Chapter 3My Ex Still Wants My Paycheck

I went to Cecilia's law firm the next morning to process the paperwork.

After I signed the retainer, Cecilia patted my shoulder and said, "There's conclusive evidence. Every piece of evidence that we present will strengthen our case. Don't worry."

I nodded.

I had just left the law firm when I got a notification that Julian had posted an update on social media.

"A person who truly loves you will support your career and dreams instead of being calculating over a few pennies during a crucial moment. Vision determines outcome. Some people are destined to rot at the bottom of the barrel for the rest of their lives.

"Thank you for being by my side during this difficult period of my life, Hannah."

Julian had tagged Hannah's account in his post. He had also attached a photo with his message, showing two cups of Starbucks coffee in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that showed off a bright burst of sunlight in the background.

I scoffed.

How dare he use my money to enjoy a peaceful moment while insulting me in the same breath?

A few seconds later, Julian's friends blew up my phone with a barrage of texts.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Charlotte? Why are you refusing to give Julian money for his living expenses when the two of you are already divorced?"

"Julian went through hell with you. What kind of woman are you to be so calculating over such a small sum?"

"Wire the money to him now! Don't make us lose all respect for you."

I blocked all their numbers before hailing a cab toward the house that Julian and I used to share.

I had paid the down payment for the house before we got married. We then paid off the loan together after we got married.

It was clearly stated in the divorce agreement that the house belonged to me. I would compensate Julian for a part of his contributions to paying off the loan when we were still married.

I was only dropping by the house to pick up the rest of my personal belongings that day.

I pressed my thumb against the scanner to unlock the front door, freezing in place when it swung open.

A young woman clad in silk pajamas was lounging on the couch in the living room. Her legs were crossed as she balanced the porcelain cup that I had spent a small fortune on in her hands. The expensive coffee maker that I usually couldn't bear to use hummed as it ground the coffee beans.

It was Hannah. She actually had the nerve to move in with Julian.

Hannah turned to look in my direction when she heard the door turn. Her eyes glinted with a hint of provocation as she gave me a once-over.

"Oh, you're back, Charlotte? Why didn't you let me know beforehand? I would have asked Julian to buy more ingredients."

She was wearing my bedroom slippers and sitting in the house that I bought with the money I earned from countless sleepless nights. The way that she carried herself gave off the impression that she thought of herself as the lady of the house.

I recalled how I had worked myself to the bone for three months to collect enough money to afford the down payment for the house. I only slept four hours every night.

Julian had been upset because I didn't spend as much time with him, and we ended up getting into a huge fight over it.

And now, he had brought another woman into the house that I had secured with my blood, sweat, and tears.

The kitchen door swung open, and Julian walked out with a plate of sliced fruit. He looked slightly flustered when he spotted me, but he swiftly regained his composure and straightened his back.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

He picked up a cup of freshly-made coffee and approached me. His expression suggested that he believed that he was above me as he offered the drink to me.

"Have you changed your mind? Are you here to give me your money? I'll delete the post from my account as long as you wire the money to me and apologize to Hannah. You can drop the house any time in the future. I can even cook for you."

Julian was still under the delusion that I couldn't live without him. He assumed that as long as he showed me a little kindness, I would obediently hand over my salary to him.

I didn't accept the cup of coffee. Instead, I pulled out a lawyer's letter from my bag and slapped it on the coffee table.

"Take a look at this. I paid the down payment for this house. I'll compensate you for the contributions that you made to pay off the loan while we were still married. You two have three days to pack up and get out. If you don't, I'll call the police and have you arrested for illegal trespassing."

Julian's face twisted in outrage. "You're kicking me out, Charlotte? This is my home!"

"Three days," I repeated, giving him a cold look. "If you overstay your welcome for even a second, I'll have the security guards throw your belongings into the trash."