Chapter 4

The realtor called. "Miss Nina, this... Mr. Hudson said you're getting married soon, so the house is joint property and he has the right to handle it."

Standing by the roadside, I said calmly, "Only my name is on the deed."

"But he had your power of attorney and a copy of your ID..."

"The power of attorney is forged. Stop all transactions immediately, or I'll sue your office too."

I hung up and went straight to the police station.

Filed a report, gave a statement, applied to freeze the property transaction.

By the time I finished the whole process, it was afternoon.

Walking out of the station, I opened SnapChat.

On my feed, Cecilia had posted a new update.

[Even at the other end of the world, as long as I'm afraid of the dark, he'll rush over. Next step: moving into our home~]

The attached photo showed a slender hand peeling an apple into a heart shape.

I knew that hand too well.

On the wrist was the limited edition watch I'd scoured the whole city to buy him last year.

Below were comments from our mutual friends.

[Mr. Hudson is still so devoted. When can we drink at your wedding?]

[After all this time, I only recognize you two as a couple!]

Hudson replied to the comments: [Don't talk nonsense. Cecilia needs rest right now.]

No denial. His words dripped with indulgence.

Cecilia couldn't wait to be the lady of the house, and Hudson was paving the way for her.

I liked the post.

In the Barrett family group chat, Hudson's mother was on a passionate rant.

[Young people these days have such tempers, threatening to break up over nothing. They don't even look at their own qualifications. Who'd want her without the Barrett family?]

Several relatives chimed in below.

[Exactly. Hudson is so outstanding, and she still isn't satisfied.]

[Cecilia is such a lovely girl---good family background, gentle personality. Such a shame about her fate.]

I didn't argue back. I left the group chat that had suffocated me for years.

And I blocked Hudson's contact.

After doing all this, the tightness in my chest suddenly disappeared.

I even had the mood to find a hotel and check in.

That evening, I ordered Japanese food delivery.

Hudson used to say takeout wasn't clean and insisted I go to the market to buy fresh ingredients and cook from scratch.

Now, eating salmon, I felt liberated.

Halfway through the meal, an unknown number called.

"Nina, have you lost your mind?" Hudson's roar came through the receiver.

"Why did you call the police? That house would just sit empty anyway. What's wrong with letting Cecilia stay there temporarily after she returns home?"

"Does 'staying temporarily' require transferring the deed to her name?"

"The realtor got it wrong! I just wanted to add her name to give her security!" Hudson spoke as if it were perfectly reasonable.

"Using my premarital property to give her security?" I laughed.

"Nina, don't twist my words like that. We're getting married soon---what's yours is mine, isn't it? You got the police involved at the realtor's office. Where does that leave my reputation?"

He only ever cared about his reputation.

"Hudson, we're not getting married."

"Not this again!" His voice was irritable. "Do you think that by leaving the group chat and blocking me, I'll come running back to coddle you? Let me tell you, if you don't drop the case this time, the wedding is postponed indefinitely!"

"Whatever."

I hung up and blocked that number too.