Chapter 7 — My Husband Brought His Ex Home

As it turned out, this was never meant to be a temporary stay. She was planning to move in for the night. The man I had called my husband had been standing right across from me all along, quietly scheming on how to maneuver another woman into my own home. The police officer had already reviewed the chat logs. His expression grew even darker and more solemn.

Miss Xu, do you consent to letting Miss Fang stay here for the night?

I answered firmly, No, I do not.

Starting from this exact moment, I withhold my consent for Han Hao to invite any guests whatsoever into a residence registered under my name.

The property management staff member immediately went to work on his computer.

Miss Xu, I am revoking Mr. Hans guest-invitation privileges right now.

Han Hao snapped his head up in disbelief.

On what grounds are you revoking my rights?

I looked straight at him.

On the grounds that I am the legal homeowner.

On the grounds that you just lied straight to my face in front of the police.

And on the grounds that you smuggled someone else through the basement parking garage just to sneak her into my house.

Phuong Tieu Hue began to weep even more hysterically.

Tri Ha, I truly never wanted to steal your home from you.

I cast a cold glance in her direction.

You could never steal it.

You were merely attempting to use someone elses hands to shove me entirely out of the picture.

Her face drained of all color. Chu Lan Phuong could no longer restrain herself.

Hua Tri Ha, there is no need for you to speak in such an ugly manner.

Tieu Hue is a young woman, and you have humiliated her in front of so many people. How can your heart be so vicious?

I turned my gaze toward the older woman.

If she cared about her dignity, she would not have hauled her luggage straight into someone elses bridal chamber.

If you cared about your dignity, Auntie, you would not have hidden that luggage away for her.

Chu Lan Phuong was left speechless, her face flushing bright red with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. Suddenly, Chu Lan Chi lunged at Han Hao, wailing in a manner that sounded entirely heartbroken and gut-wrenching.

A Hao, I refuse to go to the police station!

Hurry up and beg Tri Ha for mercy!

At my age, I cannot afford to lose face in such a manner!

The skin around Han Haos eyes was inflamed and red. He looked at me, his voice rough and strained.

Hua Tri Ha, consider it my fault entirely.

I should never have kept things from you.

Please tell the police officers to leave, and do not let them take my mother away.

I looked directly at him and asked, What about Phuong Tieu Hue? He froze in place. Phuong Tieu Hue stared at him as well. In that fleeting instant, the air in the room felt pulled taut like a bowstring. Han Hao remained silent for three agonizing seconds before speaking. I will take her to a hotel first. I let out a dry, mirthless laugh.

First?

His expression turned deeply unsightly. I picked up my handbag and turned to the police officer. I insist on filing an official statement.

The power of attorney, the surveillance camera footage, the chat history—I will submit every single piece of evidence.

The police officer gave a decisive nod.

Everyone involved will accompany us down to the station for questioning.

Chu Lan Chis legs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed onto the floor. Han Hao rushed forward to support her, casting a look in my direction that seemed sharp enough to tear me to shreds.

Hua Tri Ha, you are truly being utterly ruthless today.

I met his gaze steadily.

Not today.

The very moment you allowed her to step foot across this threshold, we crossed a point of no return.

Just as we were preparing to head toward the exit, the property management employee hurriedly called out to me once more.

Miss Xu, there is one more matter that requires your attention.

He pointed at the system logs on his monitor, his voice taut with tension.

Last Friday night, someone utilized the homeowners family privileges to apply for an additional set of fingerprints to be registered to your smart door lock.

The name listed in the notes for the newly requested user was Phuong Tieu Hue.

I truly believed I had reached the absolute limit of what could shock me tonight. Yet upon hearing those three syllables, my fingertips involuntarily went entirely numb. Last Friday. That was the evening I had worked overtime until ten o'clock. Han Hao had texted me earlier to say he had gone back to our old family residence to drop off some medicine for his parents. It had been nearly midnight by the time he finally returned home. When I asked him why he was so late, he claimed he had gotten caught in heavy traffic. As it turned out, there had been no traffic jam at all. He had been busy registering fingerprints for Phuong Tieu Hue. I slowly turned my head back to look at Han Hao.

Do you have anything else you would like to say?

The panic plastered across Han Haos face could no longer be concealed in the slightest.

I hadn't actually added them yet.

The application was only just submitted.

I demanded an explanation. Why would you even submit such an application? He gritted his teeth.

My mother said Tieu Hue could come over in the future to help look after her.

I nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity.

To look after her, you need to program fingerprints into the lock of my primary residence?

To look after her, you need to file the name Phuong Tieu Hue under the notes?

And to look after her, you needed to keep the entire thing hidden from me?

Phuong Tieu Hue immediately shook her head in frantic denial.

I had no idea.

I truly knew nothing about any fingerprint registration.

The property management staff member pulled up the detailed system log.

The person who submitted the application was Mr. Han.

Because the system dictates that the primary homeowner must confirm the addition, the request was ultimately rejected.

At that time, our customer service representative attempted to reach Miss Xu by phone, but the call could not go through.

Suddenly, the memory clicked into place in my mind. Last Friday night, I had indeed missed a call from an unfamiliar landline number. Afterward, I had been so completely consumed by rushing to finish a project deadline that I never bothered to call it back. To think it all came down to a single missed phone call. Had I lowered my guard for even a second that day, Phuong Tieu Hue's fingerprints would have already been brazenly and permanently encoded into the lock of my sanctuary. A sudden, biting chill crept up along my spine. This was never just about a casual meal. This was never about staying over for a few days. This was a calculated, deliberate plot designed to systematically wedge another woman into the very core of my life. The police officer turned his severe gaze toward Han Hao.

You hold no ownership rights over this property; on what legal basis did you attempt to authorize a third party to access the door lock?

Han Haos face turned an ashen white.

This is a private matter between myself and my wife.

The police officers tone brooked no argument.

The legal homeowner has already explicitly stated that she was completely unaware of this action.