After years of being trapped in a loveless marriage defined by Mike’s obsession with wealth and status, Nicole made the surprising choice to give him everything in their divorce. Mike, basking in what he believed was a complete victory, had no idea that Nicole’s quiet laughter was the signal of a plan already in motion. He had no clue what was about to unfold.
I walked out of the lawyer’s office with my head down, looking every bit the picture of defeat. The rain was cold and unrelenting, just like the mood I wanted to project. My hands gripped the edges of my coat as I made my way to the elevator.
Inside, though, I was anything but defeated.
As the elevator doors slid shut with a soft ding, I found myself alone. A small giggle escaped me, unplanned but bubbling up like carbonation in a freshly opened soda can. By the time I reached the ground floor, I was laughing uncontrollably, the sound echoing off the mirrored walls.
Anyone who had seen me would’ve thought I’d finally snapped. But no—this wasn’t madness. It was triumph. Everything was unfolding exactly as I had planned.
The house, the car, the savings—I had let Mike have it all. He thought he’d won. And that was precisely what I wanted him to believe.
A Few Weeks Earlier…
Our marriage had been over long before Mike ever voiced the words divorce. His world revolved around luxury cars, designer clothes, and the biggest house on the block. I was just another accessory in his collection of “successes,” and I was tired of playing the role. As the arguments grew more frequent and his disdain more evident, I knew the end was near.
But I also knew Mike. He didn’t want a divorce for closure or a fresh start. He wanted to win. And I had no intention of making it easy for him.
It was a Tuesday when he finally said it. He stormed into the kitchen after work, his jaw clenched tight with frustration.
“We need to talk,” he snapped, tossing his keys onto the counter with a clang.
I didn’t look up from my phone. “What now?”
“I want a divorce,” he said, his voice sharp with finality.
Finally. I nodded slowly, feigning shock. “Okay.”
He blinked, stunned. “That’s it? No fight? No begging?”
I shrugged. “What’s the point?”
His frown deepened, but I could see the faintest flicker of satisfaction creeping into his eyes. He thought he had the upper hand.
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