My Ex Still Wants My Paycheck

Three days after divorcing my ex-husband, Julian Hendricks, I receive a message from him. "Why haven't you wired your salary for this month to me yet?" I assume that he's pulling my leg and reply, "We're already divorced." "So what?" he retorts. "You're supposed to transfer 19,000 dollars out of your 20,000-dollar salary to me every month. You can spend the remaining 1,000 dollars however you want, just like before. "I took care of you when you weren't working in the past. How dare you stop giving me money just because we're divorced?" I stare at his messages in stunned silence. Throughout our three years of marriage, I give 19,000 dollars of my 20,000 dollar salary to Julian every month. Julian claims he's using the money to plan our overall household expenses, when in reality, he's using it to pay for his civil service exam, cover his meals with his friends, and treat his "study buddy" whom I've never even met. He scolds me when he catches me playing games after work, criticizing my lack of desire to improve myself even though I'm the one who cooks, cleans, and does the laundry. The audacity of this man. How dare he think that I'm still obligated to give him money when we're already divorced? The reason that Julian gives me is that he's worried that I'll spend my money frivolously. I block his number. Three seconds later, he calls me from a different number. "You'll regret this. This is the last time I'm ever helping you." I burst out laughing. Help me? No one has ever extended a helping hand to me in the last three years. Chapter 1 I pushed open the glass doors of the mall and made a beeline for the Alienware store. I was immediately drawn to the gaming laptop with top specifications that cost 5,000 dollars. A furious voice resounded from behind me seconds after I grabbed my phone to pay. "Have you lost your mind, Charlotte Spencer?" I turned around. My ex-husband, Julian Hendricks, stormed toward me in his branded shoes, snatching my phone out of my hand. He was also carrying two slices of chocolate truffle cake that were packaged in intricate boxes. I knew which bakery he had bought the cakes from. Each slice cost about 50 dollars. "You're going to waste 5,000 dollars on a piece of junk? Cancel the transaction and wire your money into my account right now!" he roared, hurling my phone back at me. He then turned to face the sales assistant with an icy expression. "We're not buying the laptop anymore." The sales assistant was stunned. "We're already divorced, Julian," I said. "You should know your limits even when you're throwing a tantrum!" he shouted, raising his voice and attracting the attention of the other shoppers. "Your salary is only 20,000 dollars a month! How will I pay for her civil service exam if you blow through everything?" "Whose civil service exam?" I asked coldly. "Hannah's, of course!" Julian spat. "I already planned to use the money to pay the registration fee for an intensive bootcamp. How will she pay the fee if you use the money to buy a laptop instead?" Hannah Gregson. She was Julian's "study buddy"—the woman he loved to splurge on for the last three years. I had never met her in person. Disgust churned in my gut. For the three years that we were married, I ate bread that cost less than two dollars every day. I also ended up developing a stomach condition because I kept staying up late to work on my projects. I made so many sacrifices just so I could collect 19,000 dollars every month to give to Julian. Meanwhile, Julian used my hard-earned money to buy high-quality meals for Hannah that cost 200 dollars each. Apparently, each meal was specially crafted to enhance one's beauty and encourage weight loss. How dare he demand money from me to pay for another woman's expenses now that we were already divorced? Julian assumed that I had conceded to him because of my silence. He softened his tone and reflexively reached out to adjust my pilling collar. "I know that you've been under a lot of pressure at work, Charlotte, but we need to look at the bigger picture. Hannah will definitely remember what you did for her after she passes her civil service exam. I'll let you buy the laptop after you get a promotion and a raise, okay?" Julian was once again spouting his disgusting, empty promises. I took a step back, avoiding his touch. "Don't touch me. I don't like getting dirty." Julian's face turned red as his hand remained frozen in midair. "Why are you being so difficult, Charlotte?" he roared. "What else can you do except play games all day? You have no desire to improve yourself at all! It's no wonder you're still stuck in an entry-level job! I'm teaching you how to manage your finances. I don't want you to spend frivolously!" I ignored him and pulled out another phone from my pocket. I opened Apple Pay and showed it to the sales assistant. "Here. Go ahead." The terminal beeped. A message appeared on the display. "Transaction Approved: 5,000 dollars." Julian stared at me in disbelief. "Where did you get that money from? Didn't you give me all your salary?" I grabbed his