She helped with the baby, letting me rest when exhaustion took over. My body recovered quickly, and as I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. I had lost the weight, but I had gained something more—strength.
One afternoon, a knock at the door startled me. I opened it and froze. Stacy stood there.
I opened the door and frowned when I saw her standing there. “What are you doing here?” I asked, folding my arms. Stacy shifted her weight and let out a small sigh.
“It’s over. Your plan worked.”
Relief washed over me. A slow smile spread across my face as I stepped aside.
“Finally,” I said, motioning for her to come in. She walked past me, glancing around the house. “Arnie signed everything over without a second thought.
The house. The accounts. He didn’t even read the papers.
He was too busy thinking about what he was getting with me,” she said with a smirk. I shook my head. “He was never the sharpest tool in the shed.
I handled all the paperwork when we were married. He never questioned anything I put in front of him.”
Stacy chuckled. “Well, congratulations.
It’s all yours now.”
“Thank you,” I said, wrapping my arms around her in a brief hug. With Arnie out of the picture, Riley and I moved back into what was rightfully ours. The house that we had built together—except now, it was truly mine.
Life felt peaceful for the first time in a long while. Then, one evening, I heard shouting outside. Curious, I stepped onto the porch.
“Stacy! Come back to me! I’m begging you!
I have nothing left!” Arnie’s voice was desperate, his hands reaching for her as she stood stiffly in the driveway. I crossed my arms and tilted my head. “Poor thing,” I said, my voice dripping with amusement.
Arnie’s head snapped toward me. His face twisted with anger. “What are YOU doing here?!” he yelled.
I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t expect this, did you?” I took a step forward. “I tricked you, Arnie.
You fell right into my trap with Stacy.”
His brow furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?!”
I let out a small laugh. “At some point, I got fed up with your disgusting behavior.
Your lies. Your affairs. So, I hired Stacy—a young, beautiful woman—to seduce you.
And you, being exactly who I knew you were, didn’t even hesitate. You were so blinded by your own ego that you didn’t realize you were signing everything over to me.”
His face turned red with fury. “You witch!
You set me up!”
I shrugged. “No, Arnie. Your own lust set you up.
I just gave you the perfect opportunity to destroy yourself.”
His anger faded into something pathetic. He looked me up and down, eyes filled with regret. “Come back to me.
I’ll be better,” he pleaded. I didn’t even pause. “No.”
“You’ll never find anyone else besides me!
No man will ever want you!” he snapped. I smirked. “Look at me—I look amazing, and now I don’t have a worthless man dragging me down.
Meanwhile, you’re practically homeless. I think I’ll be just fine.”
“Jessica, please,” he begged, his voice cracking. I turned without another word and walked back inside.
The lock clicked behind me. I picked Riley up in my arms, holding her close. I had her, and I needed nothing else.
