My Detective Agency

I dressed up myself the next morning and went to my detective agency.

Before I headed upstairs, Annick Notos showed up in front of me.

She greeted me, "Fancy meeting my investor here. Are you here to investigate how well I've been doing my job as your manager?"

She was a friend I made while I was studying abroad.

I set up this agency due to the practical needs of many clients at the paternity test center.

Yet since I didn't want to handle this myself, so Annick had been chief in charge.

With my familial muddle weighing on my mind, I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries,

"You're looking into my matter this time, Annick."

Good things would never require my agency to look into; understanding what I meant, Annick drew me upstairs without another word.

I tossed her the USB drive with the surveillance camera footage I downloaded from the institute.

She watched everything and was so exasperated she started banging the table,

"You've been raising a kid who's not even yours for three years, Charles!

I've always felt like something is wrong with Aurora, but to think that's what she has done!

Rest assured, Charles! No one should ever underestimate our agency, and I'm sure we can find robust evidence! Leave everything to me."

I totally trusted Annick's capability, but I still couldn't help adding,

"Don't forget to investigate..."

Annick jumped in before I could finish my words,

"I know, Boss. I'll investigate your son's true father as well..."

It was obvious that was her attempt to make fun of me; at this specific moment, nonetheless.

I wasn't even out of Annick's office when a call from my mother-in-law came in,

"Aurora told me you wanted to drive her and your son together out of your home. What did you mean by that, Charles?

She is the Department Head of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Central Hospital, while you are nothing more than an office worker.

How dare you boss around and treat my daughter like that? Do you think you have the right to do so or something?

Come back and apologize to us! On your knees!"

I could let go of all the bygone criticisms, but I would not tolerate her foul temper now.

I answered her with a "Shut up!" before hanging up and blocking her phone number.

It wasn't that I wouldn't like to tell Aurora about my other job.

When I told her in the past that I wanted to start my own business, she dismissed me scornfully, commenting that I could only ever be an insignificant office worker.

She had never paid any attention to me all these years; where I worked and what I did were none of her business.

Annick started humming a song about lovesickness and breakup.

I couldn't stay in the same room with her for one more second; she was deliberately being weird.

Right before I slammed the door in her face, she exclaimed at me,

"We're selling all-in-one packages now, Boss. Please refer to the lawyer's contact info I texted you just now."

Fine, I should forgive her for now.

All I needed to do now was wait for the legal confrontation.

During the three days I spent at the hotel, Aurora never contacted me.

I returned home for a change of clothes, and what I saw astonished me.

I couldn't imagine this was the woman who developed an aversion to me because I failed to keep everything tidy enough.

My apartment was virtually a pigsty; children's toys were everywhere, unwashed clothes, dirty socks, takeout lunchboxes, and empty wine bottles littered the ground.

I saw the divorce papers I had my lawyer send her in the trash can.

There were even men's underwear in the bathroom; they were not mine, and that could only mean they were Vincent's.

Repressing my sickness, I remembered to take some photos, packed some clothes, and went back to the hotel.

The divorce settlement made it clear that Aurora and Clement were to get none of our property, and anyone could tell Aurora's attitude toward that from the scene in my home just now.

I could predict the result, but my lawyer suggested that I go through this process.

Now that we could not reach an agreement, the only way out was legal action.

Time flew and it was the day for court.

Aurora's whole family showed up. Her father, mother, brother, and even Vincent was present.

Out of the courtroom and in front of all who were present, Aurora pointed at my face with her index finger and shouted,

"I'm telling you, Charles Hugo, no man who abandons his wife and child has ever met a good end!

That's all the more true for you, a good-for-nothing who only dreams of utilizing your wife's family!"

Her mother came up, too, "I was such a fool for agreeing to my daughter's marriage with you!"

I glanced at Vincent; he had always been a coward, and of course, he was hiding behind Aurora's family.

The corners of my lips curled up. "Let's wait and see, then."

In court, Aurora's attorney listed all the things she had bought for Clement,

presented videos of her spending time with her son,

calculated the percentage of her income she had been investing in family life,

and even played a video, in which Clement spoke to the camera that Mom was better than Dad.

They recounted how much her parents had spent on Clement's education,

her brother's gifts to her son,

and even all the presents Aurora had given me before our marriage.

All of these, of course, were to prove that I was a dirtbag who simply wanted to get rid of my family.

