«Listen up! Im rich now, and its time for us to divorce,» said the husband smugly. He had no idea what was coming.
«You dont even realise how much your dullness grates on me,» James sneered, his eyes flashing. «I dont need a wallflowerI deserve better!»
«Do you honestly think money makes you superior?» Emily shot back, her voice trembling as she fought back tears.
The warm glow of the evening sun bathed the kitchen where Emily was cooking dinner. The comforting aroma of shepherds pie and freshly baked scones filled the air.
James burst through the door, waving an envelope with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
«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, Jamie,» she said quietly. «But who was this relative? Weve never heard of them.»
«Who cares?» James laughed, planting a kiss on her cheek. «Now we can have anything we want!»
Emily blinked in surprise, but before she could reply, James was already rattling off plans for luxury cars and exotic holidays.
By the next morning, however, after a sleepless night dreaming of wealth, James had transformed. He looked at Emily with contempt, barking orders and demanding constant attention. He spoke as if hed been knighted rather than inherited money.
«You know, Em,» he said over breakfast, avoiding her gaze, «now that Im wealthy, we should rethink our relationship.»
Emily froze, her tea halfway to her lips.
«What do you mean?» she asked, her voice shaky.
«Im on a different level now,» he said, biting into his toast. «And you well, youre just ordinary.»
Emily was stunned. She met her best friends, Sophie and Charlotte, at a cosy café to confide in them.
«Girls, you wont believe this,» she began the moment they sat down. «James inherited money and now thinks Im beneath him!»
Sophie scoffed. «Seriously? Who even was this mystery relative?»
Charlotte frowned, listening intently.
«What are you going to do?» she asked.
«I dont know,» Emily sighed. «Hes become unbearable!»
Sophie shook her head. «Em, are you sure this isnt some misunderstanding? Maybe hes just gone mad with the idea of money?»
«I dont know,» Emily repeated. «But this isnt the man I married.»
Charlotte, deep in thought, tapped her fingers on the table.
The evening ended with Emily returning home to find James flipping through brochures for sports cars. A knot of dread tightened in her stomach, but her friends support kept her going.
Days passed, and James grew worse. Though he hadnt received the money yet, he strutted around like a lord, treating Emily with open disdain.
«Emily, wheres my suit?» he snapped one morning. «Ive got an important meeting!»
She fetched it, hanging it neatly on the door.
«James, can we talk?» she ventured.
«Not now,» he dismissed her. «I havent got time for trivialities.»
Tears pricked her eyes. She couldnt understand how the man she loved had turned into this cold stranger. That evening, she met Sophie and Charlotte again at their usual spot.
«Girls, I cant take this anymore,» Emily confessed, her voice breaking. «James acts like Im his servant, saying he needs better company.»
Sophie pushed her teacup aside. «What a rotter! Em, you need to put your foot down. He hasnt even got the money yet!»
Charlotte squeezed her hand. «Were here for you. Itll all work out.»
Days later, Jamess cruelty peaked. He accused Emily of only wanting his money, sneering, «Youve always been plain, but now I see right through you. Youre just after my fortune.»
Emilys heart shattered. «How can you say that? Ive stood by you for years!»
«Sure, stood by me,» he mocked. «But now its clearyou only care about the money.»
That was the final straw. The next day, Emily met Sophie and Charlotte, who exchanged uneasy glances.
«Emily, we need to tell you something,» Sophie began.
Charlotte added softly, «We wanted to teach James a lesson, but it backfired.»
Emily stared. «What do you mean?»
Sophie sighed. «The inheritance letter it was fake. We orchestrated it to show you his true colours.»
Emily went pale. «You lied to me?»
Charlotte took her hand. «We did it because we saw how he treated you. We wanted you to see who he really is.»
Emily was numb. Anger, betrayal, and relief warred inside her. «How could you do this?»
Sophie looked guilty. «We thought it would help. We never expected him to be this awful.»
After a long silence, Emily spoke. «I dont know if this helped, but now I seeJames isnt the man I thought he was. And neither are you.»
When James came home that night, Emily was waiting, her resolve steeled.
«Sit down, James. We need to talk.»
He rolled his eyes. «Not this again.»
Emily took a deep breath. «I know the letter was fake. Sophie and Charlotte did it to show me who you really are.»
James went rigid, then exploded. «You believe them over me? Theyre just jealous!»
Emily stood firm. «No, James. They helped me see the truth. You dont deserve me.»
His face twisted with rage before he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Sophie and Charlotte arrived soon after, finding Emily shaken but resolute.
«Emily, how are you holding up?» Sophie asked gently.
«It hurts,» Emily admitted, wiping her eyes. «But I know its for the best.»
Charlotte hesitated. «Emily, we told you the truth about the letter, but theres more.»
Emily frowned. «What now?»
Sophie explained, «Three weeks ago, a solicitor from London reached out to me. Hes been trying to contact youyour socials are all private. He left his number, saying theres a real inheritance case.»
Emilys jaw dropped. «A real inheritance? From who?»
Charlotte nodded. «The solicitor didnt give details, but its legitimate. We tested James first to protect you.»
Emily sat in stunned silence before bursting into tears. «You did this for me?»
Sophie hugged her. «We had to be sure he wouldnt hurt you once you got the money.»
Emily called the solicitor, her hands shaking. After a brief conversation, her face lit up.
«Its true. Ive inherited a fortune from a distant relative!»
Sophie and Charlotte cheered. «Youre free, Emand rich!»
They clinked glasses of champagne Sophie had brought.
«To a fresh start,» Sophie toasted.
«To true friends and brighter days,» Charlotte added.
Emily smiled through her tears. «To you both. Thank you.»
As they laughed and hugged, Emily knew whatever lay ahead, shed face it with strengthand her real friends by her side.
