“Dad went to pick up sis today,” my son, Leo, said from the backseat. “What sis?” My hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Just sis!” He fiddled with his backpack. “Dad said I couldn’t tell you, Mom.” Red light. I slammed on the brakes. “Honey, what does sis look like?” I tried to keep my voice steady. “She’s really pretty, with long hair. And she has a big Mickey Mouse backpack.” “How old is she?” “I don’t know. A little bit older than me, maybe.” My son is five and a half. “Mom, what’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I forced a smile. “Mommy’s just a little tired today.” My phone rang. It was Mark. I didn’t answer. Friday, 5:30 PM. As soon as we got home, I asked Leo directly, “Where is this sister?” “Over on Willow Creek.” He said innocently. “Dad took me there, and he bought me fries.” “What’s the address?” “I don’t know the house number, but it has a really big slide.” Willow Creek. That’s an upscale neighborhood in the East District. Properties there cost a fortune. “How many times have you been?” “Three times, I think.” Leo mused. “Oh, wait, four! Last time Dad even bought sis a cake.” My hands were shaking. “Go to your room and play with your toys, sweetie.” As soon as I closed the door to his room, I called Mark. It connected on the third ring. “Amelia.” “Willow Creek?” Silence on the other end for three agonizing seconds. “How…how did you know?” “So it’s true?” “Amelia, I can explain…” “Explain what? That you have a daughter? Or explain how long you’ve been hiding her from me?” “It’s not what you think…” “Then what is it?!” I sneered. “How old is the child?” “Five.” His voice was barely a whisper. Five. We’ve been married for six years. “Who is she?” “That…” “Tell me!” “You don’t know her.” “Her name.” “Sarah Harris.” My mind went blank. “I’ll go see the child this weekend.” I heard myself say. “Send me the address.” “Amelia, please don’t get agitated…” “I’m perfectly calm.” I hung up. My phone immediately rang again. It was him. I turned it off. Just then, the front door opened. It was my mom, Eleanor. She’d said she’d come over to help with Leo today. “What’s wrong, honey? You look awful.” “Mom…” I burst into tears. An hour later, I’d told her everything. My mom’s face went from red to white, then white to red. “Divorce.” She uttered only one word. “Mom…” “Divorce immediately.” Her voice was eerily calm. “I’ll have your brother, David, come over tomorrow.” “But what about Leo?” “Leo stays with you. You take the house, the cars, everything.” She spoke with absolute certainty. “And that woman and her child? They won’t get a single penny.” Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock. Mark was home. He saw my mom and froze. “My mother-in-law is here too.” “Too?” My mom scoffed. “Wouldn’t it be more convenient if I wasn’t here?” “Mother-in-law, please let me explain…” “Explain what? Explain that you’re keeping a mistress and a child outside our home?” “It’s not like that…” “Then what is it like?” My mom stood up. “Tell me clearly, what exactly is going on with that child?” He glanced at me. “Speak!” My mom slammed her hand on the table. “She’s an old girlfriend.” He finally began. “After we broke up, she found out she was pregnant, but she didn’t tell me. Not until the child was three, and she found me…” “And then?” “And then I… I couldn’t just abandon them.” “Couldn’t abandon them?” My mom laughed, a chilling sound. “So you secretly kept them, mother and daughter, behind my daughter’s back?” “I only gave her child support…” “How much?” I cut in. “What?” “How much every month?” He stayed silent. I opened my banking app and typed in my password. In the transaction history, on the 15th of every month, there was a fixed transfer: $8,000. “Eight thousand.” I said. “Eight thousand a month, for five years. How much is that?” “Four hundred eighty thousand.” My mom calculated for me. “Four hundred eighty thousand! Your son’s kindergarten costs $20,000 a year, and he’s giving that bastard child eight thousand a month?” “Mom, don’t talk about the child like that…” He pleaded. “I’m not your mom!” My mom pointed to the door. “Get out. Get out now!” “Mother-in-law…” “I said get out!” Just then, Leo’s bedroom door opened. My son stood in the doorway, his eyes red-rimmed. “Mommy, why are you fighting?” My heart sank. “It’s nothing, sweetie…” “Is it because of sis?” He started to cry. “I shouldn’t have said anything, Daddy said not to tell…” Mark’s face changed. “Leo, you…” “You taught your son to lie?” My mom looked utterly disgusted. “I didn’t…” “You made a five-year-old child keep your secret. What is that if not lying?” I