Chapter 3

The man in the videos never showed his face, but I should be grateful my wife was only cheating with one guy.

The only clue was a distinctive tattoo on the man's arm in all the videos.

I asked him: "Bro, how'd you get these videos?"

He vaguely replied: "Special channels, don't ask too many questions. Just enjoy, man."

I wanted to probe further, but he was clearly getting suspicious, his words guarded.

I had to play dumb: "Next time you get good stuff like this, hook a brother up. I'll make it worth your while."

I logged off and collapsed in my chair, completely drained. I decisively tossed my wedding ring in the trash.

This marriage was over.

No man could continue living under a cloud of infidelity like this.

But before divorcing, there were some accounts to settle.

All these years, I'd given my all to her and her family, never shortchanging them.

I never imagined this is how she'd repay me.

We met in college. She came from a poor family, both parents were teachers, and she had a good-for-nothing brother.

Back then she was known as the campus ice queen. She'd even rejected the advances of a rich guy.

That's actually why I pursued her - I admired that she didn't care about money.

I thought an educated family would be easy to get along with.

But on my first visit to her home, her mother immediately demanded a $40,000 bride price.

The greed in her eyes made it seem like a business transaction, not marrying off a daughter.

I hesitated, and her mom immediately changed her tune, kicking me out.

She went on and on: "My daughter is highly educated and beautiful. We have suitors lined up. If you can't afford the bride price, don't waste her time."

I thought I was a decent catch - I had a car, an apartment, and a sizable inheritance from my parents.

I assumed I'd be their ideal son-in-law. But reality slapped me in the face.

Her mother's greed made me want to back out. But then Olivia showed up at my place crying.

The usually cold girl's breakdown that day softened my heart. She said her mom didn't mean it, that her dad had accidentally hit someone with his car recently and the victim was demanding $40,000. Their family just didn't have the money. If I didn't marry her, she'd have to marry some 40-year-old guy. Her tears made my heart ache, and I finally bit the bullet and paid the $40,000 bride price.

But that $40,000 was just the beginning.

After we got married, my mother-in-law and good-for-nothing brother-in-law kept finding excuses to borrow money from me.

They said it was borrowing, but never paid back. And my brother-in-law was useless - drinking, gambling, whoring, he did it all. I was constantly cleaning up his messes.

With no other choice, I arranged for him to work under me at my company. Better to keep an eye on him than let him cause trouble elsewhere.

I'd had enough of this life long ago.

But every time my wife would beg me with tears in her eyes, and I'd soften and give in.

I admit I was whipped, but ultimately it was because I loved her and felt bad for her.

Now, it was all going to end.

I'd settle accounts for everything they owed me.

I contacted a lawyer to draft divorce papers.

Just as I finished, I heard the sound of a key in the front door.

She was back.