PART 1: THE SECRET BEHIND THE STATEMENT

Chapter 1: The 50-Cent Dinner

The characteristic Portland drizzle tapped a steady rhythm against the window of the old apartment in the suburbs. Inside, the air was damp and heavy with the smell of cheap instant noodles.

Hana Ohlala, 28, stood by the gas stove, carefully dividing a packet of ramen into two bowls. She cracked an egg—the last egg in the fridge—whisked it, and distributed it evenly into the two pots of boiling broth. This was the dinner for her and Binnies’ 3rd wedding anniversary.

“Honey, I’m home!” Binnies’ voice rang out from the door, accompanied by the sound of shaking off an umbrella and wet shoes squelching.

Binnies walked in, wearing a brand-new gray suit he claimed was a “company uniform.” He glanced at the meager dinner table, frowned, but quickly replaced it with a forced smile.

“Instant noodles again? I thought we were having steak today?”

“The $50 allowance you gave me at the start of the month ran out last week, Binnies,” Hana said softly, placing the bowl of noodles in front of her husband. “I had to sell the silver ring Grandma gave me just to buy vegetables and eggs for this week.”

Binnies sighed, sitting down with the long-suffering look of a “man carrying the weight of the family.”

“Hana, you have to learn to spend more frugally. I just took the position of Sales Manager; the work pressure is enormous. A $2,000 salary sounds big, but after tax, insurance, and the pension fund, I barely have anything left. I’m trying to save so we can buy a house. Don’t you love me?”

Hana looked at her husband, her heart twisting. She loved him. She had dropped out of college to work part-time, supporting him through school for the past 4 years. When he graduated and got a job, he told her to rest at home and take care of the housework; he would handle the finances. But the “finances” he handled amounted to $50 a month for all their food and utilities.

“I love you,” Hana whispered. “But Binnies, $50 in America… it’s not enough to buy coffee for a month, let alone groceries. I want to go back to work.”

“No!” Binnies slammed his hand on the table, splashing broth. “I told you. Binnies’ wife does not work for other people. You staying at home is my dignity. Next month I’ll try to give you… another $10. Okay?”

Hana bowed her head, swallowing her tears along with the bland noodles. She believed him. She believed he was sacrificing for their future. She didn’t know that her faith was about to be crushed into dust.

Chapter 2: The Trail of Lies

It all started with a laundry receipt.

A week after that anniversary dinner, Binnies went on a business trip. He said he was going to Seattle to meet an important partner to sign a big contract. He left Hana exactly $20 and instructed carefully: “Don’t spend it recklessly.”

While cleaning out Binnies’ closet to take clothes to the laundry, Hana accidentally dropped his old suit jacket. From the inner pocket, a small piece of paper fell out.

It was a receipt from a high-end jewelry store downtown.

Date of Purchase: Oct 12 (3 days ago) Item: Tiffany & Co. Necklace – ‘Infinity’ Collection Value: $1,500 USD Payment: Credit Card **** 4567

Hana held the receipt, her hands trembling. $1,500. That was 30 times the living allowance he gave her. And more importantly, she hadn’t received any necklace.

“Maybe… maybe he bought it for a colleague,” Hana reassured herself, though her woman’s intuition was screaming the opposite.

But suspicion is like a toxic seed; once planted, it grows rapidly. Hana recalled the times Binnies came home late, the secret phone calls in the bathroom, and the way he always hid his phone under his pillow when he slept.

She decided to do something she had never thought of: Check her husband’s account.

Binnies was very careful; he never gave her his online banking password. But he made a basic mistake of the arrogant: He kept a password notebook in his desk drawer, under a pile of old documents, believing his “stupid” housewife would never touch it.

The next morning, Hana went to Wells Fargo. She brought the power of attorney (which Binnies had signed for her long ago to pay utilities and forgot to cancel) along with their marriage certificate.

“Hello, I would like a statement of transactions for the last 6 months for this account,” Hana told the bank teller, trying to keep her voice calm.

The teller typed, then printed out a thick stack of paper. She looked at Hana with pitying eyes.

“Mrs. Ohlala… I think you should see this.”

Hana took the statement. The first line that struck her eyes was the monthly salary deposit.

Salary Deposit: + $8,500 USD

Hana was stunned. “Wait, my husband said his salary was only $2,000…”

“That might be the base salary, excluding commissions and bonuses, ma’am,” the teller explained. “But the problem isn’t the income. It’s the expenses.”

Hana scrolled down. The words danced before her eyes, turning into knives stabbing straight into her heart.

