I redialed Matthew’s number, but a mechanical voice informed me that the call couldn’t connect. I squatted in frustration, but the thought of my daughter’s fever struck me. Then I gritted my teeth, forced myself to stand, and returned to the lobby.I tried calling Ivanna when I arrived, but her phone was off too. I paced around in panic and wondered where those two could’ve gone. At that moment, I felt like my pleas were falling on deaf ears.Ultimately, I reluctantly called my in-laws. Although it was past one in the morning, and I didn’t want to disturb them, I had no other option. Sure enough, my mother-in-law answered and sounded alarmed, “Chlo? What’s wrong? It’s so late. Is something wrong?”I had trouble answering her question but soon apologized and told her about Ava’s high fever and that I had no cash. My in-laws said they would rush to the hospital and quickly hung up. When they arrived, the doctor had already put Ava on an IV drip and diagnosed her with acute pneumonia.
I paused before snapping back to reality and realized she was right. I couldn’t lose everything without a fight or reclaiming what was rightfully mine. Even if I fought and lost, I wouldn’t regret it. At that point, my phone had stopped ringing.I stared into Ivanna’s calm eyes and gradually regained my composure. My thoughts began to clear, and I wiped my face, saying, “I get it now! I’m grateful to have a clear-headed person like you by my side. You constantly remind me of my priorities.”When the phone rang again, I had already sorted my emotions. Ivanna passed me the phone and nodded. “You’ve got this.”I took a deep breath and swiped the screen to answer the call, “Hey, honey. It’s about time you called. I need to ask you, where’s the money in our account? Ava had pneumonia, and I had to rush her to the hospital in the middle of the night.“Nothing was left when I tried to withdraw money from the card. What’s going on?”Ivanna smacked her forehead when she heard my words. How
I chuckled as I wondered what the good news could be. Ivanna didn’t specify the news due to time constraints, and I didn’t pry. Instead, we agreed to meet tomorrow.Meanwhile, everyone waited at my in-laws’ place for me to return for dinner. Surprisingly, Melanie was there.When Grace saw me, she quickly laid out the dishes, saying, “Dinner’s ready! Chlo, it’s been a while since you last joined us for a meal.”I smiled while washing my hands and helped with the dishes. The atmosphere was heartwarming with the whole family together. Henry asked Matthew about the project in Operose during the meal, but Matthew brushed it off.Without much thought, Grace asked Melanie, “What were you doing with your brother?”Immediately after, I noticed Melanie pausing and glancing at Matthew. He questioned, “You went to Operose too?”Melanie froze, seemingly off guard, as she hesitated before saying, “Uh…I went there with my friends!”However, Grace persisted, “Then why did you tell me you were w
I laughed at myself for thinking I had a way back while Matthew and the other woman were already transferring assets. I wondered when I became such an idiot. Ivanna was right to call me a fool.Matthew was practically selling me off, yet I stood beside him to count his money. I had no idea who that woman was and how cunning Matthew could be. Still, the woman’s identity was not my priority; I was just curious.Most people in my situation would obsess over finding out who they lost their love to, but the results were always the same, no matter who the other person was. I had already lost.After some thought, I told Ivanna, “My priority is finding where that money went.”"I already have someone looking into it, don't worry!" Ivanna reassured me confidently.I returned to work after our chat to figure out how to reclaim my company and bring Matthew down from his pedestal. That was my only wish. No one noticed when I had left and returned. After all, everyone knew I was the boss’s wife
Matthew seemed shocked at my question.I said innocently, “That was our house savings, so we need that money back soon. I want to buy a place once I find a suitable one. We can’t afford to delay our move any longer, especially after Ava’s fall. I need to find her a decent kindergarten, preferably Sunnydale Institute.”Matthew remained silent as I spoke. I feigned naivety and continued, “Why are you so quiet? I’ve noticed you’re so indifferent lately.”Matthew chuckled awkwardly, saying, “How’s that? Honey, I’ve got everything under control. I told you what happened to the money, right? We invested in a project many people have their eyes on.“We had to make an executive decision then, so I used our house savings as payment first. Do you think we’ll have trouble finding a good house once the company grows stronger? It’s all part of my plan, so don’t worry.”He smiled and gently pinched my nose. However, I knew his smile wasn’t genuine.We were preoccupied with our thoughts through
The message read, “I just wanted to show you how amazing he is.”Those few words sparked my wild imagination. I knew what the other party meant by saying Matthew was amazing. I was outraged and threw my phone aside, heavily panting to contain my impending scream.I knew the person was taunting me. I clenched my teeth so hard they made a grinding sound. Then I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. After a while, I picked up my phone, grabbed my bag, and stormed off.I could no longer hold back my grievances when I saw Ivanna. I threw myself into her arms and wailed. I couldn’t understand why I felt so shaken even after enduring torment.When I showed Ivanna the photos, she roared, kicked, and smashed things around. I guessed it was her way of helping me relieve my frustrations. “That bastard’s shameless! Disgraceful degenerate! How dare he?!”Once we finally calmed down, I looked at Ivanna and said, “I won’t fall for her provocations. She’s the wrong one, and I need to show h
Finally, there was a breakthrough in Johnson's whereabouts. Ivanna's report shocked me. Johnson frequented Amethyst Apartments, a newly developed upscale apartment community.This revelation reminded me of that key that never seemed to match anything. I wondered if the key belonged to that house but found it hard to accept.I had been with Matthew and endured countless hardships for many years. We had repeated discussions on finding a nurturing environment for Ava to grow up in. We even talked about getting a bigger apartment in a good school district.Yet, he always brushed it off and delayed his decision. However, I discovered he had bought a unit in Amethyst Apartments. Matthew's actions shattered my perception of a man's behavior after infidelity. He was either utterly clueless or just an animal.After confirming the location, I dared not act recklessly. Instead, Ivanna arranged for someone to observe discreetly. Once she confirmed the house was empty, she called and urged me t
It was tough to pretend. I admired those couples who stayed together despite the absence of feeling. At this point, life at home was just a show. Matthew and I were actors, showcasing our acting skills.I couldn't bear to be intimate with him since I found that condom. His slightest movement would make me nauseous. Forget the photos of his 'adventures,' which were beyond repulsive.I’d feel a chill running down my spine whenever he touched me. Thankfully, his attention was no longer on me. He used to bug me about the little things. However, he would stop insisting when I stood my ground. It was apparent he was growing more distant from me.These past few days, I had intensified my efforts to examine the data Ivanna had uncovered. I was surprised the sales figures for these years were impressive, far exceeding my estimates.However, 80% of those clients were the old customers I had cultivated. Many of them were potentials I had identified years ago, and they had flourished during th