My wife, Catherine, often placed a cactus on the balcony, claiming it absorbed sunlight.

However, on rainy days, I come home to find her doing the same.

Once, when I made the excuse of going on a business trip, she quickly set the cactus outside again.

I secretly watched from downstairs until I saw a figure enter our home.

I pulled out my phone to call the police, "Officer, I want to report someone offering pornographic services."

***

Recently, Catherine had developed a passion for cacti.

She would put them out whenever I left, even in the rain.

One day, when she was out, I secretly put the cactus outside.

Shortly after, the doorbell rang.

Looking through the peephole, I saw a man with a duck-tongue hat lurking at the door.

The thoughts of TV dramas filled my mind, women meeting their lovers under the guise of lanterns.

Catherine had been giggling at her phone and dressing coolly lately, fueling my anger.

I stormed to the kitchen for a knife and burst into the room.

Our eyes met, and I shouted, "Dad?"

Nicolas stared at the knife and asked with wide eyes, "What do you want to do?"

Mortified, I glanced at the fruit he held and quickly said, "I thought you were here to buy me fruit. I can peel it for you."

Just then, Catherine rushed back, saying, "I forgot something."

Surprised, she asked, "Dad, why are you here?"

It turned out that Nicolas came to ask for money to buy a car for Julius.

Realizing I had misjudged Catherine, I silently transferred one hundred thousand dollars to him, and he left happily.

Catherine, seeing this, kissed me.

I wanted to take things further, but her phone rang, and she hurriedly grabbed her bag and left.

As I prepared to tidy up, I noticed the gift she had given her best friend still on the couch.

I grabbed it and chased after her.

Just as I reached the stairs, I heard Catherine's voice, "You nearly got us caught. I forgot to grab something to meet you, or else..."

The man replied, "Your dad reacted quickly to help us cover."

I froze, feeling my blood run cold.

I wanted to confront them.

But when the man turned, I was shocked to see who it was.

They left hand in hand.

I suddenly understood why Nicolas helped them hide it.

When Catherine and I were dating, he disapproved of me due to my background had no house or car.

I had begged him for three days, promising a five hundred thousand dollar bride price in three years before he would allow me to marry her.

I worked tirelessly, climbing from a lowly position to market manager.

Over time, Nicolas had come to respect me more.

Life was getting better day by day, and we had even planned to have a child, but now she had betrayed me for someone richer.

Of course, Nicolas would cover for them.

Returning home in shock, I found Nicolas had come back without me noticing.

Sensing something was off, he asked, "Erik, what's wrong?"

I searched his face for guilt, but there was none.

Instead, he nervously asked, "Why are you staring at me?

"Are you reluctant to let me take your two bottles of wine?"

I realized he had returned for the two bottles of wine I had just bought.

I couldn't help but sneer internally, "This family is greedy."

At two in the morning, Catherine returned, humming and carrying a new bag.

Surprised to see me in the living room, she asked, "Honey, why are you still up?"

I didn't respond directly but pointed to her bag, "When did you buy this?"

"Oh, it's a birthday gift from my best friend," she replied.

I asked, "Chanel? Which girlfriend is so rich?"

Her demeanor shifted slightly, "A college friend you haven't met."

She then went to shower.

I took the opportunity to check the closet and found numerous luxury items tucked away.

I recalled when we first got together, we didn't have much money, and she would envy others with designer bags. Now that we had some financial stability, I sometimes advised her to buy what she wanted, but she always directed her funds to support her family instead.

Thinking of this, I finally understood.

She was using my earnings to support her family while tapping into other men's money for herself.

Anger simmered within me.

At this time, Catherine's phone buzzed.

A message from Nicolas caught my eye. [Catherine, one hundred thousand dollars from your husband isn't enough. Your brother wants a two hundred thousand dollar car. Ask him for more.]

[If that fails, ask the richer one for cash.]

I felt manipulated by this family.

When Nicolas saw she hadn't replied, he addressed me directly, "Erik, your brother still needs one hundred thousand dollars for the car. Bring me that in a couple of days."

I suppressed the urge to yell, replying, "Okay."

Remembering my hard work to give Catherine a better life, I found one betrayed me and one treated me like a mere ATM. A plan for revenge began to form in my mind.