My Husband Tricked Me Into A Divorce, Claiming He Was Drowning In Debt. I Played The Heartbroken Wife And Signed. The Moment It Was Final, He Gleefully Rushed Off To Marry His Mistress, Butt “You’ve Secretly Inherited $250M” – Part 2

The way he seemed so desperate to be done with me was a needle to my heart. All right, Ethan. You’re a cold one. I lowered my head so they couldn’t read the expression in my eyes, forcing my voice to sound as sad and defeated as possible. Okay, I’ll sign. Just don’t you regret this. I picked up the pen deliberately, making my hand shake even more.

I paused over the signature line, making a show of my hesitation. Then, as if summoning my last ounce of strength, I scrolled my name, Sarah Collins. As soon as I finished, a great weight seemed to lift from my chest, replaced by a hollow, numb void. Ethan’s eyes lit up when he saw I’d signed. He snatched the papers and scanned my signature meticulously.

The anxious, pained expression vanished from his face in an instant. The corners of his mouth twitched upward before he quickly schooled his features into a somber mask. “Sarah, I’m sorry. Take care of yourself.” But his voice was light, almost buoyant. There was no weight to it at all. Mr. Russo also dropped his debt collector persona, tucking the agreement into his briefcase, and giving Ethan a nod.

He left without another word. Ethan carefully folded his copy of the agreement, patted his chest pocket, and said, “Well, I’m going to. I don’t need anything in the house. You You can handle it however you want.” He turned and left without a second glance, his steps as light as someone on their way to receive an award.

The door slammed shut. Suddenly, I was alone in the deafening silence. On the dining table, the pot roast I had slowcooked for hours was still steaming faintly. The savory aroma that filled the air now felt like a bitter irony. I walked to the window and quietly looked down, just in time to see Ethan striding briskly out of the apartment building.

The so-called mister Russo hadn’t gone far. He was waiting by a small car parked down the street. As Ethan approached, a young, fashionably dressed woman got out of the car. She had voluminous wavy hair and a wide smile as she linked her arm through Ethan’s. Ethan, full of swagger, pulled out the divorce papers and showed them to her.

The woman looked at the document, then jumped for joy, and planted a kiss on his cheek. They hugged, laughing happily, and got into the car together. It sped away in a flash. I watched the direction the car had gone, slowly, letting the mask of grief and despair I had worn fall away. My heart turned to ice. So you tricked me, Ethan.

It was all an act. The huge debt protecting me. It was all You just wanted to dump me for that woman. I clenched the curtain, my nails digging into the fabric. Fine. I gave you the divorce you wanted. But this is not over. Not by a long shot. Even after the car was long gone, I stood frozen at the window. Down below, a few neighbors returning from the grocery store were pointing in the direction the car had left, whispering amongst themselves.

I couldn’t hear their words, but their expressions told me everything. “Oh, look, Mrs. Davis’s son. Divorced one minute and gone with another woman the next. Poor Sarah.” A wave of suppressed fury rose within me. “Poor, I am not poor.” I turned back to the living room. This home I had tended to for 5 years. Every piece of furniture, every corner bore the mark of my effort.

Now I realized Ethan’s willingness to leave everything behind was because he already had a new nest waiting for him. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a call from my sister-in-law, Ethan’s younger sister, Jessica. I answered without a word. Her shrill, annoyingly cheerful voice came through the line. Hello, Sarah. Oh, wait.

I guess I shouldn’t call you my sister-in-law anymore. Right, Sarah? Yes, I replied, sneering inwardly. News travels fast, Jessica continued. I heard everything from Ethan. You really have the worst luck getting tangled up with a loser like him and his mountain of debt. But it’s a good thing you got divorced. You almost went down with him.

Don’t be too sad, okay? She pretended to comfort me, but the glee in her voice was unmistakable. I deliberately sniffled, faking a sob. Jessica, I’m having such a hard time. Oh, come on. What’s so hard about it? She said quickly. You’re free now. My brother was never good enough for you anyway.

You’ll find someone so much better. Then she changed the subject, lowering her voice slightly. But seriously, Sarah, with Ethan’s huge debt, this apartment is marital property, isn’t it? What if they try to take it to pay off the debt? You have to be careful. There it is, I thought, cursing her under my breath. Just like the rest of the Davis family, already eyeing the apartment.

