A dramatic court case in China has drawn attention after a woman who funded her lover’s divorce was told she cannot recover the money once the relationship ended.
The woman, identified by her surname Zhu, was having an affair with her subordinate, He. At the time, both were married. Seeking to secure her relationship with He, Zhu paid around ¥3 million (₹3.7 crore) to his wife, Chen. The money was intended as divorce compensation and child support, paving the way for He’s separation from his wife. After the divorce, He moved in with Zhu.
However, the arrangement soon soured. Within a year, Zhu claimed that she and He were incompatible and decided to end the relationship. She then demanded the return of the money, arguing that the transfer had been unfair and should be reimbursed.
Initially, a lower court appeared to support her case. The judge ruled the payment invalid, saying it violated public order and good customs, and ordered that the money be returned.
But the ruling was challenged, and the appellate court delivered a very different judgment. It concluded that the funds were not a “gift” but part of a divorce settlement and child-support arrangement. The judges emphasized that Zhu herself had used her wealth to influence the breakdown of a marriage, and therefore she could not backtrack when the relationship failed.
As a result, Chen was allowed to keep the money, while Zhu’s claims were dismissed.
The ruling has sparked widespread discussion across Chinese social media. Many commentators criticized Zhu’s actions as manipulative, arguing that she attempted to buy her way into a relationship and then sought to escape financial responsibility. Others saw the verdict as a warning that financial transactions tied to divorce settlements carry legal weight and cannot be undone at will.
The case highlights how courts in China differentiate between voluntary gifts and payments made for divorce or child support, underscoring the legal and moral complexities when personal relationships and money intersect.