Part 2My Husband’s Lingering Obsession

The closer I got to The Crestwood, the more agitated Marcus's voice became.

She’s broke. What is she doing here? Did she find out something?

But I hid it so well!

Stay calm, stay calm. Sophia’s not smart enough to figure this out. She can’t do anything.

I slapped my stomach, hard, and slammed my foot on the gas.

At the complex, I went straight to Claire Han's apartment.

When she opened the door and saw me, a flicker of panic crossed her face before being quickly suppressed.

"Mrs. Kane? What... what are you doing here?"

I ignored her, walking past her and taking in the apartment. It was easy to see she wasn't spending her own money. From the expensive flooring to the designer furniture, everything was top-of-the-line. The sofa in the living room was the exact model I had wanted when we got married, the one Marcus had refused to buy, saying it was too extravagant.

And here it was. In his mistress's home.

I started toward the master bedroom, but Claire grabbed my arm and steered me back to the living room.

"Mrs. Kane..." she said, cautiously pouring me a glass of water. "I know you're grieving. Maybe we could go for a walk? Get some fresh air?"

Damn it, this is all my fault. If I could have just given Claire the status she deserved, she wouldn't have to be so timid in front of this bitch.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I decided to cut the crap.

"Claire, as I recall, your salary is about three thousand dollars a month. A place here costs a fortune."

"Did you buy this apartment yourself?"

"Yes!"

She was clearly lying through her teeth, so desperate to quell my suspicions that she rushed to get the deed before I could say another word.

"See? It's my house. My name is on the deed, Mrs. Kane."

I let out a cold laugh and slapped the document down on the coffee table. "Your name on the deed doesn't mean you paid for it."

She froze, staring at me for a moment before a smirk spread across her face. "What's this? Coming here to pick a fight? You're a little late, aren't you? Your husband is a pile of ash. Dead men tell no tales."

I watched her, my expression unreadable.

"Claire, I remember the first time we met. You were just a girl from some small town in the mountains, so clueless you didn't even know how to use an automatic faucet."

"Marcus took good care of you these past six years, didn't he? Better than your own parents, I'd bet."

Sophia! You sharp-tongued bitch, what are you saying!

Claire is just an innocent kid! Why does a bitter widow like you have to bully a young girl?

My gaze grew colder, and Claire’s face flushed with anger. But she stuck to her story. "I don't know what you're talking about. Stop making baseless accusations."

"Coming all the way here to harass me... don't think I won't call the police and have you arrested!"

That's right! Stick to that story! I'm dead now. She has no proof!

I smiled.

Those two traitors really were on the same wavelength.

I pulled out the bank statements my lawyer had prepared, a detailed record of Marcus's finances for the past six years.

"You think I have no recourse just because you deny it? You keep saying this is your house. Then maybe you can explain this transfer of five hundred thousand dollars from Marcus's account to the property developer?"

Seeing the evidence in my hands, Claire finally broke.

"Mrs. Kane, Marcus just felt sorry for me and my daughter! We had nowhere to live! He let us stay here, he said the house was ours! It was his dying wish! You can't kick us out!"

"And besides," she added, "his parents know all about this."

What?

Marcus's parents knew he was cheating and approved of him buying a house for his mistress?

"I'll... I'll call them right now! You have no right to make this decision!"