After My Husband Left for a Rich Woman

I want to divorce Ford right away, not waste another day.

If what he says is true, I should get that money back and return it to him.

So the next morning, I went back to my parents' place.

The house originally belonged to my grandpa. It was demolished and rebuilt last year, a 120 square meter place.

Now only my mom, my brother Ethan, and my 3-year-old nephew live there.

My household registration was originally there too, so I should have a share of the house.

But when it was rebuilt, my mom said they were keeping it as a wedding house for Ethan, and I should give up my share.

I was already married with my own home, so no need to fight with my brother, she said.

I was unhappy about it but went along in the end.

Some ideas have been drilled into me since birth by my mom's endless brainwashing.

As the older sister, I'm not supposed to compete with my younger brother.

As soon as I walked in, a chubby little ball of energy came charging at me - my 3-year-old nephew, looking just like his fat-headed dad.

Smack! A rubber dart stuck to my forehead.

"You're dead! Aunt, you're dead!"

The kid's gleeful shouts brought my mom out. She took one look at me and burst out laughing.

When I angrily flicked the dart away, she instantly switched to a displeased tone.

"Why'd you come empty-handed?" she scolded.

"Visiting without even bringing something for your nephew to eat or drink?"

"Cheapskate, cheapskate! Aunt is a cheapskate!"

My undisciplined little brat of a nephew stuck his tongue out at me.

I couldn't be bothered with his spoiled antics - he was raised by my mom, what do you expect?

Ethan isn't married yet, but mom said he used to have a girlfriend. She got pregnant before marriage, had the baby, then took off.

While mom was cooking in the kitchen, I went in to help.

I brought up the money Ford gave her.

As expected, mom exploded in rage, calling me an ungrateful wretch who bites the hand that feeds.

"I raised you with such hardship, just to let him mistreat you like this? And now he wants to take the money back after the divorce? Not a chance!"

I said, "Mom, when we got married we clearly agreed on the amount of the house, car, and bride price of $88,000 - all laid out. Ford said the $300,000 you forced him to 'borrow' wasn't part of the bride price."

"Bullshit! Just because he says it's not, that makes it true? Is there an IOU? Let me tell you, Clara. The money is long gone. I don't believe you can still go along with him to sue your own mother!"

My mom was a shrew in her younger days, a real terror in the neighborhood.

Ford said he do have the transfer records, which my mom can't deny.

But now mom is insisting the money was part of the bride price, making things very difficult.

At this point, I really can't compromise anymore.

"Mom, if you put it that way, I did have a share in this rebuilt house before. 120 square meters, worth maybe 2 million dollars. If we three - me, you, and Ethan - split it evenly, I should get $700,000 or $800,000 at least. If you insist on not paying back the $300,000, I'll just take my share and give it to Ford."

Mom slapped me hard across the face, making my eyes water.

"You idiot! Daring to threaten your own mother! Don't forget, you already gave up your share when they demolished it! Now you pull this on me?"

Holding back the pain, I didn't back down. "Mom, you say Ford didn't give you an IOU, but I never signed an agreement either. If you don't pay, Ford can just sue, same result!"

"Go ahead and sue! You shameless wretch! Waste of 20 years of raising you! Only know how to be tough with your own family! Worthless piece of trash, can't even lay an egg, lets a man play with you for a while then kicks you out, and still help the person who did it!"

If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I'd hardly believe a mother could say such things about her own daughter.

Maybe in her eyes, a daughter is just a cash cow.

I don't know where that $300,000 went, but since mom admits taking it, 80% chance it went to support Ethan.

I left without eating, didn't even bother saying goodbye.

I have a friend who's a lawyer, I think I should ask a professional about this.

As I walked downstairs, I reached for my phone - forgot it, probably left it in the bathroom.

Gritting my teeth, I went back upstairs to get it, planning to just ring the doorbell and leave.

But the door wasn't fully closed. So I quietly went in to grab my phone and go, not wanting to face mom again.

That's when I heard mom's voice in Ethan's room, talking to him.

"If I'd known your sister would turn out like this, I should have just left her in the countryside to marry some old bachelor. Letting her study, look how she turned out. Ethan, I'm telling you, you better make sure that money is treated as bride price, not a penny less!"

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Spending $300,000 to secure you a grandson—how valuable is that? Mom, please calm down. I've told you before that Clara isn't reliable. Fortunately, it's just her today; if we hadn't made her get rid of that child back then, there would be one more person in the family competing for this house. If she had a child, she could have easily claimed more than half of it!"

In that moment, I felt like I'd been struck by lightning, my entire worldview shattered.

What did Ethan mean - the child I miscarried back then...wasn't a natural miscarriage?

He made me get rid of it?

Just so my child wouldn't be registered in the old house, taking up a share in the future?

He killed my unborn child!

My own brother, and that was his own nephew!

My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood, as I bit my lip until the metallic taste spread.

I slowly backed out of the house without making a sound.