He turned and left.
Ben closed the door and wrapped his arms around me. “You must have been terrified.”
I leaned into his embrace, my heart pounding. I had put on a brave face, but I was actually scared.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered.
“Silly girl,” he said, gently patting my back. “I told you I would protect you.”
“What was that about a debt?” Ben asked.
I told him about the phone call from the police.
After listening, Ben’s brows furrowed. “That bastard, Mark. What else has he done? I had no idea.”
I sighed. I thought after the divorce, I would be done with him. I never expected all this.
“Don’t worry,” Ben said. “I’ll go with you to see your lawyer tomorrow. You’re divorced and your assets have been legally divided. His criminal activities and debts in Canada have nothing to do with you.”
I nodded, but a sense of unease still lingered.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. The police officer’s words echoed in my mind: Mr. Evans stated that he never loved you, that he married you solely for…
For what?
To steal my money? Or was there another motive?
I suddenly realized that from the very beginning, I might have been just a pawn in his elaborate game.
The next day, Ben accompanied me to see Miss Davis.
After hearing the whole story, she let out a sigh of relief.
“Miss Miller, you don’t need to worry too much,” she said. “First, you and Mr. Evans are divorced and your assets have been legally divided. Second, according to marital law, any debt incurred by one spouse in their own name that is not for the family’s daily needs is not considered joint marital debt, unless the creditor can prove that the debt was used for shared living, shared business, or was based on the mutual consent of both spouses.”
“What about the $5 million that man mentioned?” I asked.
“He needs to provide evidence that the debt was incurred during your marriage and was used for your shared life,” Miss Davis said. “From his reaction, he probably can’t produce such evidence.”
“And what about what the police said—that some of the money Mark used to buy the condo in Canada was from his illegal activities?” I asked. “That property was already divided in the divorce settlement, with half awarded to me.”
“Correct,” Miss Davis said, reviewing the previous judgment. “If the police want to seize it, they need to prove that you were aware of and participated in the illegal activities. Otherwise, as a good-faith third party, your share of the property is protected by law.”
Hearing this, I finally felt a sense of relief.
But Miss Davis added, “However, you should still be prepared. Mr. Evans’s case is quite serious, and there may be other creditors who will come looking for you. I suggest you keep all your documents, including the divorce decree and property settlement agreement. If anyone harasses you, call the police immediately.”
I nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Miss Davis.”
Walking out of the law firm, Ben held my hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
I looked at him, a wave of warmth washing over me.
In the following weeks, more people came to my door claiming to be Mark’s creditors. Some had promissory notes. Others had bank transfer records. All of them said Mark owed them money and demanded that I pay.
Following Miss Davis’s advice, I asked each of them to provide proof that the debt was incurred during our marriage and was used for our shared life.
Not a single one of them could.
Most of the loans were made after our divorce, and some of the promissory notes were obvious forgeries.
I documented everything and handed it over to Miss Davis to handle, but the trouble still took a toll on my life.
The coffee shop’s business suffered because people kept coming to cause a scene, and customers were scared away. My mood plummeted, and I was constantly on edge, worrying about what new trouble would come next.
Ben saw my distress and was heartbroken.
“Hannah, why don’t we move the shop to a new location?” he suggested. “Or maybe close it for a while, take a break, and reopen after this blows over.”
Leave a Comment