picked up Leo and retreated to the bedroom. I closed the door, but the arguing outside continued. My phone rang. An unknown number. I answered. “Is this Mrs. Miller?” A woman’s voice. “It is. Who’s this?” “This is Sarah Harris.” My hand trembled. “We need to talk.” She said. “Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the Starbucks on Willow Creek.” “Okay.” I heard myself say. After hanging up, my phone vibrated again. It was a bank text: “Your joint account just had an outflow of $100,000. Current balance: $23,678.” One hundred thousand?! I immediately stormed out of the bedroom. “You just transferred a hundred thousand dollars?” He froze. “To whom?” “I…” “Tell me!” “Sarah needed to change apartments. She was short on the down payment…” I laughed. I finally laughed. “Mom, you’re right. Divorce.” My voice was eerily calm. “We’ll go tomorrow.” “Amelia…” “Don’t call me Amelia.” I looked at him. “From now on, we’re strangers.” “Just listen to me…” “I won’t.” I grabbed my purse. “Tomorrow at 3 PM, I’m meeting Sarah. After that, I’m going to see a lawyer. The day after tomorrow, we’ll go to the courthouse.” “What about Leo?” “He stays with me.” “I have parental rights too…” “You want parental rights?” My mom sneered. “Fine, we’ll see you in court. Let’s see if a judge will award custody to a man who has an illegitimate child, transfers marital assets, and deceives his wife!” His face went white. “And,” my mom continued, “this house was bought by my daughter before marriage. You have no claim to it.” That was true. When we bought the house, I paid the down payment. He only added his name to the deed. “Mom, let’s go.” I took Leo’s hand. “Where are we going?” “A hotel.” “Good.” The moment the door closed, I heard him say, “Amelia, I’m so sorry.” I didn’t look back. In the elevator, my mom suddenly asked, “Can we get that hundred thousand back?” “Probably.” I said. “It’s a joint account; large expenditures require both parties’ consent.” “Good.” She nodded. “Tomorrow, I’ll have your brother, David, go with you to see that woman.” “No need.” I said calmly. “I’ll go by myself.” The elevator reached the ground floor. As we walked out, Leo suddenly asked, “Mommy, will I not have a sister anymore?” I crouched down, looking at him. “Honey, you’ll always be Mommy’s only precious one.” “What about Daddy?” I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how to. Friday, 9:30 PM. In the hotel room, Leo was already asleep. My mom was on the balcony, making a call, probably to David. I stared at my phone. Thirty-seven missed calls, all from Mark. And SnapChat messages, 99+. I didn’t look at a single one. My phone rang again. This time, it was Mark’s mom, Brenda. I hesitated, then answered. “Amelia, dear…” Her voice sounded a little panicked. “Mom.” “Did you… have a fight?” More than just a fight. I sneered. “Mom, do you know about that child?” Silence on the other end. “You knew?” My voice rose. “Amelia, listen to me…” “You knew all along?” “I… I only found out last year…” Last year. Last year, the child was four. “So you hid it from me for a year?” “I was doing it for the good of the family…” “For the good of the family?” I laughed. “So letting me stay in the dark, letting my husband transfer eight thousand to another woman every month, was for the good of the family?” “But after all, that’s also our family’s child…” I hung up. My mom came in from the balcony. “Who was that?” “Brenda.” “What did she say?” “She knew all along.” My mom’s face darkened. “She knew and didn’t tell you?” “She said it was for the good of the family.” “For what family?” My mom laughed, bitterly. “Her son has another woman and child outside, and she thinks that’s good? Letting my daughter be a fool, that’s for the good of the family?” I didn’t speak. My phone rang again. Still Brenda. I didn’t answer. She sent a SnapChat message: “Amelia, please don’t get upset. Can we meet and talk tomorrow? Some things aren’t what you think…” Not what I think? Then what are they? I threw my phone onto the bed. “Mom, I want to sleep for a bit.” “Okay, you sleep.” She sighed. “You’ve been through so much these past years.” I closed my eyes. Been through so much? It was more than that. I thought of these six years of marriage. I thought of our wedding, when he told me he would take care of me for a lifetime. I thought of the day Leo was born, when he said, “Thank you for giving me a family.” I thought of every month when he said he was handing over his entire salary, and I believed I had everything. Turns out, all I had was a lie. No. I didn’t even have a lie. All I had was ignorance of the truth. My phone vibrated