She was probably worried that if I lost the apartment, she’d lose a place to crash in the future. I continued to play the naive victim, my voice trembling. I I don’t know. Ethan said it was all mine, but what if the creditors come? Then you have to hold on to it, Jessica said instantly. Hide the deed and all the important papers.

Don’t let my brother sneak back and use it as collateral. Anyway, I won’t keep you. Just called to check in. Don’t overthink things. I’ve got to run. She hung up abruptly, probably rushing to report back to her mother or share the good news. Sure enough, a few minutes later, I saw a notification on my social media. I rarely checked it, but something compelled me to look.

Jessica had just posted a new picture to her story. It was a lavish dinner spread piled high with lobster and scallops. In the corner of the photo, a man’s hand and a woman’s hand were clinking wine glasses. The watch on the man’s wrist was the one I had scrimped and saved to buy Ethan for his birthday last year.

Jessica had added a caption. Celebrating my brother’s new beginning and a happy new life. I stared at the photo, feeling the blood rush to my head. A new beginning. A happy new life. So, my divorce was a cause for a family celebration. A party so grand they couldn’t wait to broadcast it to the world.

Ethan’s mother, my ex-mother-in-law, had always found fault with me. My cooking wasn’t good enough. I didn’t earn enough money. She must be sitting at that table now, beaming with joy. Her son had finally dumped his frumpy housewife of a wife for a young, beautiful woman. She probably wanted to set off fireworks.

My fingers trembled with rage. I nearly threw my phone. I took several deep breaths to calm myself. Go ahead, celebrate. Laugh all you want. For every ounce of happiness you feel now, I’ll make sure you cry a river of tears later. I tossed my phone on the sofa and went to the bathroom, splashing my face with cold water. My reflection in the mirror showed my eyes were still slightly red from holding back tears.

But my gaze was utterly cold. Ethan Davis, your family, and that nameless mistress. We’ll settle this score slowly. My phone on the sofa kept buzzing. Not calls, but a flood of notifications. Probably fake friends feigning concern or the Davis clan sending crocodile tears. I didn’t want to read them or reply. The apartment was empty and silent, just me.

The pot roast had grown cold, a layer of fat congealing on the surface. The sight of it made me nauseous. I picked up the dish to throw it out, but stopped halfway. It was pointless. Everything felt pointless. I sank back onto the sofa. Scenes flashed through my mind. Ethan’s desperate face, his mistress kissing him, Jessica’s triumphant dinner photo. A tightness gripped my chest.

not sadness, but a burning sense of injustice and rage. I wanted to run out and tear their smiling faces to shreds. My whole body was shaking with anger, my nails digging into my palms when my phone rang again. This time, it was an unfamiliar number with a New York area code. I frowned. I didn’t want to answer.

Anyone calling me now was probably looking for gossip, but the phone rang persistently. I declined it and it rang again less than a minute later. Exasperated, I took a deep breath. What the hell? What more could I possibly lose? I hit the answer button. Hello, I said, my voice sharp with irritation. A calm, professional male voice came from the other end.

He didn’t sound old, but his tone was serious. Good afternoon. Am I speaking with Miss Sarah Collins? I paused. The voice was completely unfamiliar. Yes, this is she. Who’s calling? The person on the other end seemed to let out a quiet sigh of relief. Miss Collins, good afternoon. My apologies for the unsolicited call.

My name is Arthur Peterson and I’m an attorney with the Sterling and Chase Legal Group. Arthur Peterson, an attorney. My heart sank again. Was he with Mr. Russo? Was Ethan’s debt problem already coming for me? That liar? He said I’d be in the clear if we divorced. My tone turned frigid.

An attorney? What is this about? If this is regarding Ethan Davis’s debt, we are already legally divorced. The settlement agreement clearly states that I am not responsible for his financial liabilities. I said it all in a rush, as if a moment’s delay would entangle me. Mr. Peterson was silent for a beat, seemingly surprised. Then his voice became even gentler.

Miss Collins, you’ve misunderstood. My call has nothing to do with any debt, nor is it related to your ex-husband, Mr. Davis. Not a creditor. I was baffled. Then why are you calling me? Mr. Peterson’s voice came through clear and steady. I am calling to officially notify you as per the last will and testament of your great aunt Miss Ellaner Vance that you have been named the sole legal heir to her entire estate. Great aunt estate heir.

