On the day of my divorce, I sent my mother a four-word text: "The papers are signed."

She replied with only one: "Withdraw."

$76 million was frozen that very day. Meanwhile, my ex-husband’s family was still in the VIP lounge at the airport, raising glasses to celebrate his new lover’s rise.

His sister posted on social media to mock me: "Some people have finally been kicked out of our house."

I replied: "Have fun. And don't forget to buy your own return tickets."

Three days later, my ex-husband stood at my door with bloodshot eyes: "Clara Shen, who on earth are you?"

1

At the civil affairs bureau, I messaged my mother: "Mom, the papers are signed."

She replied quickly.

"Withdraw."

$76 million was pulled from the accounts of Fu Medical that same day.

While my ex-husband, Julian Fu, and his family were busy heading abroad to celebrate his newfound freedom.

Do you know what $76 million actually means?

It’s enough for a mid-sized medical device company to shut down three product lines.

It’s enough to buy an entire floor of office space in the city center.

And it’s enough for my mother, upon receiving my message that the papers were signed, to send a single word that sent the Fu family crashing from the clouds back to reality.

"Withdraw."

She said it as casually as asking if I wanted noodles for dinner.

But I knew exactly what that word represented.

At window eighteen, Julian Fu and Clara Shen were processing the divorce.

As soon as the intercom rang, Julian stood up immediately.

He was wearing a dark gray suit, with cufflinks I had given him on his birthday.

Now, he didn't even spare me a glance.

He walked toward the window, his head bowed, busy replying to a message.

I didn't need to look to know who was on the other end.

Mina.

The blogger who made a name for herself by flaunting an exquisite lifestyle.

And the woman everyone in Julian’s circle already acknowledged as the new favorite.

The official took our documents.

"Both parties are divorcing voluntarily?"

"Voluntary."

Julian answered quickly.

I said: "Voluntary."

"Are there any disputes regarding property division?"

"None."

He rushed to speak again.

I nodded.

The agreement had been drafted by someone hired by the Fu family.

A small two-bedroom apartment in the old district went to me, valued at 1.9 million, with 900,000 left on the mortgage.

A white sedan I’d been driving for four years went to me, worth less than 100,000 on the second-hand market.

And another 500,000 in cash.

It sounded like a decent amount.

But the down payment on that apartment was paid by me before the marriage.

The car was part of my dowry from my parents.

As for the 500,000 in cash, Julian would spend more than that on a single handbag for Mina without a second thought.

During our three years of marriage, he had acquired two additional apartments, a sports car, and eight percent of the options in Fu Medical.

None of it was mentioned in the agreement.

I didn't argue.

It wasn't that I couldn't.

It was just that I found it disgusting.

My mother once told me: "Clara, don't pick up the scraps others scrape from the bottom of the bowl. The confidence you need, Mom has already prepared for you."

At the time, I thought she was just comforting me.

Today, I finally understood.

That was the most direct expression of favoritism from a woman capable of mobilizing hundreds of millions in capital toward her daughter.

The red seal fell.

Three years of marriage, finished right here.

The divorce certificate was handed over.

Julian picked up his copy and stuffed it into his suit pocket.

He finally looked at me.

"Clara Shen, let’s part on good terms. Don’t bother each other again in the future."

I took my copy.

"Fine."

He seemed surprised that I agreed so quickly.

He paused for half a second, then turned and walked away.

I watched his back.

Julian Fu, you’ll soon realize that being left alone by me is the most terrifying thing of all.

At the entrance of the bureau, Julian walked toward the new Maserati parked by the curb.

The car door opened.

Mina leaned halfway out.

She was wearing a light pink dress, and the pearl earrings on her ears were those Julian had swiped his card for just last month.

"Julian, is it all done?"

Her voice was incredibly soft.

Julian smiled instantly.

"It's done."

He leaned over to tuck her jacket in for her.

"From today on, I'm free. Mom and Sia are already at the airport, let’s go directly there."

Mina looked at me.

"Clara, you should take good care of yourself from now on, too."

She was a year younger than me.

She put real effort into that "sister" label.

I didn't respond to her.

I only said: "Have a safe trip."

The smile on Mina's face faltered.

Julian frowned.

"Clara Shen, don't be so sarcastic. Mina is only being kind and concerned about you."

I tucked the divorce certificate into my bag.

"Then you can thank her for me."

Mina leaned back into her seat and whispered: "Julian, don't argue with her because of me. Today is supposed to be a happy day."

Julian softened his tone immediately.

"Anything you say."

The car drove away.

I stood where I was and dialed a number.

It rang only once before my mother picked up.

"Clara, are you out?"

"Yes."

"Do you feel wronged?"

"No."

I hesitated for a moment.

"Mom, start the process."

There was a second of silence on the other end.

"Good. Go home and wait. Leave the rest to me."

I hung up the phone.

From the moment the seal fell to the end of the call, it had been four minutes.

Four minutes later, the Fu family’s good days began their countdown.

2

I went to a tea shop at the intersection.

As soon as I sat down, my phone started to vibrate.

It was Lena, my mother’s assistant.

"Ms. Clara, the directive from Madame Evelyn has been issued. The exit process has been initiated for all investment projects in Fu Medical, totaling $76 million."

"The first tranche of $28 million in working capital has been withdrawn. The finance department at Fu Medical is currently trying to contact me."

"Julian Fu himself has called three times, but Madame Evelyn did not answer."

"The partner banks have received notification of a risk reassessment and will send personnel to Fu Medical for an audit tomorrow morning."

I looked at the words.

I felt very calm.

$76 million.

To me, it once seemed like an astronomical figure.

To Evergreen Capital, run by my mother, it was just a slice of investment that could be moved at any time.

But to Fu Medical, it was their lifeline.

Julian Fu had kept the company looking glamorous over the years.

In reality, the books had been empty for a long time.

Several key projects relied entirely on the capital and credit endorsement of Evergreen Capital.

Now that the funds were being pulled and credit was being reassessed, the Fu family’s celebratory wine would likely turn to ashes before they could even finish their glasses.

Another notification popped up on my phone.

Sia updated her status.

Nine photos.

Group photos in the VIP lounge.

Champagne in first class.

Mina leaning against Julian Fu for a selfie.

Julian’s mother, Mrs. Beatrice, wearing sunglasses and posing with a hand gesture.

The caption read: "Congratulations to my brother for getting rid of the dead weight, and welcome to our family, Mina! Some people finally stopped occupying a spot they didn't deserve."

The comments section was lively.

Someone said: "Congratulations, Young Master Fu."

Someone said: "Mina is so much better than the ex."

Mrs. Beatrice replied personally: "Mina is sensible; she handled the tickets and hotels, unlike the last one who only knew how to give us attitude."

Mina replied: "As long as you like it, Auntie, I will be even more attentive in the future."

I finished reading and clicked into the comments.

Slowly, I typed a line.

"Have fun, take plenty of photos as a keepsake."

Sent successfully.

Because such glory would soon turn into a joke.

"Ms. Clara, the Madame asked me to deliver some documents to you."

As soon as I stepped into the Metropolis residential complex, the security guard at the gate greeted me.

Metropolis was one of the most expensive residential areas in the city.

My mother had a 480-square-meter penthouse here.

I rarely came back after getting married.

The Fu family had always assumed that my family only operated a couple of ordinary clinics.

Mrs. Beatrice often said: "Your family’s small, modest background—it’s your fortune that you were able to marry into the Fu family."

Thinking about it now, it was truly ridiculous.

Not long after I got inside, the doorbell rang.

On the screen stood a man and a woman.