non-stop. I opened my eyes, picked it up, and looked. It was Mark’s SnapChat messages: Amelia, please don’t be like this. I really know I messed up. Can we just talk this through? Leo is still small, we can’t get divorced. I swear, I’ll never see Sarah again. I’ll get that hundred thousand back. Amelia, we can’t just end like this. I read them, deleted the chat history. Blocked him. At 2 AM, my mom’s phone rang. She answered, then handed it to me. “It’s David.” “Hey sis.” My brother’s voice was grave. “Mom told me everything. Don’t worry, I’ll go with you tomorrow.” “No need, I can handle it myself.” “Don’t be stubborn.” “I’m not. I’m calm. I just want to face this alone.” “Alright then, but I’ve already contacted a lawyer for you. Tomorrow at 5 PM, after you see that woman, go to the law firm.” “Okay.” “Also, about that hundred thousand, go to the bank and freeze the joint account first.” “I know.” “Sis, don’t be scared. You still have me.” After hanging up, I suddenly started to cry. For six years, I thought I had a family. Only now did I realize, my real family had been behind me all along. Saturday, 10 AM. I went to the bank. “Madam, freezing a joint account requires both parties to be present…” the staff member said. “Here’s a lawyer’s letter.” I handed it over. “My husband is suspected of illegally transferring joint marital assets.” The staff member read it, and their attitude immediately changed. “Please wait.” Half an hour later, the account was successfully frozen. And the $100,000 transfer? A recall request had been initiated. Stepping out of the bank, I sent Mark a SnapChat message: Account frozen. $100,000 recall initiated. After meeting Sarah at 3 PM, I’m seeing a lawyer. See you at the courthouse the day after tomorrow. After sending it, I blocked him again. My phone immediately rang. It was Brenda. “Amelia, how could you freeze the account?!” She yelled into the phone. “That’s my money.” “That’s your joint marital property!” “Exactly. So he can’t unilaterally dispose of it.” “But if you do this, how will he live?” I laughed. “Mom, are you worried about how he’ll live, or are you worried he won’t be able to transfer money to Sarah anymore?” “Amelia, how can you talk like that?” “How am I talking? Mom, I ask you, these six years, have I ever wronged your family?” She fell silent. “I haven’t, have I? Every holiday I give you money, I take care of your daily needs, I gave you a grandson, and I still have to work to support the family. Have I ever complained?” “No, but…” “But what? But I shouldn’t have found out about his illegitimate daughter? But I should have pretended not to know and continued to be a fool?” “That’s not what I mean…” “Then what do you mean? Mom, just tell me directly.” A long silence on the other end. “Amelia, can you please, for Leo’s sake, give him another chance?” “I can’t.” “Why not?” “Because he’s not worth it.” I hung up. Back at the hotel, my mom had already packed Leo’s things. “Honey, how about going to the amusement park with Grandma today?” “Yay!” Leo jumped for joy. “What about Mommy?” He suddenly asked. “Mommy has something to do, I’ll pick you up tonight.” “Is Mommy going to see sis?” I froze. “No.” I crouched down, looking at him. “Honey, how much do you remember about sis?” “I remember!” He tilted his head, thinking. “Sis lives in a very beautiful house, and there’s a very gentle auntie there.” “What does the auntie look like?” “Very pretty, long hair, and she speaks softly.” “Dad and the auntie…” I gritted my teeth. “How do Dad and the auntie interact?” “Dad hugs the auntie.” Leo said naturally. “And he kisses her cheek.” My heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. “Just like Daddy used to kiss Mommy.” He added. Used to. Yes, used to. Now he barely touched me. I thought it was because of work. Turns out, there was someone else. “Alright, honey, go have fun with Grandma.” I stood up, trying to keep my voice normal. “Mommy, are you crying?” “No, something got in my eye.” After seeing my mom and Leo off, I started to get ready. Makeup, change of clothes, organize my purse. The woman in the mirror looked perfectly calm. But only I knew, my hands were shaking the whole time. 2:30 PM, I arrived at Starbucks early. Ordered a coffee, sat in a corner. Every second of waiting felt like a year. Exactly 3 PM, a woman walked in. She was young, looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Long hair, white dress, carrying an LV bag. She saw me and walked over. “Mrs. Miller?” “Ms. Harris.” She sat down and ordered a latte. Then, she looked at me and smiled. “You’re calmer than I expected.” “You’re younger than