I felt as disgusted as if I had swallowed a bug, but I had no one to talk to about it. I stumbled through work in a daze and drowned my sorrows in alcohol after hours. While I was wallowing in sadness, another event compounded my misery.

I had worked overtime the whole day and it was raining heavily. By the time I managed to get a taxi home, it was already late. But when I reached my apartment, I found I couldn't open the door. Upon closer inspection, I realized the lock had been changed! I had never felt so furious. I grabbed my phone and called Connor, he was the only one who could have done this.

But he didn't answer my call. My heart sank, I was shaking with anger, the rain outside pouring down as if mocking my life. I kept calling, but he didn't pick up. After about a dozen calls, I was exhausted and slumped at the doorstep. After so many days, I finally couldn't hold back and cried bitterly.

I never imagined that I, Nadine Diaz, would end up in such a state. Despite our many years together, Connor had no compassion for me. He chose this rainy day to kick me out in such a heartless manner. He had no bottom line!

Looking back, I realized Connor didn't just dislike my parents, he didn't like my friends either, causing me to drift further away from them. I used to think he was my everything, but now I understand that he was my torment, bringing all the pain and hardship into my life. I called for a taxi, determined to confront him face to face today.

Unfortunately, no one was accepting rides in the rain. I didn't care anymore and ran into the rain. Orchid Apartment was only two kilometers away, I could get there on foot. The cold rain quickly soaked me through. These sad stories always seem to happen in the rain.

Orchid Apartment had strict security, but seeing me drenched and hearing my story about losing my access card, the guard let me in after registration, urging me to go home and take a hot shower.

Building 8, Unit 2, Apartment 1007. Today, I finally stood at this door. This neighborhood was much more luxurious than ours, certainly beyond the means of an intern. Clearly, Connor was footing the bill.

I pounded on the door of Apartment 1007 with all my strength. "Connor, open the door! I know you're in there!" My voice echoed in the empty hallway, finally swallowed by silence.

I kept banging on the door, shouting, "Don't be a coward hiding in there! Come out and face me!" Eventually, my hand turned purple, my voice grew hoarse and still, there was no response from inside. I leaned against the wall, letting my hand fall. It was swollen with pain and I felt hot and sticky from the rain and my rising body temperature. It was extremely uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to knock again, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps from the elevator. "What are you crazy about?" It was Connor. He was flushed, looking like he had rushed over from somewhere. He looked frantic, that word perfectly described his current state.

"What I going crazy about, huh? I'm asking you, what do you mean by this?" I shouted.

"Mean by what?" he asked me back.

The door behind me opened. I turned around and saw "Little Missy". A younger woman, wearing pajamas, looking pitifully at Connor. "Connor, you're finally back. I was so scared," Her voice was very soft. Compared to her, I looked like a raging beast.

Connor brushed past me, not seeing my drenched state, only seeing her fear. He walked over to the girl, putting his arm around her shoulders and said, "Don't be afraid. It's okay. I'm back."

I watched as Connor's eyes filled with tenderness and pity for her. I felt a moment of disorientation. That stare used to be mine, but now it belonged to someone else. The girl looked at me with a victorious gaze, seeing me as a soaked, bedraggled mess.

When a woman appeared more vulnerable than you, she won in front of a man. The girl nestled pitifully in Connor's arms while I shook with anger. The more I looked at her, the more familiar she seemed.

"Sandra, go inside first," Connor said gently.

Sandra? So, it was her! Sandra Kelce.

Sandra didn't want to go inside. "I want to stay here. I'm afraid she'll hit you."

Hit him? I sneered. They had already figuratively devoured me. I remembered a long time ago, Connor had mentioned a new intern in his team named Sandra. At first, he complained to me about the new young employee who knew nothing, neither this nor that.

At that time, I kindly suggested he help her more, so she'd get the hang of things soon. How ironic that not only had he helped her at work, but now he was helping her with things he shouldn't have.

"What right do you have to change the locks?" I didn't want to waste words with these shameless people and demanded an answer.

Connor frowned and glanced at Sandra, seeming to understand something.

"I told you before, I wanted you to move out as soon as possible." I wiped the rain off my face. "I can move out, but you must give me fifty percent of the house's value. Otherwise, don't think you'll get away with this!"

