Chapter 2 — On a 5-day business trip, I called the police to kick my husband's entire family out of the house

Tien Que Phuong was still cursing loudly, her voice echoed throughout the floor. The light in apartment 1701 next door was on, someone was looking through cat eyes. Chu Hao Nam pulled his mother's hand.

“Mom, let's go.”

"I'm not going! What's the point..."

He repeated again, his voice lowered.

“Go ahead and talk.”

He went back inside to get his coat, then brought another bag out. Tien Que Phuong was half pulled, half pushed into the elevator by him. Before the elevator door closed, she pointed at me, her lips still moving and cursing something. I can't hear clearly. But I don't want to hear it either. The police helped me make a record and left a confirmation of scene processing.

"Miss Lam, I advise you to change the door lock as soon as possible. Also, if there is a marital dispute, you can seek advice from a lawyer."

"Thank you."

The moment the door closed, I smelled an unfamiliar perfume. Not mine. On the living room tea table there are two cups of water. One is my ceramic cup. The other one is pink, with a rabbit printed on the side of the cup. By Chu My Ky. I went into the side room — the room I used to use as my office. My bookshelves have been emptied. The design drawings are no longer available. The computer screen was also removed. Instead there is a single bed, a wardrobe and a pile of colorful dresses. I only went on a business trip for five days. Yet they turned my office into Chu My Ky's bedroom. So fast that it seemed like it was planned in advance. I opened WeChat and scrolled to the chat box with Chu Hao Nam. The last message was two days ago, I sent:

"Today the partner approved the plan, the project is progressing very smoothly."

He only replied with one word: Scroll further up, it's almost all that type of conversation. I texted a long paragraph. He replied:

“I know.”

I exited the chat box, opened my contacts, and looked for a name. My college roommate is currently a partner of the most famous family law firm in Cam Thanh. Three-fifteen in the morning. I still call her. The bell rings six times and connects.

"Van Tinh? It's midnight and still..."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“I want a divorce.”

The other end of the line was silent for three seconds.

“Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, come to my office.”

Tu Manh's office is located on the twenty-eighth floor of Cam Thanh financial center. Outside the glass wall is the city skyline. When I arrived, she had finished making the coffee. One glass was given to me, one was kept in my hand. I told you everything about last night. Password has been changed. Furniture was thrown out. Mother-in-law cursed. Chu Hao Nam was silent. After listening, Tu Manh lightly tapped two fingers on the table.

“Van Tinh, the ownership of that apartment…”

“I bought it all before marriage, in my name alone.”

"Okay." She nodded. “So after getting married, do you two have any common property?”

"A car was bought in installments after marriage. But both the down payment and the monthly payment are deducted from my salary card. There is also a joint account, with about 120,000 yuan inside."

“What about your personal account?”

“Another card, more than 600,000 yuan left.”

Tu Manh put down his coffee cup.

“Does Chu Hao Nam have any assets in his name?”

I thought for a moment.

"Probably not. His salary is not high, about 15,000 yuan a month, but he spends a lot. His mother even took 5,000 yuan from him." Each month is called support money.”

“It's been three years and I haven't saved any money?”

“He said he gave all the money to his mother to keep.”

Tu Manh looked at me for a long moment.

“Van Tinh, I ask a question that may make you uncomfortable.”

“You ask.”

“Have you ever thought… he married you because of that house?”

My hand holding the cup of coffee stopped in mid-air. Actually, last night, while standing in the hallway, I thought about this problem. Three and a half years ago, we met at a gathering of friends. At that time, I had just received my home ownership certificate for three months. Does he know I'm home? The second time we met, he asked me where I lived. I speak in Phi Thuy Loan. He immediately laughed:

“Wow, that house over there is very expensive. You're really good.”

At that time, I thought he was praising me. Now that I think about it… That was confirmation.

“I thought about that.”

I put down the coffee cup.

“But right now what I need is not an answer, but a solution.”

Tu Manh laughed, pulled out the drawer, took out a file and placed it in front of me.

“Divorce agreement form. I have prepared a preliminary draft based on your situation."

“The house belongs to you, the car also belongs to you. The joint account will be divided according to the contribution ratio. You contributed more, so divide it seven-three.”

“There is no custody issue because the two do not have children yet.”

“Are you leaving empty-handed?” I asked.

“Not empty-handed.” Tu Manh took a sip of coffee. “The portion of the money in the joint account that belongs to him will still be divided between him. But the house and car are your assets, so they shouldn't have been divided in the first place."

I opened the agreement file and read it line by line. On the last page, the signature section still has two blank lines.

“What if he doesn't sign?”

“Then sue.”

Tu Manh leaned back in his chair.

“It takes a little longer, about half a year. But the results won't be much different. Your chain of evidence is very clear.”

“Is there a faster way?”

Tu Manh looked at me.

“Are you impatient?”

“Not impatient.”

I closed the file.

“It's that I don't want to see him another day.”

She nodded, took a business card from beside her and gave it to me.

“This person's name is Tran Duong, he specializes in investigating marriages and families, and has cooperated with our office for many years. If you suspect Chu Hao Nam is hiding something, you can find him.”

“Investigate what?”

“For example, is there a transfer of assets, is there a hiding of debt…”

She paused for a moment then continued:

“Or… is there adultery in the marriage?”

I put the business card in my pocket.

“One more thing.” Tu Manh looked straight into my eyes. “Starting today, change all personal account passwords. Report your bank card lost and then try again. The phone has two-factor verification enabled.”

“The money that belongs to you in the joint account is frozen first.”

Her voice slowed down.

“Don't get into a direct conflict with him.”

“Don't get angry, don't curse, don't let him have evidence that your emotions are out of control.”

"I get it."

I stood up, walked to the door and turned around.

“Ah Manh, thank you.”

“What politeness.”

She held a cup of coffee, leaned on the chair and looked at me.

“It's been three years.”

“You're finally awake.”