Chapter 2 — My Husband Brought His Ex Home

Nine o'clock tomorrow morning, at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Huo Hao raised his head with a sharp jolt of astonishment. His eyes brimmed with utter disbelief. I did not spare him a glance. I kept my gaze fixed entirely on Lan Zhi.

Before we get a divorce, all of you, clear out of my house first.

After the police officers departed, a heavy, suffocating silence settled over the apartment. Little Huai finally lacked the audacity to remain. As she scooped up her dog and scurried out the door, she cast one lingering, pathetic look back at Huo Hao. He made no move to follow her. He stood frozen in the middle of the living room, looking as though he had just been struck hard across the face. Lan Zhi slumped onto the sofa, her chest heaving with suppressed fury. De Hai reached out and switched off the television, his face shrouded in a dark, ominous gloom.

I walked into the master bedroom. The bedsheets were utterly ruined. The vanity table looked like a disaster zone, littered with spilled cosmetics. A tube of lipstick had its tip snapped clean off. Liquid foundation was smeared across the polished wood in sticky puddles, and more than half a bottle of my favorite perfume had been wasted. I unlocked my phone and methodically photographed every single piece of damage. Huo Hao trailed closely behind me, stepping into the room.

Are you still taking pictures?

I did not lift my head.

Gathering evidence.

He swallowed hard, fighting to keep his temper in check.

Xia, Little Huai only used a few things. Calling the police over this, isn't that taking things a bit too far?

I paused my movements.

She walked right into my bedroom, and you were standing right there.

She used my personal belongings, and you were standing right there.

Her dog trampled all over my bed, and you were standing right there.

And now you are asking me if I am taking things too far?

Huo Hao's voice grew sharp and defensive.

She just returned from abroad and has nowhere to live. My mother simply felt a surge of sympathy and asked her to stay for a meal.

Did you really have to push her into such a desperate corner?

I turned my cold gaze upon him.

She has nowhere to live. What on earth does that have to do with me?

Huo Hao's expression darkened into a scowl.

Why have you suddenly become so cold-blooded?

Hearing those words, a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

I am cold-blooded?

A three-million-yuan apartment purchased entirely by my father has been treated like a public hotel by your family.

My private master bedroom was invaded by your first love.

My personal items were contaminated and used by her.

I simply called the police to protect my property rights and personal privacy.

And yet you have the audacity to call me cold-blooded?

Huo Hao was completely cornered by my logic, left utterly speechless. From the living room, Lan Zhi shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Hao, stop arguing with her!

Now that she thinks this apartment belongs to her, her arrogance has reached the heavens!

I walked back out to confront them.

You are entirely right, Madam.

Lan Zhi blinked in surprise. I strode over to the coffee table and picked up the laminated copy of the property deed.

This house belongs to me.

Therefore, starting from today, the rules in this household will be dictated by me.

De Hai let out a cold, derisive sneer.

Do you think you can turn the world upside down?

We are Hao's parents. Do we need your permission to stay in our son's home?

I stared straight at him. This is my property.

When you all moved in, I did not charge a single cent in rent.

The utility bills and property management fees are paid by me.

The grocery shopping and meal preparation are handled by me.

That massage chair you insisted on replacing was paid for by me.

Your precious son's monthly salary is barely enough to cover the loan installments for his own car.

So do not ever try to use your seniority to trample over me again.

I do not owe any of you a single thing.

Lan Zhi's face cycled rapidly between shades of pale white and furious red.

You married into the family. Showing absolute filial piety to your parents-in-law is only natural!

Naturally, I agreed with a nod.

Then by that same logic, since your son is effectively living in my home as a dependent husband, shouldn't he also show filial piety to my father?

The living room plunged back into absolute silence. Huo Hao muttered angrily, Xia, there is no need for you to speak in such an ugly manner! I turned my gaze toward him.

Ugly?

Then allow me to rephrase it into something more pleasant.

Before tonight, your parents will pack up their belongings and move back to their old neighborhood.

And you will be leaving right along with them.

Lan Zhi sprang to her feet as if she had been stung. On what grounds?

The three of us were living here perfectly fine. On what grounds should we have to leave?

I unlocked my phone again, tapping open the digital record of the property management fees.

Because the legal homeowner does not consent to your presence here.

If you refuse to leave of your own accord, I will go down to the management office tomorrow morning to file an official report.

If any of you continue to trespass here afterward, I will simply call the police again.

De Hai pointed a trembling finger directly at my face. You wouldn't dare!

I placed my phone flat onto the table. Go ahead and see if I dare.

Huo Hao glared at me with ferocious intensity, his eyes filled with the shock of a stranger meeting me for the very first time.

Xia, have you been planning to divorce me for a long time now?

I did not answer him immediately. My mind drifted back to the day before our wedding, when my father handed the house keys over to me. His calloused fingers brushed against mine, his eyes red and swollen with unshed tears. He had said, I am incompetent, so the only thing I can leave you is a safe place where you can lock the door behind you and shut out the world. Back then, I had made excuses for Huo Hao. I told myself that as long as he treated me well, his family would naturally treat me well too. Looking back now, my father had been infinitely wiser than I ever was. I finally spoke. Until today, the thought never once crossed my mind.

But right now, I am thinking about it very clearly.

Huo Hao's complexion turned ashen. Lan Zhi let out another piercing shriek.

Hao, did you hear that?

She is using a divorce to threaten you!

A woman like this cannot be tolerated for another second!

Divorce her this very instant!

I gave a curt nod. Very well.

I will draft the divorce agreement myself.

The apartment remains mine.

Each of us will continue paying off our respective vehicles.

The joint savings accumulated after our marriage will be split evenly.

Now, all of you pack up and leave.

Huo Hao ground his teeth together. You will regret this.

I looked straight into his eyes. The only one who will regret this is you.

At that exact moment, my phone began to ring. It was a call from the residential building's management office. I pressed accept, and the staff member's voice came through, sounding hesitant and slightly nervous. Miss Xu, I am terribly sorry to disturb you.