"Honey, I failed the interview again. Can you cover the mortgage for a few months?" Jason threw his briefcase aside and collapsed颓废ly on the sofa. He has been unemployed for half a year, failing countless interviews. "My salary only covers living expenses, where can I get money for the mortgage?" "Take out your parents' pension for emergency." He said it righteously, as if stating a matter of course. To maintain the family's life, I work during the day and take night shifts, my hands covered in chilblains from the cold. Until a congratulatory text from a securities company popped up on his phone. "Congratulations Mr. Jason, your account profit has exceeded $5 million." Turns out, he wasn't unemployed. He achieved financial freedom. His account, $5 million. My pocket, $1,500. Chapter 1 Jason slammed the door and left. I looked at the empty room, my stomach burning. Haven't eaten all day. The phone vibrated, an overdue mortgage notice from the bank. Mind went blank. Where can I get these $3,000? A voice message popped up on WeChat, it was Jason. I clicked, his voice came from the receiver. "Honey, hold on a bit longer. I have a few promising interviews. Just survive this month, once I get an offer, our good days will come. You must see the big picture, don't drop the ball now." I smiled bitterly. For this family, I work as a cashier at a supermarket during the day, and sell hot dogs at the night market at night. Hands covered in chilblains, red and swollen, even starting to ooze. And he, unemployed for half a year, sleeps until he wakes up naturally every day, then plays games, or dresses up like a human to go for interviews like today. I checked all bank cards, adding up to no more than $1,500. This is all I have. I can't ask my parents for money. They are old, in poor health, that pension is their life-saving money. To scrape together money, I went to the Pawn Shop at the entrance of the community. The owner narrowed his eyes at the item I handed over. That was the dowry my mom gave me, a small gold ring. "Dead pawn, three thousand." The owner blew a smoke ring, tone waveless. "Can't, can't it be a bit more?" My voice was trembling. "Take it or leave it." I finally signed, taking that $3,000. Just walked out of the pawn shop, mother-in-law called. "Elena! Did you make Jason angry again? Don't you know he is unemployed at home? Instead of comforting him, you give him attitude, is this how you be a wife?" I held the phone, unable to say a word. "I tell you, if you make my son uncomfortable and don't serve him well, I'm not done with you!" The phone hung up. Ears buzzing. Heart felt terrible, but no time to think, holding the $3,000 exchanged for the ring, finally paid the mortgage. At night, Jason came back. He collapsed on the sofa with a tired face, "Sigh, failed again, companies nowadays demand too high." He saw the money on the table, a flash of greed in his eyes, but immediately switched to a distressed expression. "Where did the money come from?" "Borrowed from a friend." I dared not say I sold the ring. Afraid he would know this opening, and couldn't stop later. "Mm." He collected the money as a matter of course, counted it, then stuffed it into his pocket. Then took out a bubble gum from his pocket to me, his eyes shining. "Hard work, wifey, your favorite strawberry lollipop, very sweet, taste it." "Thank you." I took it somewhat helplessly, he rarely brings me things. For a moment felt a bit moved, exhaled heavily. Life is hard, but as long as two hearts are together, I can endure. Returning home from the stall, it was already 1 AM. I saw Jason sneaking on the balcony making a call, voice pressed extremely low, couldn't hear clearly. Seeing me back, he hung up immediately, sighed and walked over. "Honey, you have to think of a way for next month's mortgage." "Economy is bad now, jobs are too hard to find." I subconsciously clenched my hand, chilblains hurting. "I... I really have no way." Jason walked in and hugged me: "Wifey think of something, I know you are the best." I nodded stiffly. At night, I lay beside him, looking at his sleeping face. This face, used to be my entire reliance. I told myself, as long as he can pull himself together, the family will be fine. I tucked him in, moved by myself. Thinking I survived another month. I thought, hard days will end. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a nightmare. Chapter 2 Next morning, Jason went to shower, leaving his phone by the bed. I was about to get up, his phone screen suddenly lit up. A text message popped up. From a securities company. "Congratulations Mr. Jason, your account profit has exceeded $5 million, please pay attention to market dynamics." My brain buzzed, instantly blank. Trembling hands, I picked up his phone. I tried entering his birthday. Error. I tried entering our wedding anniversary. Error. Ghost-driven, I entered his first love's birthday. Screen unlocked. Heart instantly, cold as ice. I clicked that text, confirmed not a scam. Then, I found that securities APP. Opened it, a string of piercing numbers stabbed into my eyes. Total Assets: $5,201,345.88. Just today's profit was over thirty thousand. More than I earn setting up a stall for a year. I felt the world spinning, almost unable to stand. I clicked his WeChat. Pinned group chat, named "Single Aristocrats". I clicked in, saw shocking chat records. Just last night, he sent a two-hundred-dollar red envelope in the group. Someone asked him: "Brother Jason, where did you make a fortune recently?" Jason replied: "What fortune, being a lord at home, served by free nanny, so cool." A bunch of envious emojis below. Another person said: "Brother Jason awesome, when are you kicking that yellow-faced woman?" Jason sent a proud emoji: "Soon, wait till I squeeze the last bit of oil from her family, then let her roll." "Heard sister-in-law is setting up a stall to support you recently? So touching." "Touching my ass, that's my wife-taming technique. If I didn't say I was unemployed, would she obediently sell the jewelry her mom gave her to pay my mortgage? Stupid woman, must be treated like this." My blood, completely cold. I lowered my head, looking at my hands that didn't look like hands. Where chilblains burst, black blood scabs formed. I clicked Jason's phone album again. Inside were selfies of him consuming at five-star hotels last week, background gorgeous crystal chandeliers. And his newly bought watch worth tens of thousands. I suddenly remembered, for the past half year, he even asked me for money for a pack of ten-dollar cigarettes. I opened the family billing APP, started checking crazily. During his so-called unemployment, every month there was a transfer record of three thousand dollars. Remark was pocket money. But the recipient, was a WeChat ID completely strange to me. I continued scrolling down. I saw the withdrawal record of the only fixed deposit certificate at home. Fifty thousand. That was what we saved for three years, agreed to keep for future children. Also secretly taken by him. I took out a calculator, calculating one by one. Married for three years, my salary, bonus, stall income, all money subsidizing family, added up to nearly two hundred thousand. And he, behind my back, saved five million two hundred thousand. Water sound in bathroom stopped. I locked the screen quickly, put the phone back, heart pounding. Tears fell uncontrollably, I covered my mouth hard, not letting myself cry out. Jason walked out wrapped in a towel. He didn't even look at me, walked straight to the bed, complaining: "What the hell, water heater broken again? No hot water at all." I lowered my head, hiding red swollen eyes with hair. Inside heart, already dead ashes. Burning, only monstrous hatred. Chapter 3 I suppressed the monstrous nausea, brought him a bowl of hot porridge from the kitchen. This was boiled by me waking up at 5 AM using the last bit of rice. Jason smiled satisfied, he stirred with a spoon, steam reddened his eyes. "Wifey, hard work for you." He took a sip, sighed satisfied, then tears flowed from corner of eyes into mouth. "Blame me for being useless, unable to give you a good life... let you suffer." I watched him acting quietly. Suddenly, he mentioned that matter again. "By the way, about your parents' pension, when will you ask?" He lit a cigarette. "I recently knew a friend doing private equity, very high return. You ask your parents to take money out, invest in, double in a year, then we can benefit too." He not only wants to squeeze me dry, but also lay hands on my parents. Looking at his greedy face, I sneered inside. "Jason," I opened mouth tentatively, "If we have money later, what would you do?" He blurted out subconsciously: "Have money? Of course change..." He stopped abruptly, looked at me alertly, changed words: "Change to a big house." One word, already exposed all his thoughts. Change wife. "Okay, I promise you." I lowered head, pretending obedience, "But my parents, thinking relatively conservative, give me a few days, I