Transfer: – $4,000 USD. Recipient: Candy Sweetie. Transfer: – $2,500 USD. Recipient: Candy Sweetie. Payment: Ritz-Carlton Hotel: – $800 USD. Payment: Victoria’s Secret: – $300 USD.

And at the bottom, an automatic recurring transfer (Auto-pay) set for the 5th of every month:

Transfer: Entire remaining balance. Recipient: Candy Sweetie.

Hana felt the world spinning. She had to grip the counter tightly to keep from collapsing.

Not $2,000. His salary was $8,500. He wasn’t saving for a house. He was transferring all the money to someone named “Candy Sweetie.” He gave her $50 to survive on instant noodles, while he spent thousands on his mistress for 5-star hotels and expensive lingerie.

“Are you okay?” The teller asked worriedly.

Hana took a deep breath. The excruciating pain suddenly turned into a numbing coldness. She didn’t cry. Tears were not for traitors.

“I’m fine,” Hana said, folding the statement and putting it in her bag. “Thank you. Now I know where my money went.”

Chapter 3: Who is Candy Sweetie?

Hana didn’t go home immediately. She went to the public library, using a free computer to search for the name “Candy Sweetie.”

It wasn’t hard to find. Candy Sweetie was the stage name of a relatively famous streamer on social media, specializing in “late-night talks” and sexy cosplay. Her real name was Bella.

Hana went to Bella’s profile. Striking her eyes were photos of lavish check-ins.

Photo 1: “Thanks Daddy for the early birthday gift <3” – Bella wearing the Tiffany & Co. necklace Hana saw on the receipt. Photo 2: “Romantic weekend in Seattle” – Bella posing in a Ritz-Carlton room, and in the corner, Hana recognized Binnies’ wristwatch on the nightstand.

Hana clicked on Bella’s latest livestream video. She was writhing in a maid outfit, her voice whining:

“Oh everyone, my lover is amazing. He’s a big boss, handsome, and spoils me rotten. He says his wife at home is just a servant, old, ugly, and useless. He’s just waiting for the right time to kick her to the curb…”

“Servant.” “Useless.”

Each word was like acid thrown in Hana’s face. She looked at her reflection in the dark computer screen. Messy hair, old clothes from the thrift store, hands rough from cheap dish soap. Who had she become this for? For wanting to save every penny for him.

Hana closed the computer. She walked out of the library. It was still raining in Portland, but Hana didn’t feel cold anymore. The fire of anger inside her was burning fiercely, incinerating all the remaining love and patience.

She took out her phone, calling a number she hadn’t contacted in 4 years.

“Hello?” A middle-aged man’s voice rang out, warm and authoritative.

“Dad,” Hana said, voice choking but decisive. “I’m sorry for not listening to you. I… I want to come home. But before I do, I need you to help me with something.”

The other end was silent for a second, then the voice became steely.

“My precious daughter. I have waited 1,460 days for this call. Who bullied you? Say his name, and I will buy his entire lineage.”

Hana smiled through her tears. Her father – real estate tycoon William Ohlala – who had disowned her when she insisted on marrying the poor boy Binnies, was still there, waiting for her to turn back.

“His name is Binnies, Dad. And I don’t want to buy his lineage. I want him to pay back every cent, every tear, and my entire youth… plus usurious interest.”

“Done. My best lawyer will fly to Portland within 2 hours. Get ready, Hana. The hunt begins.”

PART 2: THE QUEEN RETURNS

Chapter 4: The Surprise Party

Two days later, Binnies returned from Seattle. He wore the radiant face of a man satisfied both physically and mentally.

“Hana! I’m home!” Binnies called out, throwing his briefcase on the sofa. “The trip was a huge success. The boss praised me endlessly.”

He looked around the house. The apartment was clean but strangely empty. No smell of food, no silhouette of his wife bustling in the kitchen.

“Hana?”

Hana stepped out of the bedroom. She wasn’t wearing her old house clothes. She wore a luxurious black silk dress, hugging her body, accentuating curves that had long been hidden under an apron. Her hair was lightly curled, her makeup sharp. Around her neck was a string of shiny pearls.

Binnies was stunned. He had never seen his wife this beautiful. Or perhaps, he had forgotten she used to be the university beauty queen.

“You… where are you going?” Binnies stammered. “And where did you get the money to buy this dress? Did you sell things from the house again?”

“No,” Hana smiled, a cold smile that made Binnies shudder. “I used my own money. Oh, you’re just in time. I’ve prepared a small party to welcome you.”

“Party? But I just got back, I’m tired…”

“Just a few friends. They are waiting at The Golden Swan restaurant.”

