After years of feeling trapped in a toxic marriage, I made a bold decision. I gave my ex-husband, Mike, everything in the divorce – the house, the car, the savings. To him, it seemed like the ultimate victory. But little did he know, I had a plan, and it was already in motion.
As I walked out of the lawyer’s office, I appeared defeated. But the moment I stepped into the elevator, my demeanor changed. I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of Mike’s smug face, thinking he had won. But I knew the truth – I was the one who had come out on top.
The divorce negotiations had been a game, and I had played it perfectly. Mike’s obsession with wealth and appearances had clouded his judgment, and he had fallen right into my trap. I had agreed to give him everything, but what he didn’t know was that my mom, Barbara, had a surprise waiting for him.
Years ago, when we had bought the house, my mom had contributed to the down payment. But what Mike had forgotten was that the contract gave her the right to live in the house indefinitely. And now, with the divorce finalized, she was ready to take him up on that offer.
As I settled into my new apartment, I received a furious call from Mike. “You set me up!” he yelled. But I just played dumb, asking him what he was talking about. It wasn’t until he mentioned my mom being in “his” house that I couldn’t help but grin.
Mike had realized too late that he had made a grave mistake. The contract was ironclad, and my mom was not going to back down. As I listened to Mike’s ranting, I could hear my mom’s voice in the background, telling him to take his feet off her coffee table.
The call ended abruptly, leaving me in peace. I leaned back in my chair, feeling a sense of satisfaction. I had played Mike at his own game, and I had come out on top. The divorce settlement may have seemed like a loss at first, but it was actually my ticket to freedom.
As I looked around my new apartment, I felt a sense of excitement. This was my fresh start, my chance to begin again. And as for Mike, he was left to deal with the consequences of his own actions. I, on the other hand, was ready to start my new life, free from the toxic marriage that had held me back for so long.
