Chapter 3
I laughed.
They really are a perfect match–birds of a feather flock together!
That old hag doesn’t know the baby in Sophia’s belly isn’t even Michael’s.
Let her enjoy being a “cheap grandma.”
“Sophia, you know exactly whose child you’re carrying. Don’t mess with me, or your happy days will be over,” I said with a smirk.
I grabbed my shopping bags and walked away gracefully.
My mood was ruined, though. I caught a cab home, cursing the bad luck of running into
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them.
Without Michael, I suddenly had so much free time.
No more waking up at 6 a.m. to make his breakfast.
No more grocery shopping, cleaning, or cooking lunch for him.
No more running errands for his parents while enduring their endless nagging and complaints.
Single and rich? Life couldn’t be sweeter.
But just as I was enjoying my newfound freedom, three headlines dominated the
news:
“Prime Terra Forced into Bankruptcy and
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Liquidation.”
“220 Million Dollars Lottery Winner!”
“Girl Rejected by Biological Family After Four Luxury Apartments from Demolition Deal.”
The internet was ablaze with speculation, and netizens were in full detective mode.
Some claimed there was insider manipulation.
Others suggested embezzlement.
“Who buys 50,000 tickets with the same numbers unless they already know the outcome?” one commenter wrote.
Another pointed out, “No taxes on over 400 million dollars? This has to be a setup!”
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Some even demanded an investigation, calling for authorities to step in.
I was rattled.
Although I’d been fully covered when claiming my prize, someone had snapped a photo of me, and familiar faces might still recognize me.
While lottery tickets aren’t tied to your identity, you never know when bad luck might strike.
Honestly, I hadn’t been sure I’d win–it was just a dream. But I figured, why not take a gamble?
As a finance professional, I’d ensured everything was above board to maximize tax efficiency. But even I had to admit, buying 100,000 dollars worth of tickets and winning
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tax–free was a bit too coincidental.
The backlash was intense, with most commenters venting their envy.
To avoid being doxxed, I stayed home, only going out for essentials. I spent my days. gardening, cooking, and following baking tutorials online.
I hoped the buzz would die down, but the frenzy only grew. Eventually, I decided to escape to the Maldives for a while.
One sunny day, lounging on a beach chair with a cocktail in hand, my phone buzzed.
Michael.
“Anna!” he barked. “Didn’t we agree not to air our dirty laundry after the divorce? Now everyone knows I cheated on you with
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Sophia!”
He paused before adding, “You broke our deal. Return the 2 million dollars I gave you as compensation!”
I blinked, stunned. “What are you talking about?”
While I was busy enjoying paradise and ogling shirtless men with abs for days, my ex’s life had apparently fallen apart.
Michael sent me a video.
It was footage from the mall–me roasting Sophia. The title?
“Husband Cheats on Infertile Wife with Her Best Friend.”
The comments section was brutal, and some
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netizens had even uncovered our identities.
Michael’s rival, Carlos, had heard about it and publicly mocked him at a business. event. Word spread to several business partners‘ wives, and their “pillow talk” worked its magic.
“Well, serves you right,” I said, laughing. “You brought this on yourself. This is karma, Michael. Even the universe is done with your nonsense.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t you?” he asked hesitantly.
“Why would I bother? If you two hadn’t been so shameless, no one would’ve filmed you in the first place,” I replied coldly.
Michael fell silent. Just as I was about to hang up, he blurted out:
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“Anna, I can’t stop thinking about you. I only got involved with Sophia because of the baby. Being with her made me realize you’re the one I truly love. Let’s get back together, okay? I promise, this time, I’ll only love you.”
Hearing his “confession” made me want to vomit up my lunch.
The gorgeous man giving me a massage noticed my frown. “Too much pressure? Did I hurt you?”
I smiled. “Not at all. This is perfect.”
Michael overheard and lost it. “Anna, what the hell are you doing? Are you cheating on me? Who’s the guy?”
His tone made it sound like I was the one who’d betrayed him. Ridiculous.
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“Cheating? Michael, I’m divorced. I’m free to do whatever I want,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Get back together with you? Why? Should I settle for your beer belly, bad hygiene, snoring, receding hairline, or the fact that you’re… underwhelming in bed? I’m rich and in shape now. I’d much rather date a tall, handsome man with an eight–pack.”
“Stop bothering me, Michael. The only good ex–husband is a dead one.”
Michael’s infidelity and the viral video cost his company several major contracts, all thanks to the influential wives of his business partners.
As for the project Sophia introduced him to, the Prime Terra bankruptcy had left suppliers unpaid, including Vista Builders. With 36
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its
billion dollars in debt, Vista couldn’t pay subcontractors, and Michael’s small firm, which had invested half its funds, was now struggling to stay afloat.
The project had been a disaster waiting to happen, but losing those contracts pushed Michael’s company to the brink of bankruptcy.
He must’ve thought I’d bail him out.
Pathetic.
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