The Golden Swan? That was the most expensive 5-star restaurant in the city, a place Binnies only dreamed of entering.

“Are you crazy! Where is the money to go there?” Binnies shouted.

“Don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything. Let’s go, don’t keep the guests waiting.” Hana linked her arm with her husband’s, pulling him out the door.

Binnies was bewildered by Hana’s sudden change, but curiosity and vanity (getting into a 5-star restaurant) made him follow.

At The Golden Swan, Hana led Binnies into the largest VIP room.

When the door opened, Binnies froze.

There were no friends in the room. Only three people.

A dignified old man sat at the head of the table – William Ohlala, the father-in-law Binnies always feared. A man in a black suit, face cold, next to a thick stack of files – The Ohlala family’s private lawyer. And the third person… was Bella (Candy Sweetie).

Bella was huddled in the corner, crying miserably, her makeup smeared.

“What… what is this?” Binnies asked tremblingly.

“Sit down, precious son-in-law,” Mr. William spoke up, his voice like thunder.

Hana let go of Binnies’ hand, walking over to sit next to her father. She looked at Binnies with the eyes of a queen looking at a condemned man.

“Let me introduce you, this is a farewell party,” Hana said. “Farewell to your fake poverty, and farewell to our marriage.”

Chapter 5: The Verdict

The lawyer threw the file onto the table.

“Mr. Binnies,” the lawyer said. “We have ample evidence of your adultery, violating family marriage laws. More importantly, we have evidence of your financial fraud.”

“Fraud? I didn’t…” Binnies denied profusely.

“Did you think that $8,500 a month was clean salary?” Hana interrupted. “You embezzled company funds, took bribes from suppliers, and used this mistress’s account to launder money. She,” Hana pointed at Bella, “confessed everything in exchange for immunity from criminal prosecution.”

Bella looked up, staring at Binnies with resentment. “You said you would take care of me! You said that money was yours! You fraud!”

Binnies collapsed into the chair. Everything crumbled too fast.

“Hana… listen to me explain… I was just temporarily confused…” Binnies crawled over, intending to grab Hana’s hand.

“Don’t touch my daughter!” Mr. William shouted. Two bodyguards stepped out from the shadows, restraining Binnies.

“You made my daughter eat instant noodles, live in a slum apartment on $50 a month, while you took money to keep a mistress and spend lavishly,” Mr. William said, his voice trembling with rage. “Did you think the Ohlalas were all dead?”

Hana stood up, placing the divorce papers in front of Binnies.

“Sign it. And you will leave with exactly what you brought into this marriage: Nothing but empty hands and a pile of debt.”

“Debt?” Binnies was confused.

“Correct,” the lawyer continued. “Your company discovered the embezzlement thanks to anonymous information (provided by us). They are preparing to sue you. The amount you have to compensate is up to $500,000. Plus the money you spent from the joint marital assets (which was actually embezzled money), you will have to repay Ms. Hana half according to the law. In total, you owe about 1 million dollars.”

“I… I don’t have money…” Binnies cried desperately.

“That’s your problem,” Hana said coldly. “Sign the papers, if you don’t want me to send more evidence of money laundering to the FBI. Then you won’t just lose money, you’ll lose your life in prison.”

Trembling, Binnies picked up the pen and signed the divorce papers. He knew he had lost everything. He had lost a wonderful wife, a powerful family backing him, all because of greed and stupidity.

Chapter 6: A New Beginning

Six months later.

Hana walked out of the courthouse, taking a deep breath of the fresh air of freedom.

Binnies was sentenced to 5 years in prison for embezzlement and tax evasion. Bella was fined administratively and permanently banned from social media platforms for aiding a criminal.

Hana used the compensation money (after confiscating all of Binnies’ remaining assets) to open a scholarship fund for young women in difficult circumstances who wanted to return to school – just like she once did.

She returned to university, continuing to pursue the dream of becoming an architect she had abandoned for Binnies.

Her father, Mr. William, waited by the luxury car. He opened his arms wide to welcome his daughter.

“Well done, daughter. I am proud of you.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Hana hugged him tight. “Thank you for always having my back.”

“Where do you want to go now? Paris? London? Or home to rest?”

Hana looked up at the blue sky. She smiled, a radiant and confident smile.

“I want to go for a really good meal, Dad. A meal where I don’t have to worry about the price. And then… I will go build my own empire.”

She stepped into the car, leaving the painful past behind. $50 might have been an insult, but it was also a cheap price for her to see through people’s hearts and find her true value again.

From now on, Hana Ohlala was no longer the resigned wife. She was the queen of her own life.

THE END