?""Any time now. Her parents are dead, and she already has my

After the trip ended, Xavier handed me a USB drive. Inside were all the beautiful moments from our journey—just the three of us.Through his lens, I was no longer just a wife, no longer just a mother. I was just me—Amy.He asked me softly, "Would you ever consider adopting a stray dog?"I didn't say anything. I just reached out, gently ruffled his hair, and pulled him into a hug.When I got home, I received an anonymous text message.It contained only one image.It was the beneficiary list for my mother's charity foundation. And on it, two names stood out unmistakably—Janet and Desmond.My blood ran cold.This was my mother's life's work—a foundation she had built to help girls from poor mountain villages escape poverty and change their futures.I never thought they would sink so low as to exploit even that.I immediately called the foundation's director."Colby, can you check something for me? Are Janet and Desmond on my mother's scholarship list?"It didn't take long for

After I got Xavier settled in, I opened the camera.Inside was a video shot from inside a car—except it had been recorded from someone hiding in the bushes outside.In the footage, Desmond handed a thick stack of cash to the man in the driver's seat."This is the other half. The smear campaign against Amy worked perfectly."The man let out a low laugh."What's a little character assassination? It's what we do best. This time, she won't be able to act so high and mighty anymore."Desmond smiled, satisfied."That bitch humiliated me back then. Now she's finally getting what she deserves."Listening to their vile laughter, I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth might crack.After handing the evidence over to my lawyer, the case was quickly filed and officially investigated.This time, he was done for.The trial came soon after. I sat in the gallery that day.Desmond had shaved his head and was wearing a prison jumpsuit, his back hunched and broken.But the moment he saw