Sunlight glowed in our bedroom as I fastened my earrings, watching Ethan tie his tie. Five years married, and he still charmed me. “Happy anniversary!” I said, hugging him. “Dinner tonight?” He checked his watch. “Busy with clients. Weekend?” I swallowed my hurt. “Okay.” He left for another “client dinner,” and I stood in our penthouse, surrounded by luxuries from Wildflower Boutique, my online shop turned multi-million-dollar company. Megan, my assistant, texted she was delayed, so I decided to surprise Ethan with coffee at the office, hoping for a moment together.
The office was quiet, but a woman’s laugh halted me near Ethan’s door. Through the blinds, I saw Megan on his desk, Ethan’s hands on her, kissing her neck. My coffee spilled, but I felt only cold resolve. I left, their betrayal vivid: her lipstick, his ring, our photo facedown. In my car, I called Jack, my lawyer friend. “I need a divorce and a strategy,” I said. We met, and I explained Ethan’s co-ownership of Wildflower, a choice I’d made for “investor trust.” Months ago, his odd behavior led me to start a new company secretly. “He’s clueless,” Jack said.
That night, I handed Ethan divorce papers. “I know about Megan,” I said, chopping vegetables. He demanded Wildflower. I gave him transfer papers. “Take it,” I said. “You’re not fighting?” he asked, wary. “I’m moving forward,” I replied. He signed, smug. At Jack’s office, his lawyer pitied me as I signed, unaware of my plan. I gave Ethan an empty box with a note: “This is your prize.” Three months later, my new company thrived. Lisa, fired by Ethan, and key staff joined me. Marcus, a major buyer, followed, praising our work. He mentioned Wildflower’s IRS troubles. Lisa’s records had exposed Ethan’s shortcuts.
Jack texted: the IRS hit Wildflower, freezing accounts. Ethan was desperate. Six months later, I saw him at a coffee shop, broken. “You knew,” he said. “I warned you,” I replied. “You’ve changed,” he said. “No, you never saw me,” I said, leaving with Lisa. Ethan took Wildflower, but I built something stronger. Justice, not revenge, freed me. My new company, filled with my vision, showed the world—and Ethan—that I was the true force behind the success.
