I approached, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Can I help you?” she asked, surprised to see me.
“I’m looking for Theo,” I said, though I already suspected the answer.
Her face lit up with recognition. “Oh, you must be the ex-wife. Theo told me all about you.”
The term “ex-wife” stung.
“And who are you?” I asked, though I had a feeling I already knew.
“I’m Lexi, Theo’s girlfriend,” she replied with a smile. “We’ve been together for about six months.”
Six months. The realization hit me like a freight train. While I invested in “our” future, he had been building one with her.
I didn’t say another word. I turned and walked back to my car, tears streaming down my face. I had been used—financing their new life together, with no hope of recovering my money.
Weeks passed, and I immersed myself in work, trying to move forward. Then, one day, my dad called.
“Sweetheart, you won’t believe this,” he said, excitement in his voice. “You own the house you renovated. It’s yours.”
I was stunned. “What do you mean?”
“Come to the house. I’ll explain,” he urged.
When I arrived, my dad stood on the porch with a set of keys in hand. He explained that Theo hadn’t just neglected our marriage—he had accumulated significant debt, failing to make mortgage payments, leading the house to foreclosure. The bank had seized the property, and my dad had bought it at auction to protect my investment.
“It’s yours now,” he said, pulling me into a hug.
As we spoke, the front door opened, and out came Theo and Lexi, dragging suitcases behind them.
“What are you doing here?” Theo demanded.
“Oh, didn’t you hear?” I said, holding up the keys. “This house is mine now. You’re trespassing.”
Theo’s face turned pale.
“You can’t do this,” he stammered. “This is my house!”
“Not anymore,” my dad replied calmly. “You defaulted on everything. The bank sold it, and now it belongs to my daughter.”
Theo stood speechless as he and Lexi grabbed their suitcases and walked down the driveway. I remained on the porch, feeling a mix of relief and triumph.
“You know,” I said with a grin, “this house could use a few more renovations. Let’s start by changing the locks.”
My dad chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “That’s my girl. Welcome home.”
As I stepped into my new home, I marveled at life’s unexpected twists. Theo wanted a renovation, and he got one—just not the kind he anticipated. Meanwhile, I got a fresh start, a new home, and the satisfaction of knowing that karma had worked its magic.