Chapter 3

At ten o'clock that night, the front door opened again.

I was sitting on the sofa, replying to company emails on my tablet.

Mark walked in first, his face not showing the slightest bit of anxiety or sadness from the hospital, but rather a smugness, like a villain getting his way.

Following him, besides Ashley, was a young woman in a tight-fitting dress with a slightly bulging belly.

"Crystal, slow down, watch the step."

Mark carefully supported the woman, his voice dripping with tenderness.

The woman called Crystal leaned coquettishly into Mark's embrace, her critical gaze sweeping across the living room.

"Oh, Mark, is this your multi-million dollar penthouse?

The location is great, but the decor is too cold and hard, not cozy at all.

Let's find someone to throw out all this black, white, and gray furniture tomorrow and replace it with the French cream style I like, okay?"

"Yes, yes, whatever you want.

You're carrying our family's grandchild, so you're the boss," Mark said, fawning, acting like a servant to royalty.

Ashley quickly joined in, eagerly carrying Crystal's bag.

"Don't be mad, Crystal.

This awful decor was chosen by that useless old hag who couldn't give Mark a child.

Once she's gone tonight, this place is all yours!"

"Hag?"

I raised an eyebrow, put down my tablet, and watched the drama unfold with interest.

Mark settled Crystal on the other end of the sofa, then turned to me, his face morphing into a fierce scowl.

"Sophia, you still have the nerve to sit here?"

He pulled a hospital diagnosis report from his pocket and slapped it onto the coffee table.

"My mom has severe chemical burns on her scalp; all her hair follicles are dead.

She'll never grow hair again!

Her face is ruined!

I'm settling this with you today!"

I glanced at the diagnosis report without even lifting an eyelid.

"So?

How do you want to settle it?"

"So I don't need to be polite anymore!"

Mark straightened his back, righteously pointing at Crystal.

"Crystal is three months pregnant with my son!

You've been married to me for three years and couldn't pop out a single kid, and now you've done this to my mom!"

"This apartment will be considered compensation for my mom's medical expenses and for Crystal's pregnancy!

Now, get out, immediately, clean out, and make space!"

I looked at his shameless face, feeling only one thing: the diversity of the human species was truly astonishing.

A five-thousand-a-month loser, living off me to support his whole family, finds a mistress, gets her pregnant, and then shamelessly brings her back to *my* entirely-paid-for house, even distributing *my* property as if it were his own.

"Mark, why isn't she leaving yet?"

Crystal covered her nose, looking at me with disgust.

"The sofa she sat on feels dirty.

What if she infects my son with bad luck?"

"Exactly!

Get out!

Don't be an eyesore!"

Ashley chimed in, hands on her hips.

"Do you really think our family cares about you?

My brother is a senior manager at your company now, with a bright future ahead!

He can more than support all of us!"

I calmly glanced at the security camera next to the TV cabinet, which was blinking red.

"Alright."

I stood up and straightened the creases in my clothes.

"Since you're all so 'loving,' I won't interrupt your family bliss."

Mark paused, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly, without even an argument.

"Smart move."

He suppressed the wild joy and greed in his eyes, feigning generosity.

"Pack your few old clothes and leave.

Don't even think about taking anything valuable from this house!"

I ignored him, walked straight into the walk-in closet, grabbed a small suitcase, and casually packed a few changes of clothes and important documents.

At the entrance, I stopped and turned back to look at the two on the sofa, still being all lovey-dovey.

"Mark, I hope you remember what you said tonight.

You and your family had better enjoy this apartment."

With that, I opened the door and walked out without looking back.

As the door closed, I clearly heard Crystal's seductive laughter.

"Mark, you're amazing!

You got rid of that old hag with just a few words!

Now this big house is ours!"

"Of course!

In this house, I call the shots!"

Mark boasted proudly.

I stepped into the elevator, pulled out my phone, and a cold smirk played on my lips.

The show had only just begun.