After their presentation, I could tell the look on the judge's face changed whenever my name was mentioned.

Noticing this, Aurora disclosed a video recording of our quarrel, with me yelling at her and telling her to piss off.

An outcry arose in the public gallery as Aurora shot a prideful glance at me.

However, no one could ever predict the twist that was going to come.

Johnson, my agent, presented a printed copy of my evidence,

"Your Honor, this is proof that my client has made a one-million deposit in the name of Clement Hugo for future educational expenses.

My client has, in addition, bought insurance for his wife, his wife's younger brother, his father-in-law, and his mother-in-law.

The renewal of such insurances mentioned costs my client 500,000 each year. Such are life and critical illness insurances,

my client being none of the beneficiaries of them.

This is evidence that my client's original intention for buying such insurances is his loyalty, love, and responsibilities, which is exactly what my client contributed for his family.

All he said was indeed true. My wife was a doctor, and the pay was good.

So it might look like she had contribute a great deal to her family.

I was still a traditional man who wanted to do what I could to my family, and thus I saved up for my son's education and bought insurances for my wife's family.

Aurora never cared about me, so it was natural that she knew nothing about what I had done.

The judge's expression softened a lot as my evidence was presented.

Aurora, on the other hand, froze with her mouth agape.

My agent's next words made her open her mouth even bigger...

There were even more to come.

"There are eighteen more reports here, Your Honor. The eighteen DNA test centers, ranking topmost in a list provided by the National Bureau of Statistics for their authenticity, all confirmed that Clement Hugo is not biologically related to my client. Considering my client knew nothing about this fact before taking these tests, this constitutes an act of fraudulent custody. My client hereby appeals for a divorce, with the condition that Aurora Hugo shall compensate my client for both the financial and emotional damage without taking any of the marital property."

Both Aurora and her agent widened their eyes in astonishment.

She didn't expect that a man like me would choose to disclose the information that I was cuckolded this easily.

Her agent had a face of utter confusion; it was possible that she hadn't even told him about this.

Aurora soon began to argue back,

"I don't know what you're talking about. How should I know who your reports claim Clement's father is? Do you have any proof? I'm going to sue you for violating my reputation!"

And a video of Clement calling Vincent "Dad" started playing.

The chat between Aurora and Vincent in the past few years followed,

together with payments they made, records of their hotel stay, photos of them together at my place, and how they called each other "love" "babe" and "honey".

Their hugs on those photos were cold, hard evidence against her, and the judge cast me a sympathetic look.

My lawyer Johnson had told me that I need to make a statement in order to further appeal to the judge's sentiment.

My request was granted right away.

I began, "I have always been loving my child as any parent should.

Aurora didn't have too much time for Clement because of her job,

so I was always the one who prepares the meals and take him around.

Aurora's father was hospitalized for three months two years ago, and I was the only person taking care of him during that time.

In addition, needed to cook for my mother-in-law.

However, they were never satisfied, and often insulted me.

Out of my sense of filial piety, I didn't dare to contradict them.

I paid for Aurora's brother's university education and living, and even covered his expenses when he wanted branded outfits and shoes.

There is only around tens of thousands of dollars in my personal bank account,

because I have used all my savings for my family's insurance and as future education funds for my son.

All I wear is ordinary,

but I make sure my wife and son enjoys designer quality clothes and bags.

I have been staying up late waiting for my wife to come back every time she works overtime,

but 90% of the nights she claimed to be working, she was in fact at different hotels with different men.

If I hadn't found my son's DNA test report by accident,

I could never imagine that Aurora was doing something like this all this time.

My heart is broken looking at this video in which Clement, whom I had been taking care of for the past three years, calls another man his "Dad".

Now that everything is over between us, I hope Your Honor can fully consider the requests my attorney made just now."

As there was sufficient evidence, Aurora's attorney didn't present anything more.

Thus, the judge pronounced the verdict in court,

"The request for divorce made by both the plaintiff and defendant is hereby granted. Due to the defendant's serious fault in marriage, the defendant shall not receive any of the common property, and considering the local consumer capability, the defendant shall compensate the plaintiff $500,000 for the plaintiff's past expenses on child support and emotional damage."

...

After the trial, Aurora grabbed me by my arm,

"I agree to leave the house without taking anything, Charlie. However...

Could you please not take Clement's education fund away?

And you may actually lose money if you cancel my family's insurance now, so..."