Wife Used My House for Her Lover

1 The property management app flashed a notification while I was in a company meeting. “Renovation permit submitted for Apartment 1702, Building 3, Riverbend Towers.

Applicant: Marcus Chen, Relationship to Owner: Spouse.” I read it three times. Marcus Chen. Spouse. I flipped through my marriage certificate. It bore my name, Alexander Liu.

That was my name. I stared at that message for a long time. Apartment 1702, Building 3, Riverbend Towers. It was a place I’d bought before marriage. Paid in full.

Two hundred thousand dollars. My parents contributed one hundred and twenty thousand, and I saved eighty thousand. Only my name was on the deed.

A prenuptial agreement was signed before the wedding.

After we married, the apartment had been rented out, bringing in four hundred and fifty dollars a month, directly deposited into my account. Six months ago, the lease expired.

Charlotte told me she’d found new tenants for me. “Don’t worry, the people I found are reliable, five hundred a month.” I was quite pleased at the time, an extra fifty dollars.

But now— New tenants? Or “spouse” Marcus Chen?

I excused myself from the meeting room, found an empty corner, and dialed the property management. “Hello, I’m the owner of Apartment 1702, Building 3, Riverbend Towers.

I’d like to inquire about a renovation permit.” The property manager said: “Oh, Mr. Chen submitted it last week.

All documents were in order, and work has begun.” “What identity did Mr. Chen claim?” “He said he was the owner’s husband, renovating their matrimonial home.” Matrimonial home.

My apartment, his matrimonial home. “How long has the renovation been going on?” “Three months now. Almost finished.” Three months.

My apartment had been renovated by a stranger for three months, and I knew nothing about it. I hung up the phone. My hand wasn’t shaking.

My heart pounded, but my mind was perfectly clear. I opened my banking app, checking Charlotte’s credit card statements.

We’d linked a supplementary card when we got married; I could see the transactions. I scrolled back three months. Home Décor Emporium, $1,860. Furniture Haven, $3,200.

Premium Tiles Inc., $2,750. Bespoke Interiors, $8,900. Transaction after transaction. All for building materials and furniture.

In three months, twenty thousand dollars spent on the credit card. I scrolled further. Every month, there was a fixed transfer of $500, recipient: Marcus Chen.

This transfer had started a year ago. A year. Five hundred dollars every month. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. Not anger. A very quiet coldness.

Charlotte Thorne, my wife, was using my apartment to live with another man. She told me she’d found new tenants. The “tenant” was named Marcus Chen.

She transferred him five hundred dollars every month. He was renovating my apartment, spending tens of thousands.

To the property management, he claimed to be the “owner’s spouse.” I checked my contacts. Samuel ‘Sam’ Carter. My college roommate, now a divorce attorney.

I sent him a message: “Free for dinner? My treat.” Three seconds later, he replied: “Your treat? Are you getting a divorce?” Lawyers’ instincts, sharp as ever. I didn’t reply.

I needed to clarify one thing first. Who was Marcus Chen?