phone as he continued to gape at me. I then navigated to his settings and removed my card from his payment options. "I was blind back then. I'll just consider it charity," I said. "Your personal ATM is officially out of service now." Julian stared at the empty space where my card details used to be. He didn't care that we were already divorced. His mind had been wiped clear of all thoughts except for one. "How will Hannah pay for her registration fee now that you've spent all your money?" Chapter 2 "That's your problem," I said. "Why don't you ask Hannah to pay for it?" I picked up the bag containing my brand-new laptop and left the store without sparing a single glance at Julian. Julian's indignant voice resounded from behind me. "You're a selfish and self-centered bitch, Charlotte! You'll regret this!" I hailed a cab that drove me to my new rental apartment. My phone began vibrating nonstop the moment I sat down. Julian had bombarded me with a string of voice messages. "I don't care how you do it. I want you to wire 19,000 dollars into my bank account by 8:00 am tomorrow. Hannah's freaking out because of the little stunt you pulled. She's so nervous that she can't even swallow a single bite of her dinner. "She already has a weak stomach. Are you going to take responsibility if she ends up developing a stomach illness that affects her performance during the exam?" Listening to his voice messages, I couldn't help but feel that Julian had a few loose screws in his head. When I worked overtime until my stomach started bleeding, he posted pictures of himself and Hannah enjoying tea on his social media account. Now, he was acting as if his entire world was falling apart just because she missed one meal. I booted up my laptop and logged into my online banking account. I then pulled up the bank statements for the past three years. I had trusted Julian completely back then, which was why I never questioned our household expenses. However, at that moment, I was determined to dig up every single expenditure that he made. I felt like I was being slapped over and over again as I scanned the countless records on the screen. He had spent an average of 3,000 dollars per month on high-quality meals, 24,000 dollars per year on a private VIP room to study for the civil service exam, and 8,000 dollars per visit for VIP sales services in Chanel's female clothing department. My fingers trembled slightly as I stared at the 8,000-dollar transaction, and a memory suddenly resurfaced. During winter last year, the soles of the leather shoes that I had worn for three years finally gave out. When I told Julian I wanted to buy a new 100-dollar pair, he snapped at me. "We're already under so much financial pressure because of the loan. Can you act a little more mature? Just keep wearing the shoes if they haven't fallen apart yet. You need to learn how to spend your money wisely." At the same time, he had bought a pair of leather high heels for Hannah that cost 1,000 dollars. Not only that, but he'd also spent another 300 dollars on a scarf for her. Julian's excuse was that Hannah needed to attend an important interview, so she needed to dress appropriately. I realized that my three-year marriage had been nothing but a huge joke from start to finish. My phone lit up again. Julian had sent a long text to me since I didn't respond to his voice messages. "You're a grown woman, Charlotte. Don't you feel embarrassed being jealous over a young woman who's doing her best to improve herself? If you behave yourself and send the money over, I'll ask Hannah to treat you to a nice meal once she passes her civil service exam." A few seconds later, I received a voice message. Hannah's voice echoed from the receiver. "Julian told me that you're in a bad mood, Charlotte. Please don't be mad at him. It's all my fault. I'll just give up on the civil service exam. I don't want you two fighting because of me." I had to hand it to her. She was a master at playing the victim. As expected, I received a message from Julian a few moments later. "Did you listen to Hannah's voice message? She's so mature! She's the complete opposite of you, you calculating wretch! Wire the money to me right now! I'll never forgive you if you don't!" I ignored Julian's furious demands. Instead, I organized the bank statements into a folder and emailed them to Cecilia Lawson, my former college classmate who worked as a lawyer. "I need your help, Cecilia. How much money can I get if I win a case of dissipation of marital assets?" Cecilia replied within seconds. "How much money did he use on the mistress?" "Based on my initial estimate, around 300,000 dollars." "Alright. Leave it to me. I'll make sure that they pay back every penny that they owe you. With interest." I closed the laptop and breathed out a long sigh. I wasn't just going to cut Julian's and Hannah's off financially. I was also determined to rip off their masks and expose them for the money-hungry scum that they were. Chapter 3 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." Chapter 4 Three days later, I found myself in the