The words exploded in my mind. I went completely blank. My great aunt Elanor, the one who moved to Europe when I was just a child. We’d had almost no contact for decades. I’d heard she was a bit of an eccentric who had never married. She had passed away and I was her heir. I was speechless for a long time.

I… What did you say, my great aunt? An estate. Did I hear you correctly? You heard correctly, Miss Collins. Mr. Peterson confirmed. Miss Vance passed away peacefully last month. Her will has been fully notorized and is legally binding. She designated you as the inheritor of all her assets. I asked numbly how how much did she leave? I regretted the question as soon as it left my lips.

It made me sound so greedy, but the news was so sudden I couldn’t react properly. Mr. Peterson’s tone didn’t change. It remained calm and professional. But his next words struck me like a bolt of lightning. Based on our preliminary accounting, Miss Vance’s estate, which includes overseas investment funds, stocks, real estate, and bank deposits, is valued at a total of approximately $250 million. Don sank dollar million.

A ringing started in my ears, and I nearly dropped the phone. Was I hallucinating from rage? Not $2500, not $2.5 million, but $250 million. I shot up from the sofa, my voice cracking. How much did you say? $250 million. Yes, Miss Collins. $250 million. Mr. Peterson confirmed. The exact figure will be finalized after asset liquidation, but it will not deviate significantly from this range.

If anything, it will likely be more. My legs gave out and I collapsed back onto the sofa, my mouth hanging open. I couldn’t speak. $250 million. What did that even look like? It was an amount I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. The fake debt Ethan had cooked up to divorce me was a mere $500. 000. This was 500 times that amount.

The attorney, on the other end, waited a moment, then continued matterof factly. The inheritance process is nearly complete. An initial transfer of approximately $50 million will be deposited into your designated account by 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. If you do not have a preferred account, we can deposit it into a temporary trust account we have established.

You can verify it then. We will contact you again to handle the subsequent asset transfers and related procedures. $50 million tomorrow. I clutched my chest, my heart feeling like it would burst. This was all too surreal. It felt like a dream. Suddenly, a crucial question popped into my head.

I gasped, trying to catch my breath. Mr. Peterson. Who else knows about this? Ethan, do my my ex-in-laws know? Mr. Peterson’s voice was firm. As stipulated in Miss Vance’s will, all proceedings related to the estate are to be kept strictly confidential. No information is to be disclosed to any third party besides the heir and the legal team.

To my knowledge, Mr. Davis and his family are completely unaware of this matter. Completely unaware. Those two words were like a powerful sedative injected straight into my heart. They didn’t know. Ethan, his mistress, my ex-mother-in-law, my ex-sister-in-law. None of them knew. They were probably still celebrating their victory, cheering that they had successfully staged their drama and shed the burden that was me.

An indescribable feeling surged from my toes to the top of my head. It wasn’t joy or excitement. It was a cold, sharp, clarifying exhilaration. I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles turning white. My voice still trembled slightly, but my tone was completely different now. Yes, Mr. Peterson. I understand, I said. Thank you for informing me.

Can we meet tomorrow to discuss the details? Mr. Peterson seemed a bit surprised by my quick composure, but he responded immediately. Of course, Miss Collins, I will contact you tomorrow to arrange a specific time and place for our meeting. After I hung up, I continued to clutch the warm phone. I looked around the apartment that had until moments ago felt like a cold, desperate prison.

I looked out the window at the sky where Ethan and his mistress had disappeared. A slow, unstoppable smile began to spread across my face. “Oh, Ethan, you were all so happy, weren’t you?” celebrating a new beginning, thinking you’d gotten rid of your troublesome baggage. “Good. The game is just getting started.

” Even minutes after the call ended, I sat on the sofa like a statue. $250 million. The number spun in my head like a carousel, making me dizzy. I even pinched my thigh. Ouch. It hurt. It wasn’t a dream. I was a millionaire, a multi-millionaire. All thanks to a great aunt I barely remembered. Suddenly, I recalled my father telling me a long time ago that our family had once been quite wealthy, but their fortunes had declined over the generations.

