Chapter 1

Three years later, my husband taught me to be a mean girl.

He always said, "True love doesn't involve money; it's about pure feelings." I believed him.

Until the [Absolute Fairness AA System] bound to me.

He promised his "platonic friend," Chloe, a fifty-thousand dollar designer bag? [Ding! Account balanced: $25,000!]

He bought my mom two hundred bucks worth of fruit? [Deducted $100!]

He secretly used my streaming subscription to watch a movie? [Double compensation: $20!]

Every single double standard, the system ripped his facade to shreds.

Our marriage became a laughingstock across the entire internet.

Liam screamed during a livestream: "What else can you do besides scheme for money, Jade!"

[Ultimate Mission: Divorce. Reward: Stripping Liam Carter of marital assets worth $120 million. Compensating Host for three years of domestic labor, emotional labor, and reproductive value.]

"Jade, let's not talk about money, just feelings."

On our wedding anniversary, Liam handed me a prenuptial agreement for shared expenses.

I looked at his handsome face and agreed.

Three days later, a mechanical voice echoed in my mind: [Absolute Fairness AA System successfully bound.]

I thought it was an illusion.

Until his "platonic friend," Chloe Davis, called, crying.

"Liam, that fifty-thousand dollar limited edition bag... I can't afford it."

The speakerphone was on. Chloe's voice was syrupy sweet.

Liam gently cooed, "Why are you crying? Forget fifty thousand, I'd buy you a five-hundred-thousand-dollar bag, sis!"

He was using the phone I bought him, wearing the white shirt I'd ironed.

Chloe's tears turned to laughter: "Liam, you're so good to me!"

Liam hung up the phone and smiled at me: "Chloe's family isn't well off. As her 'big brother,' I should take care of her a little more."

I scoffed inwardly.

In three years of marriage, he'd never given me a gift worth more than a hundred dollars.

For me, it was always AA: "You pay the HOA fees." "Let's split the dinner bill." "Jade, you need to be independent!"

Now, he was ready to splurge a fortune on another woman.

I didn't even have the right to question him.

My phone screen lit up: [Your account has received $25,000.00.]

The system's voice simultaneously chimed: [Ding! Detected partner Liam Carter promising to spend $50,000 on a third party, Chloe Davis. This expense constitutes a non-essential emotional investment and should be jointly borne by both parties. The system has automatically balanced the account, transferring $25,000 from Liam Carter's account to yours.]

I looked at the bank message, then at Liam.

He was still engrossed in texting Chloe, a wide smile on his face.

Completely oblivious that his account had just been drained.

This was absolute fairness.

I put down my fork and stood up: "I'm full."

Liam didn't even lift his head: "Hmm, remember to do the dishes."

I walked out of the dining room. Soon, I heard a furious "Damn it!" from behind me.

He probably thought it was a scam?

No. Every penny of his money should be his to control. Mine too.

Wait, sometimes my money was supposed to be his. He'd drink my water but never buy me any.

Now, the system was here. It would calculate everything.

I went back to the bedroom and closed the door.

A notification popped up from Chloe's SnapChat story: [Best big brother ever. So much love!] The picture showed the fifty-thousand dollar bag.

Liam was the first to like it.

My phone screen glowed faintly, a silent judge.

This marriage, finally, was going to be precisely measured.