"Sandra, go inside. I'll talk to her." Connor coaxed her again to go inside and close the door.

I couldn't hold it back anymore and tears started streaming down my face. "You're so cruel, Connor," I cried while wiping my tears. "You told her the house password, didn't you? Then she changed the lock to kick me out. Let me tell you, you're the one at fault here. You tricked me into transferring the house to you before our divorce and now you want to take my property with her. It's not going to be that easy!"

"Don't say things you can't prove. This is a misunderstanding," Connor's eyes flashed with cunning. "My relationship with Sandra started after our divorce. I wasn't cheating on you. Don't make accusations without evidence."

I looked at the man in front of me in disbelief. Today, I finally understood what it meant to know a person's face but not their heart. "You said those gifts were for clients, yet the client's address is Sandra's. Those gifts have been sent for a year and now you claim your relationship started after our divorce? Your lies are endless," I said.

"Yes, I sent the gifts to Sandra and she delivered them to the clients. Is that a problem?" He threw back my question.

I couldn't believe the extent of his shamelessness. "I'm done talking to you. Give me the house password. I'll move out after you pay me," I said.

Connor went inside reluctantly but didn't come back out. Instead, he sent me a message on WhatsApp with six digits, 520131.

Looking at the numbers, I remembered how this man used to be the one I trusted most in the world and I felt the world had become absurdly ridiculous.

It wasn't until my mom called that I realized I'd forgotten to call them recently.

"Your dad and I only want you to be happy. So, whatever decision you make, we will support you," after chatting about some random things, my mother suddenly said this.

"Mom, I feel so miserable. Living is just too hard ..." As soon as I said this, I broke down.

"Don't cry, don't cry, dear. This will pass. It's not that big of a deal," I could hear the worry in my mom's voice. I never expected that, even in their twilight years, I would still cause them so much concern.

"Okay, Mom. Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish. You should rest," I said, ending the call quickly to avoid worrying them further. Hugging myself, I felt both despair and hatred.

Though I had managed to get into the apartment, Sandra's behavior made it clear that everything here was hers and she could take it all whenever she pleased. I wasn't just heartbroken anymore, I was filled with vengeance. I wouldn't let them get away with this!

The next day, instead of going to work, I staked out at their apartment complex early in the morning. I found a perfect spot and waited until seven o'clock. Sure enough, they came out together. I snapped a photo of them. If you are unkind to me, don't blame me for being unjust.

Since Connor had been my classmate in college, it wasn't hard to find the email of his boss through mutual connections. Once at the office, I sent the photos and screenshots of the gift orders to his boss.

In the email, I not only accused Connor of immoral behavior and betrayal but also of deceitfully obtaining my property and conspiring with his mistress to evict me. I naively thought this would ruin Sandra's internship and tarnish Connor's reputation. However, two days after sending the email, there was no response. It was like the email had vanished into thin air.

On the third day, I saw a post from Connor on social media. "Once you're legal, we'll be legal." The picture showed two hands forming a heart, each wearing matching rings from a luxury brand.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed repeatedly. I remembered wanting those rings when we registered our marriage, but Connor said they were overpriced and insisted on buying plain gold bands instead. Now, it seemed the brand's price no longer mattered to him. How ironic.

Then, I received a message from him. [Nadine, you're disgusting. I told you, Sandra and I got together after our divorce. You have no right to accuse us. And you have no evidence. Those emails you sent were a waste of effort.] His words were like pouring oil on a fire.

[You shameless jerk! Fine, I don't want to argue about you and Sandra anymore. When are you going to give me my share of the house?] I replied back.

[Which house?] He asked nonchalantly.

When I saw that message, my mind went blank. I realized something was very wrong. [Which house? The one I'm living in. I told you, no money, no moving out.]

[We clearly stated in the divorce agreement that the house belongs to me. We processed the transfer based on that agreement and now the house is under my wife's name,] he replied.

Then he added, [For the sake of our past, I'll give you a month to find a place. Otherwise, I'll have to personally escort you out.]

His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. No wonder they had been stalling, promising to give me the money later. They had planned to transfer the property all along! I was trembling with anger when a voice brought me back to reality.

"Nadine." I looked up to see my boss, Jacob Elody.