Ten Years Married, I Took My Money & Divorced

Chapter 3

I thought my world had quieted down, but there's always someone looking to stir up trouble. An unknown number called in the afternoon. I picked up, and a delicate, tearful female voice came through.

"Serena, did you misunderstand something between Victor and me?"

It was Celeste, Victor's lady friend.

"We're truly just good friends—closer than siblings." She sounded incredibly wronged, as if she were being accused of some heinous crime. "The bag... he saw that I'd closed a big project recently and bought it as a reward to celebrate with me. I really didn't know it would make you unhappy. If I had known, I wouldn't have accepted it for anything."

"Serena, please come back. Victor is worried sick; he hasn't even been able to eat or sleep. Please don't let a misunderstanding about me—an outsider—come between you two after ten years."

Her acting skills were so good. With acting skills like that, she'd missed her calling on Broadway. I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ms. Morrow."

The line paused.

"You're driving the new car Victor bought you, carrying the new bag he gave you, and living in a luxury apartment he rented for you. And now you're calling me, his lawfully wedded wife, to advise me to be more generous?"

She went silent. I continued, my voice slow and steady, "Do you want to guess where the money he used to buy your car and bags came from?"

"Serena, I..."

"It was me. Every single transaction. I turned $500,000 in principal into five million dollars trading in the stock market." I stated it clearly, word by word. "So, every cent you've spent is my money."

"You used my money to buy your designer goods and dress up your life, and now you're turning around to tell me you have a 'pure friendship'?"

"Ms. Morrow, do you think I believe that?"

On the other end of the line, there was nothing left but the sound of frantic breathing. I had no interest in listening to her perform any longer, so I hung up.

I blocked the number and checked my social media feed. Sure enough, I saw a new post Celeste had made a few minutes ago.

Celeste: [The truth speaks for itself. A corrupt mind sees corruption everywhere. I only hope this drama passes soon so it doesn't hurt the people I cherish most.]

The attached photo showed her and Victor smiling brightly on a yacht, with the sea and sky blending in the background. In the corner of the photo, there was a blurry figure in a plain T-shirt and shorts, handing them fruit.

That figure was me.

That was last summer, when I accompanied him to the company team retreat. I thought I was there for a vacation, but it turned out I was just a free nanny for everyone. And he, meanwhile, was enjoying the sunshine and wine with his lady friend.

Looking at the photo, the last bit of warmth in my heart froze over completely. It turned out I had been excluded from their world a long time ago. I was nothing but a doormat, there to provide money and service.