persuade slowly." "Knew wifey is the best." Jason smiled satisfied, thinking I was completely controlled by him. I used excuse to go to work, first thing was returning to that pawn shop. "Boss, the gold ring pawned day before yesterday, I want to redeem." Boss lifted eyelids, lazily said: "Late, sent to melt yesterday." Instantly a sourness surged, I stood on the street, watching people come and go, tears finally burst. For this man, for this family, I gave my everything. In exchange, despised and squeezed by him. Jason, I swear, what you owe me, I want you to pay back thousand, hundred times! I returned to parents' home. Looking at parents' gray hair, and their eyes cautiously asking if I have enough money, I was ashamed to show face. I didn't mention money, just sat with them for a long time. During period, Jason's life-demanding WeChat messages came one after another. "How is it? Asked?" "Talk nicely to parents, when I find job, I will definitely return this money." "Later when I earn big money, buy big house for parents!" Looking at those hypocritical promises, I replied three words. "Parents agreed." Almost instantly, Jason sent a smiley face emoji, and a kiss. Face changing speed, disgusting. Back home at night, Jason unprecedentedly poured me a glass of water. "Wifey hard work." He leaned in diligently, eyes full of calculation. "When can money arrive?" "My parents said, such a big sum, must see your investment ability to be assured." I looked into his eyes, calmly said, "They want to see your mobile banking statement." Jason's face changed instantly. "Why look at my statement? What do you mean? Elena, we are husband and wife, you actually don't trust me?" He started counter-attacking, kidnapping me with ridiculous words like marital trust. I didn't argue with him anymore. I turned silently back to room. Watching his exasperated look, a ruthless plan already formed in my heart. Chapter 4 I took a day off. Excuse was feeling unwell, actually, I went to find someone. My high school classmate, Zoe, now a famous divorce lawyer in the city. In the cafe, I told everything. Zoe listened, slamming table in anger. "Scumbag! You still keep this kind of man for New Year?" She calmed down quickly, analyzing professionally: "Elena, the biggest problem you face now is evidence! His stock account belongs to hidden assets. Without solid evidence, he might transfer or cash out all money before filing for divorce, then you get nothing." "I took photos last time." "Photos not enough." Zoe shook head, "Photos can be photoshopped, limited legal effect. You best record a complete operation video, including logging in, showing account holder name, viewing fund flow and holding details. Only this forms a complete evidence chain." This is a high difficulty task. Back home, I found Jason in good mood, humming while playing games. Probably his stocks rose again. At dinner, I specially went to downstairs store buying a bottle of high alcohol liquor. "I got a bonus today, drink a bit with me?" I smiled to him. Jason looked at me suspiciously, but seeing brand name wine, didn't ask more. He loves alcohol, especially likes taking small advantages. After a few cups of strong wine, he soon fell asleep on the sofa, snoring like thunder. His phone, pressed under his leg. I pulled out phone, using my spare phone, turned on recording function. Unlock. Open securities APP. Record holding details. Record fund flow. Record bound bank card number. Every step, my hand trembling. Just as I prepared to exit, I clicked his album again. Besides those consumption records, I surprisingly found a photo of property deed. Address in a high-end villa area famous for scenery in another city. Full payment. I continued scrolling down. In album, wedding photos of him and a young woman. Him in photo, smiling triumphantly. Photo date, last month. Turns out, he even found the way out. I uploaded all photos, videos to cloud, and shared to Zoe's WeChat immediately. Done all this, I prepared to put phone back quietly. Just then, phone screen lit up suddenly. A video call request popped up. Caller name, two words. Wifey. How ironic. Just hesitating whether to hang up immediately. A hand, suddenly grabbed my wrist like lightning. I looked up in horror. Jason woke up unknown when. He opened eyes abruptly, eyes sinister scary. He stared dead at phone in my hand, then at me. Then, he asked in a voice cold to extreme: "Late at night, what doing with my phone?"
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