Chapter 3

I immediately contacted a friend who was a cybersecurity expert and sent him $5,000. I needed him to trace every single transaction from Ethan’s bank accounts.

I also wanted a full trace on his family’s finances.

At the same time, I filed an official complaint with the City Ethics Board, reporting Ethan for having unexplained assets that far exceeded his government salary.

As a city employee, Ethan was subject to strict anti-corruption laws. He had just bought a forty-thousand-dollar watch and drove a luxury SUV worth over a hundred thousand.

Most people with dirty money kept a low profile. But not Ethan. He was a poor boy who struck gold; he flaunted his wealth every chance he got, which had already made his colleagues jealous.

Before, he always claimed the money came from his wealthy wife. Now, I was going to let the Ethics Board ask him exactly where those millions came from.

While they investigated him, I would gather my evidence.

My hacker friend worked fast. Within hours, he sent me a detailed spreadsheet of Ethan’s financial transactions. Looking at the numbers, my heart sank into a dark abyss.

Over the last three years, under the guise of "supporting his parents," Ethan had been transferring $5,000 to them every single month.

On holidays, the transfers were at least $50,000. In total, he had funneled over $300,000 to his parents, and another $500,000 to buy his brother Tyler a house.

He had also bought countless designer bags and jewelry. His sister-in-law, Sarah, frequently posted photos of her carrying Chanel and Hermes on Instagram.

The hilarious part? Ethan always told his coworkers he bought those bags for me. In reality, they all went to Sarah.

He was using my hard-earned money to feed his family of parasites, while treating me like a beggar who had to beg for a thirty-dollar prescription.

He gave his family everything, but treated me like garbage.

If I didn't make him pay a devastating price for this, my name wasn't Vivian!

Meanwhile, Chloe, who worked at the main branch of our local bank, saw that Ethan's government agency had flagged his accounts and demanded his financial statements. She called me immediately.

"Viv, did something happen to Ethan?"

"Yeah. I reported him."

She gasped in shock. When I told her that Ethan had locked up all my assets, she went absolutely ballistic. "Vivian! Are you insane?! You two were never on the same level! It was bad enough you married that loser, but you gave him control of your money?!"

"I know. I regret it. That’s why I’m divorcing him."

Chloe fell silent for a moment, then said, "Whatever you need, I’m here."

She hung up, and a second later, my phone pinged with a PayPal notification: "$20,000 received."

Then came her text: "I know you're broke right now. Consider this your war chest. Don't you dare refuse it!"

Looking at the screen, I started to laugh, and then the tears came. Sitting in my car by the curb, I cried and laughed like a madwoman, scaring away a few pedestrians.

I wiped my tears, sat up straight, and my phone rang again. It was Ethan.

"Vivian, you're trying to ruin me! You're the one who reported me to the Board, weren't you?"

"They brought me in for questioning today. But guess what? I got off clean. You can't touch me!"

I smiled. "I have all the time in the world to play with you, Ethan."

"The divorce papers are in your inbox. Enjoy."

Ethan choked on his words, his voice filled with disbelief. "What? You're divorcing me? Over a safe and some jewelry? You reported me to the government and want a divorce over "that"?"

"Yes. Over that."

I hung up on him. Then, I took my story and posted it on TikTok. I even paid for promotion to boost the video.

I didn't name him directly, but I knew his coworkers and acquaintances would easily connect the dots.

The video was titled: 《My Husband is a Control Freak: I Have to Submit a Written Request Just to Buy Coffee!》

As soon as the video went live, it went viral.

I posted screenshots of the "Allowance Request Forms" and his ridiculously petty rejections. I highlighted a few "masterpieces," like when I requested $20 for a birthday cake or $15 for a pair of tights.

I even showed his comments on the forms:

"Honey, Walmart has sheet cakes for $5. Buy that instead. A birthday happens every year, no need to be extra."

"Your tights always rip. Don't buy expensive ones. Order a bulk pack from Amazon."

Ethan, I hope you enjoy the spotlight.