“Listen up! I’m rich now, and it’s time for us to divorce,” said the husband with a sneer. He had no idea what was coming.
“You dont even realise how much your dullness annoys me,” Henry spat, his eyes flashing. “I dont need some plain JaneI deserve better!”
“Do you honestly think money changes who you are?” Emily shot back, her voice trembling as she fought back tears.
The soft glow of the evening sun filled the kitchen where Emily was preparing dinner. The aroma of beef stew and fresh bread wafted through the air.
Henry barged in, waving an envelope, grinning from ear to ear.
“Em! Em! You wont believe this!” he shouted, still in his shoes. “Ive inherited a fortune from some distant cousin! Were loaded!”
Emily turned, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Thats wonderful, Henry,” she said softly. “But who was this cousin? Weve never heard of them.”
“Who cares?” Henry laughed, clapping her on the back. “Now we can buy whatever we want!”
Emily blinked in surprise, but before she could speak, Henry was already rambling about luxury holidays and designer suits.
By the next day, after a night spent dreaming of wealth, Henry had transformed into someone else entirely. He looked at Emily with disdain, barking orders, acting as if hed won the lottery rather than inherited a modest sum.
“You know, Em,” he said over breakfast, barely glancing at her, “now that Im rich, I think we should reevaluate things.”
Emily froze, her breath catching.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
He shrugged, taking a bite of toast. “Im on a different level now. And you well, youre just ordinary.”
Emily was stunned. She met her best friendsSophie and Lilyat a cosy café and poured out her heart.
“Girls, you wont believe it,” she began, her hands shaking. “Henry got some inheritance and now thinks Im beneath him!”
Sophie scoffed.
“Seriously? Who even was this mystery relative?”
Lily leaned in, frowning.
“What are you going to do?”
Emily sighed. “I dont know. Hes become so vile.”
Sophie shook her head. “Em, are you sure this isnt some mistake? Maybe hes just lost the plot?”
“I dont know,” Emily repeated. “But this isnt the man I married.”
Lily tapped her fingers on the table.
The evening ended with Emily returning home, where Henry was flipping through car magazines. A knot of dread tightened in her chest, but her friends support kept her going.
Days passed, and Henry grew worse. Though the money hadnt even cleared, he strutted around like a millionaire, treating Emily like staff.
“Em, wheres my suit?” he snapped one morning. “Ive got a meeting!”
Emily fetched it silently, hanging it on the door.
“Henry, can we talk?” she asked hesitantly.
“Not now,” he dismissed her. “Ive got more important things to do.”
Tears pricked her eyes. She couldnt understand how the man she loved had turned into this cold stranger. That evening, she met Sophie and Lily again.
“Girls, I cant take this anymore,” Emily confessed, her voice breaking. “He treats me like Im nothing.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “Whats next, a crown? He hasnt even got the money yet!”
Lily squeezed Emilys hand. “Weve got your back, Em. Youll get through this.”
Days later, Henrys cruelty escalated. He accused her of gold-digging, sneering, “Youre just waiting for my money, arent you?”
Emilys heart shattered. That night, she met her friends again.
“Emily, we need to tell you something,” Sophie said, exchanging a glance with Lily.
Lily sighed. “We wanted to teach Henry a lesson, but it backfired.”
Emily stared. “What?”
Sophie rubbed her temple. “The inheritance letterit was fake. We set it up to see how hed react.”
Emilys breath caught. “You lied?”
Lily nodded. “We wanted you to see his true colours. And we were righthes awful.”
Emilys hands trembled. “That was cruel.”
Sophie looked guilty. “We thought it would help. We didnt expect him to go this far.”
Emily sat in silence, torn between anger and relief.
When Henry came home, she confronted him, her voice steady.
“I know the letter was fake, Henry. You showed me exactly who you are.”
Henry paled, then exploded. “Youre choosing them over me? Fine. Im leaving.”
As the door slammed, Emily exhaled. It hurt, but she knew it was right.
Later, Sophie and Lily arrived, handing her a phone number.
“Theres more,” Lily admitted. “A real solicitor from Londons been trying to reach you. Theres an actual inheritance.”
Emilys jaw dropped.
Sophie grinned. “We tested Henry firstto protect you.”
Emily called the solicitor, her heart racing. When she hung up, she was speechless.
“Its real. Im wealthy.”
Sophie and Lily cheered.
“To your new life!” Sophie toasted.
“To real friends,” Lily added.
Emily raised her glass, smiling through tears. For the first time in weeks, she felt free.
