It all began ten years ago when Laura, by coincidence, ran into John at a social event and nearly missed it. He had a seductive appeal and a Southern accent that made Laura feel quickly at ease. She gave herself over completely to his magic, and they soon found themselves irreconcilable.
As their relationship grew, John seemed like the perfect partner—kind, considerate, and able to make Laura laugh frequently. He claimed to have seen in her a beloved and admired lifelong companion. Everyone who knew them felt happy for them within a year of their marriage.
That being said, one evening last week witnessed the start of their marriage’s collapse under incredibly typical circumstances. Laura found John had been on a video call and had not noticed her when she arrived home early from work. The words that slowly entered her mind will completely change her world:
“Dude, you really hit it lucky with Laura. She is in possession of the cash. You’re set for life, man. On holidays, there’s no reason to go over budget. John’s friend Adrian made the humorous comment, “Laura’s got it all,” not realizing how important his words were.
The cold, sharp tone of John’s reply cut through the air: “You think it’s just staring at her every morning? That’s the price I pay. Laura experienced the indifference of his words as though they were a physical blow. This was the man she loved, who transformed their relationship into a transaction in which her worth was based only on her bank account.
Laura’s mind was racing as she reeled from the shock. She felt silly for putting her faith in a fictitious love. She led an opulent life and had a successful career in finance, but she never flaunted her wealth or made it the main topic of their relationship. But John had painted a different picture for his acquaintance, one in which her reliable salary functioned as his safety net.
Laura devised a plan to instill respect and value in John because she was determined to address the betrayal with more than just words. Rather than face him immediately, she let the hurt from his comments to fester, methodically planning every action she would take in revenge.
