To secure an extra apartment from a demolition deal, I was tricked into a sham divorce, falling into the trap set by my scoundrel husband— all to make room for his mistress, the nanny. While his wife and children enjoyed the warmth of home, I was left destitute, eventually dying of hunger on the streets. By some stroke of fate, I returned to the day of our divorce.

***

ONE

"This marriage is over whether you agree or not," I said calmly, looking at Dave Jones who was lounging on a chair, legs crossed, appearing utterly indifferent to my rejection.

With no other options, I simply nodded in agreement to his proposal.

"I understand," I whispered faintly, almost like the buzz of a mosquito.

Despite being reborn, I still went with the flow, admiring yet fearing him.

"Aren't you the one who said this is just a fake divorce to get another apartment when the demolition comes? How could I possibly refuse such a good deal?"

As he shifted his focus and scratched his head, his gaze remained condescending.

I feigned fear and asked, "Husband, you're not lying to me, right? This is just a fake divorce, not a real one? I've heard so many stories about men who trick their wives into divorce and never remarry."

"Lillian, are you my wife or someone else's? Are you listening to me or to them?"

He placated me half-heartedly because, with my agreement to the divorce, he could smoothly welcome his mistress.

"Besides, everyone says I'm lucky to have you. I must have built up good karma over eight lifetimes."

Indeed, it was I who had bad karma over eight lifetimes.

Blindly, I had married this scoundrel.

He seemed impressive to outsiders but was nothing but a wastrel at home.

After we married, I realized his family was penniless. To better our lives, I worked endlessly, raising chickens, ducks, and geese, and toiling in the fields, barely managing to save enough to buy a shop and open a small supermarket. Life was flavorful then.

But this scoundrel not only had an affair but also used the demolition money to trick me into a divorce, transferring all assets to his name.

While his wife and children were well-cared-for, I ended up impoverished, starving on the streets.

Heaven opened its eyes, granting me a second chance at life.

"I believe everything you say," I replied in the meek manner of a dutiful wife, looking at him as if he were a deity, boosting his ego immensely.

In reality, all the money and the house were earned by me. He was just a penniless nobody. It was a mistake not to ask him to treat me like a deity. I had given him too much face.

Now, with his mistress pregnant, he was eager for me to make way, resorting to the ploy of a "fake divorce."

"It's not that I couldn't agree to a divorce, but all the money and the house are mine, in my name. What will you do if we really get divorced?"

My words were ostensibly considerate, but internally I scoffed at his audacity. Everything was earned by me while he was just freeloading.

"What do you mean? Are you planning to monopolize all the property? Traditionally, men have been the heads of households. If we divorce, you should be the one thrown out. How can you shamelessly claim all the property?"

Mentioning money, he immediately revealed his vile nature.

I almost rolled my eyes at him. After a few drinks, he became arrogantly ungrateful. Opening his mouth wide, he wanted everything.

I had been too kind to him in the past, kindness that made him overlook his own worthlessness.

He knew I was an orphan from a young age, craving a family, which he exploited to the fullest.

Because I didn't respond, he grew even angrier.

"Lillian, I am your husband. Don't be ungrateful. You should feel blessed to serve me and spend your money on me. Don't take it for granted."

As he spoke, he scrutinized me disdainfully. Because of the store, I was dressed in a lab coat, which made me look quite disheveled.

"Only I could have married you. Who else would want you?"

He never considered what other husbands do daily, each one better than him. He'd go insane without my money to buy his drinks.

I pretended to be hurt and bowed my head, actually rolling my eyes at him.

The confident yet ordinary Dave didn't stop talking, "Cherish the days you serve me because once we're divorced, you won't have the chance anymore."

Wealth rules the world, a maxim I had sadly overlooked, leading to my miserable fate.

Thinking back to the harsh winter days when I knocked on doors just for a bite to eat, while he comfortably spent my money, lived in my house, and enjoyed life with his mistress and their illegitimate child, filled me with rage.

Now, with money and property in my name, the only drawback was having such a fool for a burden. He wanted to kick me out, but he didn't realize that I was more eager to rid myself of him.

But for now, protecting my assets was the priority.

Second

"Husband, I never thought about monopolizing the property by myself."

"That's more like it," Dave remarked, his legs still propped up, his rascally demeanor fully on display.

I continued to play the part of the oppressed little wife, head bowed, nervously rubbing my hands together.

"Where's the housekeeper?"

Sensing the tension in the air, he threw out a topic to distract us.

The housekeeper, who had been eavesdropping from the kitchen, now slowly made her way into my line of sight.

"Sir, would you like something to drink?"

She didn't even glance my way, as if her salary was paid by Dave and not me.

Her ingratitude perfectly matched Dave's shamelessness.

"Isn't there a new bar that just opened on the main street? Aren't you going there to drink today?"

I deliberately mentioned the new bar's opening, and Dave's eyes immediately shifted from the housekeeper to the outside, gleaming with anticipation as if he was ready to dash there.

"It makes sense for you to go out and have fun at the bar. It'll keep others from suspecting that our divorce is fake."

"That makes sense. That makes sense."

I laid down the steps, and he readily climbed down.

As I watched his figure disappear from my view, I turned my attention leisurely to our so-called "honest" housekeeper.

Initially, she told me her husband was unfaithful, gambled, and was seduced by a mistress to abandon his family. She came to work to pay for her child's tuition. Pitying her, I hired her as a housekeeper, paying her 5000 dollars monthly for cooking lunch and cleaning.

I even gave her holidays and bonuses during festivals.

Yet, she repaid my kindness by hooking up with Dave, conspiring to swindle me out of my money and house.

Now, with her head bowed, she looked every bit the simple and honest person.

