“Listen up! I’m loaded now, and it’s time we split,” declared the husband with a smirk. He had no idea what was coming.
“You dont get it, do you? Your dullness drives me mad,” snapped Edward, his eyes blazing. “I dont need some plain JaneI deserve better!”
“You honestly think money changes who you are?” Emily shot back, her voice trembling as she fought tears.
The soft glow of the evening light warmed the kitchen where Emily was preparing supper. The aroma of shepherds pie and freshly baked scones lingered in the air.
Edward barged in, waving an envelope, grinning from ear to ear.
“Em! You wont believe it!” he shouted, still in his shoes. “Ive inherited a fortune from some distant cousin! Were set for life!”
Emily turned, wiping her hands on her apron.
“Thats wonderful, Ed,” she replied calmly. “But who was this relative? Weve never heard of them.”
“Who cares?” Edward laughed, planting a kiss on her cheek. “We can finally live like royalty!”
Emily arched a brow but barely got a word in as he rattled off grand plansluxury cars, holidays, a mansion.
By the next morning, after a sleepless night dreaming of wealth, Edward was a different man. He looked down at Emily with disdain, barking orders as if she were staff. Every word out of his mouth was about his newfound riches, as if hed won the lottery rather than an inheritance.
“You know, Em,” he muttered over breakfast, avoiding her gaze, “now that Im loaded, we should rethink things.”
Emily froze, her tea halfway to her lips.
“What do you mean?” she whispered.
“Im on another level now,” he said, crunching his toast. “And you well, youre just ordinary.”
Stunned, Emily met her best mates, Sophie and Lucy, at a cosy café to spill the news.
“You wont believe this,” she blurted as they settled in. “Edward got some inheritance and now thinks Im beneath him!”
Sophie scoffed. “Seriously? Whos this mystery relative?”
Lucy frowned, leaning closer. “What are you going to do?”
“I dont know,” Emily sighed. “Hes turned into a right nightmare.”
Sophie shook her head. “Maybe its just a phase? The blokes lost the plot.”
“I wish,” Emily muttered. “But this isnt him.”
Lucys frown deepened, lost in thought.
That evening, Emily returned home to find Edward flipping through brochures for sports cars. Dread settled in her stomach, but her friends support kept her steady.
Days passed, and Edward grew worse. Though the money hadnt cleared, he swaggered like a tycoon, treating Emily like dirt.
“Em, wheres my suit?” he bellowed one morning. “Ive got a big meeting!”
She fetched it silently, hanging it on the door.
“Edward, can we talk?” she ventured.
“Not now,” he dismissed her. “Ive got better things to do.”
Tears pricked her eyes. The man she loved had vanished, replaced by this cold stranger. That evening, she met Sophie and Lucy again.
“Girls, I cant take it anymore,” she confessed, voice cracking. “He acts like Im his maid, says he needs better company.”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “What a prat. He hasnt even got the cash yet!”
Lucy squeezed her hand. “Weve got your back, Em. Stay strong.”
Edwards cruelty only escalated. He accused her of gold-digging, sneering, “Youre just waiting to cash in, arent you?”
Emilys heart shattered. “After all these years, how can you say that?”
“Please,” he scoffed. “Youre transparent.”
Enough was enough.
The next day, Sophie and Lucy dropped a bombshell.
“Emily the inheritance letter was fake,” Sophie admitted. “We set it up to show you his true colours.”
Emily gaped. “Youwhat?”
Lucy nodded. “We saw how he treated you. We had to prove hed change if money came between you.”
Emilys hands shook. Anger, betrayal, reliefit all swirled inside her. “That was cruel.”
“We never thought hed be this vile,” Sophie murmured.
That night, Emily confronted Edward.
“Sit down. Were done,” she said coldly. “The letter was a test. And you failed.”
His face twisted in rage. “Youre siding with them over me?”
“No. Im choosing myself.”
He stormed out, slamming the door.
Sophie and Lucy arrived minutes later, finding Emily drained but resolute.
“Em, theres more,” Lucy said hesitantly. “A solicitor from London reached out weeks agoabout a real inheritance. We held off telling you until we knew Edward wouldnt use you.”
Emilys breath caught. “Youre joking.”
Sophie handed her a number. “Call him. Its legit.”
The solicitor confirmed ita fortune from a late great-aunt.
Emily laughed through tears. “Im free. And rich.”
They clinked glasses of bubbly.
“To fresh starts,” cheered Sophie.
“To real friends,” added Lucy.
Emily smiled. “To you two. Thank you.”
As they laughed, she knewwhatever came next, shed face it with her girls by her side.
