I pointed at the list Ford made for me, item by item. "The house was your down payment, and we both pay for it. If you want to sell it, list it, and we'll split it proportionally. The car is yours; it's depreciated, and I won't drive it, so take it. The savings are under twenty thousand; we'll split that too. As for the dowry of eighty-eight thousand, that was for wedding expenses. You wouldn't dare ask me for that, would you?"

However, Ford countered, "That's not a dowry; it's a loan. Before we got married, your mom suddenly borrowed three hundred thousand from me. I couldn't come up with it, and she threatened to hide your household registration. Later, that money was given to me by Sophia..."

"My mom borrowed three hundred thousand from you?"

I was utterly shocked.

Ford insisted, "Yes. All these years, she never mentioned it, and I didn't have the heart to ask. So if you insist on divorcing, you need to help me get that money back first."

I want to divorce Ford right away, not waste another day.

If what he says is true, I should get that money back and return it to him.

So the next morning, I went back to my parents' place.

The house originally belonged to my grandpa. It was demolished and rebuilt last year, a 120 square meter place.

Now only my mom, my brother Ethan, and my 3-year-old nephew live there.

My household registration was originally there too, so I should have a share of the house.

But when it was rebuilt, my mom said they were keeping it as a wedding house for Ethan, and I should give up my share.

I was already married with my own home, so no need to fight with my brother, she said.

I was unhappy about it but went along in the end.

Some ideas have been drilled into me since birth by my mom's endless brainwashing.

As the older sister, I'm not supposed to compete with my younger brother.

As soon as I walked in, a chubby little ball of energy came charging at me - my 3-year-old nephew, looking just like his fat-headed dad.

Smack! A rubber dart stuck to my forehead.

"You're dead! Aunt, you're dead!"

The kid's gleeful shouts brought my mom out. She took one look at me and burst out laughing.

When I angrily flicked the dart away, she instantly switched to a displeased tone.

"Why'd you come empty-handed?" she scolded.

"Visiting without even bringing something for your nephew to eat or drink?"

"Cheapskate, cheapskate! Aunt is a cheapskate!"