No matter how much people speculated, they couldn't guess that she was the so-called mistress.

I stared at her too long, making Emma uncomfortable enough to speak.

"Madam, the master isn't home today. What should I cook?"

As a successful entrepreneur, when I was alone, I wouldn't even dare to eat three dishes.

Dave, however, indulged in the finest food and drink outside, and I insisted the housekeeper prepare six dishes when he was home.

"Six dishes and one soup."

Emma was startled and hesitated, standing still.

I glanced at her with a half-smile, "Do my words not carry weight? Six dishes and one soup, can you not make that happen?"

"It's not that. Madam, I didn't mean that."

"Then what did you mean? Or do you think I shouldn't have six dishes and one soup?"

I was in a foul mood and needed to vent fiercely until she was so overwhelmed with confusion and guilt that she backed down. Only then would I feel better.

It was partly an act but also meant to torment her.

Three

In my previous life, she caused me so much pain, just scolding her a few times was hardly enough.

I purposely took a nap and set my alarm for midnight, then knocked on her door.

Emma appeared sleepy and disheveled before me. Seeing me with a face mask, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Ah..."

Startled, she tripped over my intentionally extended leg and fell to the floor.

"Ma... Madam..."

"Emma, I came to apologize. I was in a bad mood earlier. You've worked in my home long enough to know what kind of person I am. You know how I usually treat you, right?"

Despite the dim light, I could clearly see her lips twitching, holding back her impatience, as she tried to maintain a calm demeanor, especially since she had scraped her leg when she fell.

"Madam, how could I hold anything against you? You kindly took me in to work. I'm grateful. How could I keep the day's events in mind?"

"That's good, Emma. In my heart, you're not just a housekeeper, but also a good friend."

I had slept for three hours and was fully awake, keeping her in my room for a long chat. She tried to excuse herself, kneeling by my bed.

"Madam, I shouldn't be on your bed."

"Oh, never mind. You're always disobedient. If you want to kneel, then kneel."

Seeing her kneeling, I reluctantly spoke for over two hours without a topic, watching her pretend until frustration filled her head.

I teasingly asked, "Emma, you weren't bored listening to me for so long, were you?"

"Madam, what are you saying? I'm pleased you're willing to share your thoughts with me."

Indeed, she earned her pay. Her acting could have landed her a spot in the entertainment industry.

"There are some things I'm only willing to say to you---Dave and I are getting a divorce."

The room was dark, but her eyes shone like lightbulbs.

I feigned confusion and looked over, Emma quickly lowered her head.

"Madam, why are you suddenly divorcing!"

"It's not so sudden. Isn't there a demolition coming up? If we divorce, we can get two apartments."

As I said this, I sighed.

"I suspect it's not just about the apartments. He might really want to divorce."

Emma looked at me in surprise, as if guessing, could she have learned the truth?

"How could that be? Although the master is carefree, he clearly holds you dear."

"Actually, If he really wants a divorce, it doesn't matter. It's not clear who's outsmarting whom."

"What do you mean, Madam?"

I stared at Emma seriously, "I've inquired, and it's the household registration that counts for getting an apartment. If we actually divorced, we wouldn't get any. So, I'm just dragging this out."

"I didn't divorce him today. I'm eyeing his apartment. I've heard the demolition compensation could be millions."

"Does the master not know?"

"Of course, he doesn't. This is insider information I got, and I even told him I'd transfer half of my assets to him, but what money do I have compared to the demolition money?"

Emma smiled awkwardly and pressed, "Did the master really agree?"

"He still thinks I'm the wife who loved him. Of course, he didn't suspect me. But when benefits are at stake, all true feelings are false, especially since the apartment is so valuable."

She seemed puzzled, still staring wide-eyed. I yawned.

"Oh, why am I telling you this? I'm exhausted. You should go back, and I need to sleep."

After leaving Emma hanging, I eagerly awaited the joke that would unfold between these despicable lovers!

Four

I sent her back to her room, wondering how well she slept that night. I, on the other hand, slept exceptionally well.

These two were indeed in deep collusion. Early the next morning, I received a barrage of calls from Dave.

"I'm telling you, we must get that divorce certificate today."

"Why the rush? Didn't you say yesterday you'd give me some time to think?"

He was naturally anxious. Waiting too long for the divorce, just the thought of me getting his property through the demolition drove him mad.

"Don't think I don't know what little schemes you're playing. You even think you can claim my apartment, but that apartment was built by my parents. What does it have to do with you?"

"Where did you hear such nonsense? I have no designs on your apartment."

I knew, the more I argued, the more he'd think I was hiding something, judging by his own standards since he had always coveted my assets. Now, he assumed I was after his.

"But there's no hurry. I even said I'd transfer some assets to you, since everything's in my name. It takes time."

"I don't want your things now, just my apartment. If it's demolished, that could be worth millions. What could you have that compares?"

"Did you hear some rumors about the demolition so quickly? How could there already be a price?"

At that moment, Dave must have thought I was just making excuses.

I deliberately argued just to let him hear it. The more emotional I got, the more it highlighted the value of the apartment.

After all, I had always been utterly devoted to him.

"Ha, Lillian, don't take me for a fool. I've seen through you. This marriage is over, whether you like it or not. If you don't show up at the civil affairs office this afternoon, I'll smash your store."

I was silent for a long time, seemingly pressured into speechlessness. In truth, only I knew how close I was to bursting out laughing, because I was about to escape this cage. I was incredibly jubilant.

"Fine, see you at 2 p.m. at the civil affairs office."

Everything proceeded smoothly according to my plan, except at the civil affairs office, I encountered someone I hadn't expected.

Dave didn't even bother to pretend, showing up with Emma waiting for me at the civil affairs office.