Chapter 2

"Ms. Evelyn, please sign here to confirm this relinquishment of joint tenancy."

The notary officer pushed a stack of documents toward me.

I picked them up and flipped through.

The first page was indeed a "Voluntary Quitclaim Deed of Real Estate," listing three properties—the luxury condo on the Westside, the high-value school-district townhouse, and the commercial building by the riverfront.

Every single one of them was bought with the money Richard and I had saved during our marriage.

Every single one was registered under Julian’s name.

During the divorce, I hadn't fought for them because Julian had held my hand, looking into my eyes, and said:

"Evelyn, trust me. Keep the properties in my name. It’s the only way to protect them from Richard. Otherwise, he’ll take everything from you."

Now that I recalled it, his eyes had been red, his voice trembling.

What a brilliant performance.

I flipped to the last page. The quitclaim deed required two copies—one for the notary records, and one for the "designated recipient."

Under the recipient column, it read: *Richard.*

"Just sign it if everything looks good," Julian said, sitting next to me. He had his legs crossed, tapping away on his phone.

I didn't move.

He looked up. "Evelyn?"

"This—" I pointed at the column. "Why is the recipient Richard? Didn't you say keeping the properties under your name was the safest option?"

Julian froze for a split second before quickly recovering. "Evelyn, this is not giving the properties to Richard. It’s just a procedural step. Don't overthink it."

I stared at him.

He couldn't meet my gaze and looked out the window instead.

Just then, the glass door of the office was pushed open. Richard walked in, accompanied by a woman.

Valerie.

She wore a chic beige cashmere coat. Around her neck hung a necklace—a jade pendant of deep, rich green. I recognized it instantly.

It was my tenth-anniversary gift from Richard.

He had told me he got it specially imported from Myanmar.

One day, the necklace had gone missing. I searched the entire house but couldn't find it. Richard told me I must have been careless and lost it myself.

Now, it was resting on Valerie's collarbone.

"Oh, hi, Evelyn."

Valerie smiled at me, her voice carrying that same sugary tone—like pouring two cups of syrup into a jar of honey.

Richard spared me a cold, emotionless glance, walking straight past me to ask the notary about the paperwork.

He looked at me as if I were a stranger.

Actually, he would treat a stranger with more respect.

"Evelyn, you need to move on," Valerie said, tilting her head as she pulled up a chair to sit directly across from me.

"Richard wants an amicable split. Don't make things difficult. Once you sign, everyone can move on with their lives."

She stroked the jade pendant, her fingers tracing the smooth green stone, pausing deliberately.

"This jade is so beautiful, isn't it? Richard truly has impeccable taste."

I stared at the jade, remaining silent.

Beside me, Julian cleared his throat. "Evelyn, don't keep the notary waiting. Just sign it."

"I know exactly what this document means once I sign it," I said, pulling my hands back and leaning against the chair.

"I’m not signing."

Julian's face instantly hardened.

He leaned in close, lowering his voice. "Evelyn, don't be foolish. The properties are already in my name. Frankly, it doesn't even matter if you sign or not."

"But if you don't, you’re just making this ugly for everyone."

"Ugly?" I laughed. "Ugly for whom?"

Richard walked over from the notary’s desk, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking down at me.

I used to think this man was my partner for life. Right now, his eyes held nothing but impatience and a sliver of pity.

That pity stung worse than outright hatred.

"Evelyn, keep some dignity," Richard spoke, his voice low but razor-sharp.

"Look at yourself. You’re a forty-eight-year-old housewife with no income, no network, and absolutely zero leverage."

"Julian supporting you in your old age is a favor, not an obligation."

"He’s young. He needs to buy a car, build his career. By refusing to sign, are you trying to ruin your only son's future?"

My fingertips went numb. I gripped the strap of my purse tightly.

Valerie chimed in right on cue: "Evelyn, Richard doesn't mean any harm. He just wants Julian to have a good life. You're his mother. Surely you have more grace than this?"

Julian reached over, grabbing my hand. His grip was light, his expression pleading.

"Evelyn, just do it for me."

I shoved his hand away.

I stood up, pushing the documents back onto the desk.

"I said, I’m not signing."

As I walked out of the office, Julian's voice drifted from behind me. He probably thought I was out of earshot, so he didn't bother to quiet down:

"I couldn't get her to do it. Richard, you handle her."

Richard’s voice was much calmer. "Don't worry. A middle-aged woman with no money and no job? Give her two days in that dump, and she’ll come crawling back to sign it herself."

The sun was bright outside.

But as it hit my face, it couldn't warm me at all.