I expected.” I smiled back. We stared at each other for a few seconds. “So?” I spoke first. “What did you want to talk about?” “I think we need to talk.” She was very calm. “About Mark.” Mark was my husband’s name. “Talk about what?” “His allegiance.” She was direct. “Mrs. Miller, you must know that Mark is in a lot of pain right now.” “Oh?” “He’s stuck between us, it’s very difficult for him.” I laughed. “He’s finding it difficult? He didn’t find it difficult when he was secretly keeping another woman and child from me, did he?” “That’s because he hadn’t figured out how to tell you yet.” “Hadn’t figured it out? For five years, hadn’t figured it out?” She fell silent. “Ms. Harris, I don’t want to beat around the bush.” I looked at her. “What exactly do you want?” “I want a complete family.” She said. “I want Chloe to have a father.” “Chloe is the daughter’s name?” “Yes.” “Pretty name.” I nodded. “But, that’s not my problem.” “What do you mean?” “Your daughter needs a father. That’s between you and Mark. It has nothing to do with me.” “But Mark is your husband.” “Yes, so?” “So you divorce him, and he can marry me.” I finally understood. “You want me to initiate the divorce?” “Yes.” She was very frank. “Mrs. Miller, I know this sounds impolite, but we’re both adults. Let’s just be straightforward.” “Fine, let’s be straightforward.” I leaned back in my chair. “What do you want to say?” “Mark says your marriage has been a sham for a long time.” “Oh?” “He says you haven’t had marital relations for over a year.” “And?” “And he says he’s always wanted a divorce, but you wouldn’t agree.” I chuckled aloud. “I wouldn’t agree?” “Yes, he says you threatened him that if he divorced you, you’d make him leave with nothing.” “What else did he say?” “He said you’re very materialistic, and you only married him because of his house.” My smile froze. “He said that?” “Yes.” She was serious. “Mrs. Miller, I have no ill will, I just want you to know that your marriage is meaningless. It’s better to part amicably.” “Part amicably.” I repeated. “And then let him marry you?” “Yes.” “You know, Ms. Harris.” I suddenly said. “Not a single word you’ve said is true.” She flinched. “I bought the house, I paid the down payment, and I’m paying the mortgage.” I spoke slowly, distinctly. “These six years, I handed over every cent of my salary to him. He said he wanted to start a business, and I used all my savings to support him. Marital relations? We were intimate just last month. A sham? Last week he said he wanted to take me on a trip.” Her face changed. “You…” “And there’s more.” I cut her off. “Do you know where that eight thousand dollars he gives you every month comes from?” “It’s… it’s his salary…” “No, it’s my salary.” I smiled. “He’s been unemployed for a long time. I’m supporting him now.” “Impossible…” “You can choose not to believe me.” I pulled out my phone. “Here are our bank statements. See for yourself.” She took my phone, her face growing paler and paler. “How could this be…” “How could this be? Because he’s a liar.” I took my phone back. “Ms. Harris, I don’t know what he told you, but I can tell you that every word he said was a lie.” “I don’t believe it!” She stood up. “He wouldn’t lie to me!” “Then ask him.” I said calmly. “Ask him if he’s unemployed, ask him if the money he gives you every month is my salary, ask him if that hundred thousand dollars was from my savings.” “You…” “And, I’ve already recalled that hundred thousand dollars, and the joint account is frozen.” I stood up. “Ms. Harris, it was nice to meet you, but I’m afraid we won’t be seeing each other again.” “What do you mean?” “It means, your business with him, you two solve it yourselves.” I picked up my bag. “I’m getting a divorce, but not to make things easier for you two. I’m doing it for myself.” “Wait!” She grabbed my arm. “What about Chloe?!” “Your daughter, you’re responsible for her.” I pulled my arm away. “Just as I will be responsible for my son.” Stepping out of the coffee shop, my legs were shaking. But I forced myself to walk to my car, got in, and closed the door. Then, I collapsed onto the steering wheel and cried. Saturday, 5 PM. The law firm. “Mrs. Miller, based on your description, this case is quite straightforward.” The lawyer was very professional. “Firstly, the house was purchased by you before marriage; it’s your personal property. Secondly, your husband had an affair and unilaterally transferred joint marital assets, which is legally very advantageous for you.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299254”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #玄幻Fantasy
Leave a Reply