Chapter 3

Three days later, Mr. Davis called me.

"Mr. Greene, the investigation results are in."

"However, this situation is quite complex. I recommend you come in."

I put down my work and went straight to the detective agency.

Mr. Davis handed me a thick file.

"Mr. Greene, are you prepared for what's inside?"

I nodded, opening the file.

Inside was a thick stack of photos and documents.

The first photo made me freeze.

It was Brooke and Ryan at a hotel entrance, dated a year and a half ago.

Which meant their relationship started even earlier than Ryan had admitted.

I continued to flip through.

Photos from every angle, every location, every time of day.

Hotels, restaurants, cinemas, parks.

They were dating, dining, watching movies like a normal couple.

And me? I was at home, waiting for her, making her late-night snacks.

"Mr. Greene, according to our investigation, your wife and Mr. Ryan's relationship has indeed been ongoing for about a year and a half."

Mr. Davis pointed to the photos.

"And judging by the frequency, they met more than three times a week."

"Sometimes during lunchtime on weekdays, sometimes in the evenings."

"Your wife often used working late as an excuse to meet him."

More than three times a week.

That meant she spent more time with him than she did with me.

I kept flipping through the photos.

Suddenly, I saw a picture that filled me with absolute fury.

It was taken the day after our wedding anniversary.

I remembered I'd worked late that night, and Brooke said she was meeting up with girlfriends.

But in the photo, she and Ryan were embracing and kissing at our favorite restaurant.

She was wearing the necklace I'd given her, the dress I'd bought her.

Using *my* money to go on dates with another man.

"This isn't even the worst of it."

Mr. Davis flipped to another page.

"Look at this."

It was a stack of hotel receipts.

Starting from a year and a half ago, there was one almost every month.

The room fees were all paid with Brooke's credit card.

My secondary card, to be exact.

Which meant she was using *my* money to book hotel rooms with another man.

My hands started to tremble.

Not from rage, but from a terrifying calmness after reaching the peak of fury.

"Is there anything worse?"

My voice sounded unnervingly steady.

Mr. Davis hesitated.

"There's one more thing that might be a significant blow."

"Tell me."

"Based on our surveillance, your wife and Mr. Ryan have been looking at houses."

"More specifically, they were looking at houses… for their wedding."

I froze.

"What do you mean?"

"They plan to get married and are preparing a new home."

Mr. Davis handed me another document.

"These are their house viewing records, and the real estate agent's SnapChat messages."

"Your wife told the agent she would be divorcing soon and needed a new house for her wedding."

I read through the SnapChat messages.

Brooke wrote that her husband was a boring man, incapable of anything but making money.

She'd been waiting for the right moment to divorce.

Now she'd finally found true love and was ready to start a new life.

The agent even wished her happiness.

"And this."

Mr. Davis handed me another printout.

It was a screenshot of Brooke's SnapChat conversation with her best friend.

"'I'm sick of Alex. All he cares about is work and money, no romance whatsoever. Ryan's different; he knows how to enjoy life, how to treat a woman right. Now, every day I just look forward to seeing him. Being with Alex feels like visiting a graveyard.' And then: 'Once I get half the house and the savings, I'm telling Alex everything. He's such an honest fool, he'll definitely split everything with me.'"

Reading that, I finally understood.

This wasn't just an affair; it was a conspiracy.

She wanted to take our shared assets and start a new life with Ryan.

And I? I was just a tool in her plan.

A cash cow, a temporary placeholder.

Once she'd squeezed all the value out of me, she'd kick me to the curb.

"Mr. Greene, are you alright?"

Mr. Davis asked, concerned.

I shook my head.

"I'm fine. I'm *great*."

I gathered all the documents and put them back in the file.

"Mr. Davis, can these documents be used as evidence in court?"

"Yes, they can. We have a professional notarization process."

"Then please arrange that."

I stood up.

"Also, I have another request."

"Go ahead."

"Please investigate Ryan's background, including his financial status, personal debts, and any professional misconduct."

"I want all the dirt on him."

Mr. Davis nodded.

"Understood. That should take about a week."

After leaving the detective agency, I didn't go straight back to the office.

Instead, I went to a law firm.

"Mr. Greene, based on the evidence you've provided, you have a significant advantage in this divorce case."

The lawyer said after reviewing the documents.

"However, I advise you not to confront her immediately."

"First, secure your assets to prevent her from transferring them."

"Then, officially file for divorce."

I nodded.

"Please help me with that."

"I want her to leave with absolutely nothing."

The lawyer paused.

"Mr. Greene, according to family law, even in cases of infidelity, asset division won't be drastically different…"

"She used my money to book hotel rooms with another man. Does that count as misappropriation of marital assets?"

I cut him off.

"Furthermore, she was planning to transfer assets, and I have evidence of that."

The lawyer reviewed the documents again.

"In that case, you can definitely secure more of your rights."

"I will devise a detailed strategy for you."

It was already afternoon when I returned to the office.

Ryan saw me and immediately walked over.

"Alex, where have you been? I've been looking for you all morning."

"Personal business."

I sat down and resumed my work.

"Alex, about Brooke…"

"I said, personal business."

I didn't look up.

"Also, you'll be responsible for the project report next week."

"Huh? I thought we agreed you'd do it?"

"Plans change."

I looked at him.

"Your performance hasn't been great lately. This will be good experience for you."

Ryan's face clouded over.

The project report was a thankless task, requiring extensive preparation and carrying significant responsibility. If anything went wrong, it would be his fault.

"Alex, are you doing this on purpose?"

He asked in a low voice.

I stopped typing and looked at him.

"Ryan, are you questioning my professional judgment?"

"No, I just feel…"

"Feel what? That because we're friends, I should go easy on you?"

I stood up, raising my voice slightly.

Coworkers around us looked over.

"Ryan, I'm going to say this again: in this company, I am your direct superior."

"You are simply to execute orders. You don't have the right to negotiate."

"If you have an issue, you can complain to upper management."

Ryan’s face flushed crimson.

He wanted to say something, but ultimately just nodded.

"I understand, Mr. Greene."

Watching him fume, I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.

This was just the beginning.

I was going to make them understand the cost of betraying me.

And there would be more.