luxury goods section of Grandfield Mall. I was accompanying the company's newly appointed CEO, Scott Jennings, as we inspected the shops in the mall. Scott was a top executive who appeared out of nowhere in the investment industry. He was brutally decisive and efficient, and he carried himself with a cold and refined demeanor. I had just secured a research and development project that was worth over ten million dollars. Scott had brought me to the mall that day to pick out a presentable outfit. We were scheduled to meet with the core partners of the project for dinner that evening. "Why don't you try that suit, Ms. Spencer?" Scott suggested while pointing at a beautifully tailored suit. I had just picked up the suit when Julian's mocking voice resounded from behind me. "Well, if it isn't Ms. Spencer, the poor wretch who doesn't even have 19,000 dollars to her name." I turned around. Julian and Hannah were standing a short distance away. Arm in arm, they stared at me with disdain. It was obvious that they had dropped by the mall for some retail therapy after I kicked them out of the house. Julian scrutinized the suit that I was holding and scoffed. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Are you visiting this store to enjoy their free air-conditioning after I kicked you to the curb?" "That suit costs a few thousand dollars. Are you sure that you can afford it if you accidentally damage it?" Julian snapped, intentionally raising his voice to catch the attention of the sales assistants and other patrons. That familiar tactic of public humiliation and intimidation was Julian's go-to over the last three years. "Don't talk about Charlotte like that, Julian," Hannah chimed in, her voice dripping with insincerity. "She's just looking at it. After all, it's not easy to earn money." Julian scoffed and dragged Hannah over to the counter where the watches were displayed. He pointed at a luxury watch that cost 30,000 dollars and said, "Box this up for me." He shot me a provocative look, his eyes glimmering with pride as he said, "Take a good look. This is how a woman deserves to be treated. Hannah's entering the public sector soon. This watch is a perfect match for her. As for you, you're only worthy of picking up trash for the rest of your life!" He haughtily pulled out a card from his bag, balancing it between two fingers as he handed it to the sales assistant. It was the supplementary card that I had given him in the past. Julian assumed that I had only removed my card details from his phone's payment options. He probably had no idea that I had already stopped by the bank to freeze all my cards still in his possession. The sales assistant took the card and swiped it across the terminal, but the screen flashed red. "My apologies, sir. The system has detected that this card has already been frozen by its owner," the sales assistant explained politely as he handed the card back to Julian. Julian's smug expression stiffened. "That's impossible!" he exclaimed. "Swipe it again!" The sales assistant did as he was told, but the outcome was the same. The payment didn't go through. The people around us shot strange looks at Julian. Hannah looked incredibly awkward and reflexively let go of Julian's hand. I scoffed and stepped forward. "Mr. Hendricks, it's a little inappropriate for you to use your ex-wife's card to spend on your mistress, don't you agree? "Also, just a heads-up, the court summons regarding the 300,000 dollar dissipation of marital assets will be delivered to you tomorrow. I hope that you're ready to pay the penalty in any way that you can." The color drained from Julian's face. He pointed an accusing finger at me and shouted, "Charlotte, you fucking bitch! How dare you set me up like this? You think freezing a card scares me? A broke nobody like you doesn't deserve to run your mouth in front of me!" Julian lunged at me and tried to slap me. "Security! Kick this lunatic out of the premises!" Scott stepped in, flanked by two bodyguards. He didn't even spare a glance at Julian as he walked over to me. "You're still not done dealing with this trivial matter, Ms. Spencer? The directors and business partners are waiting to meet you at tonight's dinner." A deathly silence descended upon the store the moment the words left Scott's lips. Julian stared at me, his eyes wide with shock. "B-Business partners?" he stammered. Scott glanced at him before turning his attention to the sales assistant, saying calmly, "Pack up the suit that Ms. Spencer was looking at earlier. Include the watch as well. Charge the items to my personal tab. Record the purchase as a welcome gift from the company to Ms. Spencer." Julian had a complete mental breakdown. I accepted the coat that Scott offered me and didn't spare another glance at Julian. We left the store together. Hannah's voice resounded from behind us, full of disdain. "Why did you try to show off when you have no money? How humiliating!" She shoved Julian's hand away and left the store without sparing a glance at him. Julian's whole body was trembling when he crumpled to the floor.