“Jack! Finally,” she cooed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”

Before they could get too cozy, I stepped out of the shadows.

“Welcome home, Jack.”

His body stiffened, and he whipped around so fast that he almost dropped his suitcase.

“L-Liz?” he whispered.

I smiled sweetly, savoring his panic. “Surprised to see me?”

Vanessa’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Wait, you two know each other?”

“Oh, we’re well acquainted,” I said. “I’m Liz. You know, Jack’s wife? The one he forgot to mention while he was showering you with gifts.”

Vanessa looked like she’d seen a ghost. “Jack, what is she talking about?”

“V-vanessa, I—I,” he stammered. “This isn’t… it’s not what you think!”

“Oh, isn’t it?” I interjected, holding up a sleek leather jewelry case I had found in one of her drawers. “Recognize this, Jack? These are the gifts you bought her. Thoughtful, aren’t they?”

Vanessa’s eyes darted to the case, then back to Jack.

“Wait, those aren’t just from Jack,” she blurted.

“Exactly,” I said, flipping open the case to reveal its contents. It had diamond bracelets, ruby necklaces, and earrings that sparkled under the apartment’s soft lighting.

“Each one has a little tag. Like this one.” I plucked out a necklace and read the tag aloud. “‘From Paul, February 2023.’ And this one? ‘From James, December 2022.'”

Then, I looked at Jack and shook my head.

“You weren’t her only ‘sweet boyfriend,’ Jack,” I announced. “Turns out, Vanessa here is quite the collector.”

Jack’s gaze landed on Vanessa and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Vanessa, is this true?” he asked. “Are you seeing other men?”

“Jack, I can explain,” she said. “Those are just gifts! They don’t mean anything.”

“Right,” I scoffed. “Gifts from all your other boyfriends who helped fund this little fantasy life of yours.”

“You told me I was the only one!” Jack yelled. “That you loved me!”

That’s when Vanessa decided it was time to tell him the truth. She crossed her arms and looked straight into his eyes.

“Oh, grow up, Jack,” she said. “Did you really think I’d wait around for you to leave your wife and kids? Please!”

His shoulders slumped as her words crushed his delusions. I almost felt sorry for him, but I wasn’t done yet.

“And Jack,” I said, stepping closer. “That prenup you insisted on? The one that punishes infidelity? It guarantees I get everything now that you’ve cheated. So, congratulations! You’re homeless and penniless.”

“Liz, please,” he cried. “We can talk about this—”

“No, Jack,” I said firmly. “We’re done.”

I turned to Vanessa, who looked more annoyed than apologetic.

“Good luck with this one,” I said, gesturing to Jack. “He’s all yours. Until he runs out of money.”

As I walked out of the apartment, I felt a rush of satisfaction. Meanwhile, Jack kept begging me to return, but I didn’t even look back.

The divorce was finalized within weeks. And thanks to the prenup, I got the house, the savings, and full custody of the kids.

Jack, on the other hand, was left with nothing but regret.

Vanessa? She moved on to her next target before the ink was even dry on the divorce papers. But she had one regret. That she didn’t know her housemaid was actually her boyfriend’s wife.

If she’d known, I would’ve never learned the truth about Jack’s late-night meetings and fake financial struggles. And I would’ve never walked out of our toxic marriage.