My great aunt Elanor was the first to go abroad, a fiercely independent woman who never married and had little contact with the family. I never imagined she was so successful. And to leave it all to me, this was more dramatic than a movie plot. My heart was pounding like a drum, my palms slick with sweat.

The rage I felt just moments ago. The desire to go down in flames with Ethan and his family had suddenly subsided in the face of this staggering sum. Not because I was no longer angry, but because I realized I was now in a different league. Faking a half million debt to get a divorce. To me, $500 000 was now pocket change.

Just as I was trying to process it all, my phone rang again. I jumped, nearly dropping it. It was my ex-mother-in-law. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and answered deliberately, making my voice sound. Hello, Mrs. Davis. Her condescending voice immediately filled the line. “Oh, Sarah, why did you take so long to answer? Are you still crying?” I scoffed inwardly.

No, I just didn’t feel like moving. She sighed a picture of false sympathy. Well, of course you’re upset. You were married for 5 years. But Sarah, listened to me. You should try to look on the bright side. Ethan did this for your own good. He didn’t want to drag you down with him.

That half a million dollars isn’t a small amount. He thought it was better to bear it all himself than to pull you under with him. Don’t you agree? Yes, I said curtly, waiting to see what she was really after. As expected, she continued. So, about this apartment, Ethan said he was leaving it to you. But what if those creditors don’t believe him and come to take it? I’m just worried about you, dear.

Here we go. The real reason for her call. She wanted the apartment. I played along, my voice small. Then she immediately perked up. Well, I was thinking it must be scary for you to live in such a big place all by yourself. Why don’t you go stay with your parents for a while? I can I can look after the apartment for you.

I’ll even hold on to the deed and other documents for you. That way, those people can’t come and take it. Once things quiet down, we can talk again. I almost burst out laughing. Look after it for me. Hold on to it. Like leaving a steak with a hungry wolf. By the time I came back, the deed would be in her name. I kept up the act of a naive little lamb. But Mrs.

Davis, it’s a hassle to move, and this is the only place I have left. Her voice turned slightly sharp. Why are you being so difficult? Am I trying to hurt you? This is all for your own good. A divorced woman all alone in an empty apartment. If those creditors really show up, you’ll be crying for real. She paused, then asked casually.

By the way, did Ethan leave you any cash before he left? or do you have any emergency savings? If you do, you should let me hold on to that, too. I’ll keep it safe for you.” The last flicker of warmth in my heart turned to ice. Even now, she was trying to squeeze every last penny out of me. I sniffled loudly, making my voice break.

I I don’t have anything. Ethan’s money is all gone, and my salary barely covers living expenses. Mrs. Davis, what am I going to do? I put my whole heart into sounding desperate and helpless. Once she realized I was broke and had nothing left for her to take, her voice instantly became cold and irritated.

Oh, for heaven’s sake, stop it. Crying won’t solve anything. It’s your own bad luck. Who can you blame? Anyway, I’ve said my peace. Take my advice or don’t. Just don’t come crying to me when you regret it. I’m busy cooking. Goodbye. Click. The line went dead. I put down the phone, the pitiful expression on my face vanishing instantly.

Look after my apartment and my money for me. How ridiculous. I looked around the space I once called home. My gaze was ice cold. This place, the people outside. Everything seemed so laughably insignificant now. $250 million. The first transfer would arrive tomorrow. Ethan, ex-mother-in-law, the mistress. You all love money so much, don’t you? Well, I’m going to have a lot of fun playing a game with you, using the very thing you desire most.

My ex-mother-in-law’s call was like a bucket of dirty water extinguishing the last embers of affection I had for that family. Good. Their haste to show their true colors meant I wouldn’t have a shred of hesitation when it was my turn to act. $250 million. The number was so big it was a little frightening.

I was an ordinary office worker who lived paycheck to paycheck. Suddenly possessing a mountain of gold, I didn’t know the first thing to do. But one thing was certain this news could not get out, especially not to those vultures the Davis family. Mr. Peterson said they didn’t know. That was my most powerful weapon.

I quickly grabbed my phone and called the number back. It connected after two rings. It was Mr. Peterson. I lowered my voice, worried someone might overhear. Mr. Peterson, it’s me, Sarah Collins. Yes, Miss Collins. How can I help you? The inheritance, I said urgently. Please, please keep it a secret. Don’t tell anyone.