The house buzzed with laughter and the smell of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and fresh bread. Emma had outdone herself, as usual. Her kids, Ava and Ben, ran around, sneaking bites of cake, while our parents and her friends chatted.
Emma looked stunning, but Graham barely seemed present. He sat scrolling on his phone, only nodding when spoken to. When Emma touched his shoulder, he barely acknowledged her.
After dinner, as we shared chocolate cake, I asked Graham if he was going to give a toast to Emma. He glared at me, then threw soda in my face, angrily shouting that it was none of my business. He stormed out, leaving a shocked silence behind him.
In the bathroom, Emma apologized, looking hurt. I showed her photos of Graham with another woman—one of them kissing. She was devastated but determined to confront him. We uncovered suspicious bank withdrawals, including a $3,000 jewelry purchase he hadn’t made for her.
When Graham came home later, Emma and I had a plan. We confronted him with evidence: bank transactions, a jewelry receipt, and the incriminating photo. As his phone rang with family calling, we revealed we’d sent everything to his relatives. Emma also presented a “bill” for $50,000—her compensation for the years of emotional labor.
Enraged, Graham stormed out, but Emma felt lighter. “You didn’t ruin my birthday. You gave me freedom,” she said. And for the first time in years, she was free.
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